Late-night snack sharers
You want to put out individual bags in a range of flavours for a group, without everyone sharing one open bag.
Who is this for?
Lunchbox planners
You’re looking for an individually wrapped snack to take with you, while also considering your nutritional choices and any school policies.
Label readers
You want to check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each variety, especially when a box contains different types of snack.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you mainly want to share different flavours or take individual packs with you. Then compare the contents and the label of your chosen multipack.
Mixed box of bags
Choose this if: you want several flavours and an individual bag for each person to share as a snack.
Bear in mind: ingredients and allergens may vary between the varieties in the box.
Pringles Original 12 x 40 g
Choose this if: you want twelve individual packs of the same flavour, as listed in the Albert Heijn product information; the tube is resealable.
Bear in mind: this box doesn’t offer a mix of flavours, and according to Albert Heijn, Pringles Original contains wheat and may contain milk and soya.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Compare the number of packs and the weight of each one, not just the total weight of the box. | If I want to share a late-night snack or take one pack with me, a pre-portioned multipack helps me decide how many to put out. Around 50% of consumers give individual portions their highest priority. |
| Flavour variety | Check which flavours and types of snack are in the box and how they’re divided up. | When we’re sharing a snack and have different preferences, I want to know whether the mix will work for the group. For around 33% of consumers, flavour variety comes first. |
| Nutritional information and allergens | Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values for each variety; compare salt on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | If I’m buying crisps for someone else, I want to be able to check what’s in each bag. For around 17% of consumers, label information is their top priority when buying. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at the size of the box
A box with more bags won’t necessarily give you the same amount for each snack occasion: the number of packs and the weight of each pack are two separate details.
Compare both, and if you’re choosing a mixed box, check how many bags of each variety it contains.
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Assuming the label for one flavour applies to the whole mix
Different varieties in a mixed box may contain different ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on the labels of prepacked foods.
Check the information for every variety that might be eaten. If there’s a relevant allergy, don’t choose based only on the front of the box.
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Assuming a small bag is a recommended school snack
An individual pack is easy to take with you, but that doesn’t tell you whether it’s a suitable nutritional choice. For primary-school breaks, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends options including fruit and snack vegetables.
When packing a lunchbox, consider the nutritional choice and any school policies; don’t let the pack size make the decision for you.
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Applying general nutritional information to every flavour
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 0,45 g of salt for a 40 g bowl of plain crisps. This isn’t a product-specific value for every flavour or mixed box.
Read the nutritional table on the pack you choose and compare salt per 100 g or per portion on the same basis.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Lay's Netherlands describes mixed boxes of individual sharing bags, including the Chill Box and Family Box. Albert Heijn also lists the Mega Box and Celebration Box.
- The boxes listed contain different numbers of bags and a mix of varieties for sharing.
- Ingredients and allergens may vary between varieties, so check the contents of the box you choose.
Pringles
For those looking for individual tubes in one flavour, Albert Heijn lists a 12 x 40 g multipack of Pringles Original.
- According to Pringles product information, each individual tube is resealable.
- According to Albert Heijn, Pringles Original contains wheat and may contain milk and soya; check the latest label.
Crisps multipacks on Joybuy
These products are mixed boxes of bags for anyone who wants to share crisps or take one pack at a time. Compare the stated pack size with the current contents if the number of packs is an important factor in your choice.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 2 x 15-pack
A mixed box for putting out individually wrapped snacks for a group. This variety is called 2 x 15-pack; check the total contents before buying, as the product information also mentions a box of 15.
For allergen information, check the labels on the individual varieties.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20-pack
A multipack for a group who want to choose from the types of snack named in the title. The product name lists 20 pieces; check the current contents to see how they’re divided by type.
Check the labels on the varieties if allergens are a concern.
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Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 2 x 12 pieces
An option for spreading bags across more than one snack occasion. This variety is called 2 x 12 pieces, while other product text describes a Chill Box containing 12 bags; confirm the total contents before buying.
Also check the weight of each bag and how the varieties are divided up.
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Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 12 pieces
A box for a smaller shared snack or for taking individual packs with you. The product name lists 12 pieces; when choosing, check the weight and the number of each variety.
For ingredients and allergens, read the information on the specific bags.
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Lay's Family Box, 15 pieces
A box for putting out individually wrapped snacks to share. The product name lists 15 pieces; check which varieties are included and how many bags of each you’ll get.
If you have a food allergy, check the latest labels for each variety.
Frequently asked questions
Which crisps multipack should I choose to share late at night?
Choose a mixed box of individual bags if people want different flavours. Lay's Netherlands lists 12 bags for the Chill Box and 15 for the Family Box; Albert Heijn lists 20 for the Mega Box and 30 for the Celebration Box. Also check how many bags of each variety are included.
Does an individual bag of crisps make it suitable for a school lunchbox?
No. An individual bag is easy to take with you, but that doesn’t determine whether crisps are a suitable choice for the school break. For primary-school breaks, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends options including fruit and snack vegetables; also consider any school policies.
Why should I check the varieties in a mixed box separately?
Because different flavours and types of snack may contain different ingredients and allergens. If there’s a relevant allergy, read the information for every variety that might be eaten, not just the information on the front of the box.
How do I compare the salt content of two crisps multipacks?
Compare the salt per 100 g on the labels of the specific products, and also check the amount per portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 0,45 g of salt for a 40 g bowl of plain crisps, but this general figure doesn’t replace the nutritional information for another variety.