Someone working from home who spreads a bag over several lunches
They want something savoury alongside lunch and consider the pack size and how much they serve each time. A larger pack is most practical when it suits several lunch breaks.
Who are these choices relevant to?
A snacker keeping an eye on portion size and salt
They want to know how many crisps are actually in the bowl. The Voedingscentrum gives an average of 0.59 g of salt for a 40 g bowl of crisps in assorted flavours; the amount in a particular product may differ.
A shopper checking ingredients and allergens
They need to check the ingredients and allergens listed for the exact flavour and pack. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products in the Netherlands appears on the label.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the pack size and your own portion. Then compare the nutritional information on a like-for-like basis, and finally check the label for the flavour you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and how you’ll use it | Compare the pack size in grams and think about how many lunches you want to spread the bag across. | If I have crisps with lunch on several days when I work from home, I want to choose a pack that suits that. For around 40% of consumers, pack size and how they’ll use it come first. |
| Portion size and salt | Read the nutritional information per 100 g and decide how many grams you’ll actually serve; compare the salt content for that amount. | I don’t want to eat more from the bag than I planned while I’m working. That’s why around 30% of consumers prioritise portion size and salt. |
| Comparing nutritional values | Compare fat, saturated fat, salt and energy per 100 g for the exact products. | When I’m considering oven-baked and regular crisps, I want to see how their nutritional values compare on the same basis. For around 20% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings on the exact pack. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I can’t rely on the brand or flavour name. For around 10% of consumers, checking ingredients and allergens is a priority. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at the size of the bag
The pack size doesn’t tell you how many crisps you’ll have with one working-from-home lunch. A large bag and a small pack may therefore suit very different needs.
Check the number of grams in the pack and decide how much you want to serve with each lunch.
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Taking ‘less fat’ as a licence to have a larger portion
A lower fat value doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional information. The nutritional values listed by Albert Heijn for Lay's Oven Baked Naturel and Lay's Naturel Value Pack also differ in salt content; the impact on your lunch depends in part on how much you eat.
Compare the exact products per 100 g, then consider the portion you plan to have.
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Guessing allergens from the brand name
Ingredients vary by product and flavour. Albert Heijn’s product information lists wheat and possible milk and soya in Pringles Original; Jumbo lists milk and sulphites in Smiths Sticks Paprika.
Before eating them, check the label on the exact pack, including any warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
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Treating crisps as a complete lunch
Choosing crisps as a savoury addition is different from putting together a lunch. The Voedingscentrum also suggests other foods for a snack, including vegetables, fruit, nuts, bread and wraps.
Decide how crisps fit alongside the rest of your lunch, rather than making the bag the starting point.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
The own-label range includes plain crisps, giving shoppers a way to compare pack sizes and nutritional information.
- For its 250 g Chips Naturel, Jumbo lists the ingredients, nutritional values and a 25 g portion size.
- Don’t use the information for this plain variety as a guide to the nutritional values of other flavours.
Albert Heijn
The own-label range includes varieties of crisps that you can compare with other crisps for their nutritional values.
- Albert Heijn groups its own ridged crisps and other varieties in a category that makes it easy to compare fat and salt content.
- Check the pack for the product you choose: ingredients and nutritional information may change.
Lay's
The brand offers both regular potato crisps and oven-baked varieties; always compare the exact products.
- Albert Heijn lists 30 g of fat and 1.1 g of salt per 100 g for Lay's Naturel Value Pack, and 13 g of fat and 0.85 g of salt per 100 g for Lay's Oven Baked Naturel.
- These values apply to the varieties listed, not to all Lay's crisps or every pack with a similar name.
Pringles
Crisps in a tube are a different type of packaging for anyone who wants a resealable container.
- Albert Heijn describes the 40 g tube of Pringles Original as resealable.
- The product information lists wheat and the possible presence of milk and soya; check the exact pack.
Smiths
Smiths also makes shaped snacks, such as Sticks Paprika. These aren’t the same type of product as plain potato crisps.
- Jumbo’s listing for Smiths Sticks Paprika lets you compare the ingredients and nutritional values of this specific variety.
- Jumbo lists milk and sulphites for this variety; don’t assume the same applies to other Smiths products.
Snack Day
Lidl’s own-label range includes a variety of crisp and snack flavours.
- Lidl lists plain, paprika, bolognese and cheese-and-onion varieties, among others.
- Information for one flavour doesn’t automatically apply to another; compare the ingredients and nutritional values on each pack.
Crisps for different lunch preferences
These Joybuy products let you choose between plain crisps, ridged crisps and an oven-baked variety as a savoury addition to your working-from-home lunch. Before choosing, compare the pack size and the label for the exact variety.
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Croky Natural Potato Chips, 200 g
A plain variety for anyone who wants crisps as a savoury addition to lunch.
The pack contains 200 g. Choose how much to serve with each lunch, and check the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack.
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Lay's Oven Baked Natural, 150 g
An oven-baked variety for anyone who wants to include this cooking method when comparing it with regular crisps.
The pack contains 150 g. Compare the nutritional values of this exact variety per 100 g and check the ingredients on the pack.
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g'woon Ribbed Chips Natural, 250 g
Plain ridged crisps for anyone who prefers this style as an addition to lunch.
The pack contains 250 g. Divide the bag into portions to suit your lunches and read the nutritional information and ingredients for this variety on the label.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare crisps in packs of different sizes?
Compare the pack sizes in grams and decide how many lunch portions you want from each pack. Then compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g, before assessing differences between specific products.
Are oven-baked crisps automatically a better choice for my lunch?
No, the cooking method alone doesn’t tell you that. Compare the fat, salt and energy per 100 g for the varieties you’re considering, and think about how much you’ll have with lunch. Any Nutri-Score is intended to help you compare products within the same category, not assess your whole lunch.
How much salt is there in a bowl of crisps?
The Voedingscentrum gives an average of 0.59 g of salt for a 40 g bowl of crisps in assorted flavours. The amount in your bowl depends on the product and how much you serve, so check the label on the crisps you choose, too.
Do I need to check the crisp label every time if I have an allergy?
Yes, check the exact flavour and pack before eating the crisps. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products in the Netherlands must appear on the label. Don’t rely on the ingredients of a different flavour or an earlier pack.
How should I store an opened bag until my next working-from-home day?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack and seal the bag as well as you can after use. The product information for Jumbo Chips Naturel and Lay's Naturel Value Pack says to store in a cool, dry place; check the instructions for the crisps you’ve chosen.