Quick flavour seekers
If you’re short on time for lunch, you’ll want to choose a flavour quickly. Lay's and Pringles both offer a range of flavours, from familiar favourites to bold seasonings.
Who are these options for?
Commuters taking crisps with them
When you’re carrying crisps in a bag, pack size and packaging matter. Pringles sells crisps in a stackable tube, while Lay's also offers multipacks of small bags. Choose based on how much you actually want to take with you.
Shoppers who check the label
If ingredients, allergens or nutritional information affect your choice, check the exact flavour and pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises the importance of clearly identifying allergens on the labels of prepacked foods.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether flavour, pack size, nutritional information or ingredients matter most to you. Then compare the options that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour | Compare the flavour name and ingredients of the exact variety. Pringles, Albert Heijn and Jumbo offer a range of different flavour profiles. | If you fancy something spicy, tangy or smoky, you’ll want to choose based on flavour rather than brand alone. Around 27% of consumers put their preferred flavour first. |
| Packaging and portion | Check the net weight and portion information; for example, compare a small bag or multipack with a tube. | When you’re out and about, you’ll want to take an amount that suits your lunch break without having to open a large bag. Pack size is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, including fat and salt. If a product claims to contain less fat, check the other values too. | If crisps are a regular part of your lunch, you’ll want to know what your chosen portion provides. Around 27% of consumers say nutritional information is their top priority. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the pack for your chosen flavour; don’t rely on a product filter alone. | If you need to avoid certain ingredients, you can’t rely on the flavour name or a previous purchase from the same brand. This check is a top priority for around 13% of consumers. |
Nutritional values vary by product and portion. For reference, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average 40 g bowl of crisps as containing 215 kcal, 13,1 g of fat and 0,53 g of salt, among other values. When buying, use the nutritional information for the variety you’ve chosen.
Common pitfalls
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Assuming every flavour contains the same allergens
Seasonings can change the ingredients. For example, Jumbo lists gluten, milk and wheat in its ham and cheese-flavoured crisps.
Check the allergen information for each flavour separately, even if you’ve bought a different variety from the same brand before.
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Treating a ‘less fat’ claim as an assessment of the whole snack
A comparison of fat content alone tells you nothing about salt levels, portion size or the rest of your lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also places snacks outside the Wheel of Five.
Compare the full nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. Take crisps as a snack alongside your lunch, not as a replacement for it.
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Taking a large bag without checking portion sizes
The portion used to calculate nutritional values may not be the same as the amount in the pack.
Check the net weight and portion information. A small bag or a pre-measured amount may be better suited to what you want to eat on the go.
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Counting on a particular flavour being available
Availability can vary from shop to shop. For example, Lidl lists some Snack Day varieties as in-store-only products.
Check what’s currently available at the shop where you’re buying, and consider having another flavour in mind.
Brands to explore
Lay's
Lay's offers classic potato crisps, ridged crisps, Sensations, Oven Baked and multipacks.
- According to Lay's, its multipacks contain small bags in different flavours, which can be handy if you want to take a single bag with you.
- Assess a ‘less fat’ claim only for the variety it appears on; ingredients and nutritional values can vary by flavour.
Pringles
Pringles sells stackable crisps in a tube and offers flavours including Paprika, Texas BBQ, Salt & Vinegar and Hot & Spicy.
- The flavour name and tube format give you two clear things to consider when choosing crisps to take with you.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact flavour; you can’t tell these from the tube format.
AH
Under its own brand, Albert Heijn offers products including stackable crisps, truffle-flavoured crisps and bolognese-flavoured crisps.
- You can compare different flavours and types of crisps side by side.
- A vegetarian or vegan product filter doesn’t replace checking the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen.
Jumbo's
Under its own brand, Jumbo offers flavoured crisps such as Sea Salt & Pepper, Sweet Chili, Jalapeño and Black Truffle.
- The range on offer includes several flavour profiles to compare.
- Allergens vary by variety: Jumbo lists gluten, milk and wheat in its ham and cheese flavour.
Lidl Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl's snack range, with crisps in flavours including paprika, bolognese and cheese and onion.
- The range offers several flavours within one retailer’s selection.
- Lidl lists these examples as in-store products; check what’s currently available at your local branch.
Crisps for on the go at Joybuy
These products offer a range of flavours and pack sizes for a snack with your lunch on the go. The selection includes both potato crisps and tortilla chips; if ingredients or nutritional information matter to you, compare the label for the exact variety.
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Pringles Red Pepper potato crisps, 12 × 40 g
For anyone who wants to take individual packs of red pepper-flavoured crisps with them. This multipack contains 12 packs of 40 g; if you have an allergy, check the information on the exact pack.
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Doritos Sweet Chili Pepper tortilla chips, 44 g
For anyone who wants to take a small pack of sweet chilli-flavoured tortilla chips with them. The pack contains 44 g; if you have an allergy, read the ingredients and allergen warnings for this variety.
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Lay's Wavy Charcoal Grilled Pork Flavour potato crisps, 70 g
For anyone looking for ridged potato crisps with a bold, savoury flavour. The bag contains 70 g; the flavour name alone doesn’t tell you which ingredients or allergens the crisps contain.
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Lay's Oven Baked Barbecue potato crisps, 150 g
For anyone who fancies barbecue flavour and wants a larger bag to enjoy over several occasions. The pack contains 150 g; when comparing your chosen portion, check the full nutritional information rather than relying only on any claim on the front of the pack.
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Lay's Sensations Thai Sweet Chili potato crisps, 40 g
For anyone who wants to take a small bag of Thai Sweet Chili-flavoured crisps with them. The pack contains 40 g; if you have an allergy, check the ingredients for this specific flavour.
Frequently asked questions
Are flavoured crisps a replacement for lunch?
No. Treat them as a snack alongside your lunch, not as a replacement for it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre places snacks outside the Wheel of Five and gives an average 40 g portion of crisps as containing 215 kcal, 13,1 g of fat and 0,53 g of salt, among other values. The figures on your own pack may differ.
How do I check allergens when I choose a different flavour?
Check the ingredients list and allergen warnings on the pack again for every flavour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are clearly identified on labels; don’t assume the ingredients are the same as those in a plain variety or a product you’ve bought before.
Is a vegetarian or vegan product filter enough?
No. Use a filter only to narrow down your options. To make sure a product meets your dietary requirements, check its ingredients and any allergen warnings.
How should I store an opened bag of crisps for later?
Seal the pack as well as you can and follow the storage advice for the product you’ve chosen. The product information for Lay's Oven Baked Naturel says ‘store in a cool, dry place’; for other flavours or packs, check the label.