Picnickers who eat strictly gluten-free
You don’t want to assume crisps are suitable based on their flavour name or main ingredient. Look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the other allergen information on the packet too.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Groups avoiding milk, soya or multiple allergens
You’re buying for people with different dietary restrictions. A product can be gluten-free or vegan and still carry a warning about another relevant allergen.
Picnic planners who want to share crisps
You’re looking for a packet that’s easy to share with the group. A short ingredients list makes comparing products easier, but only the information on the exact packet lets you check whether the crisps suit everyone’s agreed dietary requirements.
What should you look for when choosing?
Before the picnic, ask which ingredients or allergens need to be avoided. Then compare the dietary label, ingredients list and any warning about the possible presence of allergens for each variety. If people have several different restrictions, you may need more than one packet.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free | Look for an explicit gluten-free label and read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packet. | If I eat strictly gluten-free, I don’t want to base my choice solely on potato or maize as the main ingredient. Around 42% of consumers would consider checking for gluten their main concern when buying. |
| Specific allergens | Check the listed allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings for each variety, for example for milk or soya. | When my group has several dietary requirements, I need to know whether other allergens that must be avoided are present or may be present. This would be the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Sharing with a group | Agree on your choice in advance and keep the packet to hand so everyone can read the information for themselves. | I want to be able to share crisps without having to guess at the picnic which packet is meant for whom. This practical consideration would come first for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means free from all allergens
A gluten-free product can still list another relevant allergen. Albert Heijn’s product information describes Schär Curvies Original as gluten-free, but also says it may contain milk.
Before buying, be clear about what needs to be avoided and check the packet of your chosen variety for each of those allergens.
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Choosing based on the brand rather than the variety
Recipes vary from product to product. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Pringles Original contains wheat flour and may contain milk and soya; Smiths Nibb-it Rings lists milk and soya.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for every flavour variety, even if you’ve bought crisps from the same brand before.
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Treating ‘vegan’ or ‘lactose-free’ as a complete allergen declaration
These labels don’t answer every question about other allergens. Albert Heijn labels AH Tortilla Chips naturel as vegan and lactose-free, but also says they may contain soya.
Use dietary labels as a starting point, then check the allergen list and any ‘may contain’ warning too.
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Relying on an old product description
Albert Heijn warns that product ingredients, dietary details and allergy information can change. A product page you checked before may therefore not match the packet you’re taking with you now.
Read the current packet and keep it with the crisps, so others at the picnic can check the information too.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s product information gives specific ingredients and dietary details for the AH varieties mentioned here. This information doesn’t automatically apply to other own-brand crisps.
- Albert Heijn lists AH Chips naturel as gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan. The ingredients are potato, sunflower oil and salt.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Tortilla Chips naturel has the same three dietary labels, but may contain soya. Check the current packet of both products.
Schär
Schär Curvies Original is a specific product to compare when an explicit gluten-free label matters.
- Albert Heijn lists this variety as gluten-free, lactose-free and wheat-free.
- The same product information warns that Schär Curvies Original may contain milk. So, in this case, gluten-free doesn’t answer the question of possible traces of milk.
Lay's
Lay's Naturel is a variety whose ingredients can be checked separately at Albert Heijn. It doesn’t mean that all Lay's crisps have the same ingredients.
- The ingredients listed for Lay's Naturel are potatoes, vegetable oils, salt and antioxidants.
- Albert Heijn recommends checking the packet because product information can change. Always check the ingredients and allergen list for other flavours too.
Pringles
With stackable crisps, you need to check the exact variety if gluten or other allergens determine your choice.
- For Pringles Original, Albert Heijn provides a separate ingredients and allergen list that you can compare with your group’s needs.
- According to that list, this variety contains wheat flour and may contain milk and soya. Don’t choose it if wheat or gluten needs to be avoided.
Smiths
As with any savoury snack from Smiths, your assessment should be based on the variety you choose.
- Albert Heijn lists milk and soya for Smiths Nibb-it Rings. Don’t assume that other Smiths products have the same ingredients.
Crisps to compare by packet
These Joybuy products include crisps made from broccoli, okra, plantain, taro and sweet potato, in a range of pack sizes. For a picnic where people have dietary restrictions, the current ingredients and allergen information on each individual packet is what matters. A vegetable or fruit name isn’t a free-from label.
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Broccoli Chips 20 g
A 20 g packet to compare if you’re looking for smaller bags to take on a picnic. For a gluten-free choice and other dietary requirements, check the labels, ingredients and allergen warnings on the packet.
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Okra Chips 25 g
The 25 g bag is another size to consider if you’re taking crisps to a picnic. If you have dietary restrictions, check the current packet, including any ‘may contain’ warning and the best-before date.
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TG Salted Plantain Chips 85 g
These 85 g plantain crisps can be compared with the smaller packets as a larger-bag option. Don’t assume they’re gluten-free or free from other allergens based on the name: compare the information on the packet with what the group needs to avoid.
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7FRESH Original Cut Taro Chips (Sea Salt Flavor) 50 g
A 50 g bag of sea-salt-flavoured taro crisps to compare if you’d like to take this flavour to your picnic. Only assess whether they’re suitable for a gluten-free diet or other allergen requirements by checking the current packet.
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BE&CHEERY Sweet Potato Crisps Original Flavor 70 g
These sweet potato crisps come in a 70 g bag, offering a different size and base ingredient to compare. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packet before choosing them for specific dietary requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Are gluten-free crisps suitable for everyone with an allergy?
No. A gluten-free label doesn’t mean that crisps are free from other allergens. For example, Albert Heijn says Schär Curvies Original is gluten-free, but may contain milk. So also read the information about any allergens that are relevant to you or your group.
Does vegan mean that crisps are also free from soya?
No. Vegan isn’t a complete allergen declaration. Albert Heijn lists AH Tortilla Chips naturel as vegan, but they may contain soya. If you have a soya allergy, check the information on the exact packet.
Can I rely on the ingredients listed in an online shop?
Use online shop information to compare products in advance, but check the packet you actually bought before eating. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, dietary details and allergy information can change. Take the packet with you so other picnickers can read the label too.
How should I take different types of crisps to a picnic?
Keep the packets and their labels together and easy to identify, especially if not everyone can eat the same ingredients. Store the crisps according to the instructions on their packets. For example, Albert Heijn says to store Lay's Naturel in a cool, dry place.