If you’re shopping with diabetes in mind, don’t choose a crisps multipack based on the term ‘diabetes-friendly’. First compare the carbohydrates, salt, saturated fat and energy per 100 g. Then check how much you’ll actually eat per bag or weighed portion. Individual bags give you a visible portion; with a large bag, you’ll need to decide for yourself. And even if a product has a different recipe, it’s still important to check the full label.
You want to know how many carbohydrates you’ll get from a bag or weighed portion. The Diabetes Fonds highlights carbohydrates as something to consider when eating with type 2 diabetes; the amount per 100 g alone doesn’t tell you how much you’ll have at snack time.
You buy crisps to take out with you or share, and find individual bags more practical than a large, open bag. Even so, check the weight and nutritional information for the bag you choose.
You want a pack that suits the number of planned snack occasions. Compare the number of bags or the total weight, and consider whether you want to divide a large bag into portions yourself.
Start with the nutritional information per 100 g, as the Voedingscentrum recommends when comparing labels. Then use the weight of each bag or your weighed portion to assess how much you’ll be eating.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates per portion | Compare carbohydrates per 100 g, then work out the amount in a whole bag or the portion you weigh out. | I want to know how many carbohydrates I’ll eat if I have one bag. For around 36% of consumers, the amount per portion eaten comes first. |
| Portions and packaging | Check the number of individual packs and the weight of each one; if you’re buying a mix, look at each variety separately. | If I’m taking crisps out with me or sharing them, I want to be able to choose a clear portion in advance. Around 29% of consumers give this portion limit the highest priority. |
| Other nutritional values | Check salt, saturated fat and energy per 100 g, then compare them per portion eaten. | As well as carbohydrates, I want to compare salt, saturated fat and energy. This broader comparison of nutritional values matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Compare the total weight with the number of snack occasions you want the crisps for. | A large stock-up doesn’t suit what I actually want to use. Around 14% of consumers prioritise buying an amount that suits their needs. |
The amount of sugars isn’t the same as the total amount of carbohydrates. If you skip the carbohydrates line, you could end up comparing two types of crisps incorrectly.
Check carbohydrates per 100 g on the label, then work out the amount in the bag or portion you’ll eat.
Ingredients, allergens and nutritional values can vary between individual snacks. For example, Jumbo lists milk, lactose and soya for a mixed Lay’s, Cheetos and Doritos box; that doesn’t tell you which allergens are in another multipack.
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each variety you plan to eat.
Comparing fat alone doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates, how much salt or how much energy a portion contains. A different recipe doesn’t automatically make crisps suitable for your eating plan.
As well as checking the claim, look at the full nutrition table and the portion weight.
Lay’s offers a range of crisps packs; Jumbo lists Lay’s Ready Salted in packs of 20 × 40 g, among other options.
Pringles lists Original in pack sizes of 40 g, 70 g and 165 g, among others.
Albert Heijn lists an AH Ready Salted Crisps 20-pack as an own-brand option in individual packs.
Jumbo lists both larger own-brand bags and a Paprika & Ready Salted sharing pack with 15 bags of 25 g.
Lidl describes a crisps multipack with a mix of 15 bags and names Snack Day as its own snack brand.
These Joybuy products come in individual small packs. This makes the packaged weight clear, but doesn’t in itself tell you about the nutritional values or whether a portion is suitable for you.
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The individual packs let you choose one pre-packed portion in advance.
This multipack contains 12 packs of 40 g. Check the current nutritional information before using the values for one pack.
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The individual bags are a handy option if you want to take crisps out with you or share them.
This multipack contains 10 bags of 40 g. Check the current nutritional information per 100 g before working out the values for a whole bag.
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The individual tubes give you a pre-packed amount to take out with you or share.
This multipack contains 12 tubes of 40 g. To compare nutritional values, check the current values per 100 g and the ingredients for this flavour.
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A mix of individual packs is handy if you want to share out a selection of snacks.
Check the weight, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each variety before comparing the contents as portions.
No. The pack size doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates, how much salt or saturated fat, or how much energy you’ll get per portion. Compare the current nutritional information, and speak to your healthcare professional or dietitian about how it fits with your personal eating plan.
First compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then consider how much you’ll actually eat. With a multipack, that might be one whole bag; with a large bag, you can weigh out a portion. The Voedingscentrum recommends comparing products per 100 g because stated portion sizes can vary.
They give you a visible, pre-packed amount, but they don’t determine what portion is right for you. Check the weight of each bag and, if it’s a mix, look at the nutritional information and allergens for the variety you choose.
The term is no substitute for a nutrition table or checking the portion you eat. Look at carbohydrates and other relevant nutritional values per 100 g and per portion, rather than relying on the claim alone.
