Who should consider these points?

Parents who need to avoid gluten strictly

Chips made with corn aren’t automatically a suitable choice. Look for the words ‘gluten-free’ on the specific pack, and check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings too.

Parents choosing snacks for school or an after-school club

Check which allergens are relevant to your child and whether the school or after-school club has rules about snacks brought from home. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says you can check a school’s food policy in places such as its prospectus, website or app.

Parents who want to offer a savoury snack now and then

Keep an eye on portion size and compare the nutritional information on the packs you’re considering. For everyday snacks for children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends options including vegetables and fruit.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide which ingredients need to be avoided. Then compare portion sizes and nutritional information, or choose a flavour your child will enjoy.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Gluten and other allergens If gluten needs to be avoided, look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current pack. Also check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings for allergens that need to be avoided. If my child needs to avoid gluten or another allergen, I want to be sure about the exact pack I’m giving them. For around 50% of consumers, checking allergens comes first.
An occasional snack Consider the portion you plan to serve and compare the nutritional information per 100 g of the products you’re considering. I’m looking for something savoury after school, but I don’t want tortilla chips to become an everyday snack. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Flavour and convenience Check the ingredients and allergens for the flavour you’ve chosen; don’t rely on the brand name alone. If there are no strict dietary restrictions, I mainly want to choose a flavour my child will enjoy. Flavour and convenience come first for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming corn means gluten-free

    The type of grain alone doesn’t tell you whether specific chips are suitable when gluten needs to be strictly avoided. Jumbo describes La Morena Totopos as gluten-free, while Joybuy lists possible traces of gluten for g’woon Naturel.

    Check that the current pack explicitly says ‘gluten-free’, and read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ information too.

  • Assuming the allergens in one flavour apply to the whole brand

    According to Joybuy’s product information, Doritos Cool American contains milk and may contain soya, wheat and gluten. Doritos Sweet Chilli Pepper lists gluten, wheat, soya and egg white. So you’ll need to check each flavour separately.

    Read the ingredients list and allergen information for every flavour you choose, even if you’ve previously bought a different pack from the same brand.

  • Making tortilla chips an everyday snack

    For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables, fruit and wholegrain products as snack options. Bear this in mind when deciding how often to serve chips.

    It’s best to serve tortilla chips occasionally and decide in advance how much to take from the pack.

  • Overlooking the school or after-school club’s rules

    A pack that suits your child’s dietary needs may not comply with the school or after-school club’s rules on food or allergens.

    Before packing it, check the school prospectus, website or app, and ask about the rules for your child’s group if you’re unsure. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises parents to check their own school’s food policy.

Brands to consider

La Morena

Totopos are a specific example for anyone looking for tortilla chips with an explicit gluten-free label.

  • Jumbo describes La Morena Totopos as gluten-free and lists corn, water, olive oil and salt as ingredients.
  • Check the current packaging for any other allergens relevant to your child too.

g’woon

The Naturel and Sweet Chili varieties each need a separate check of their allergen information.

  • Joybuy’s product information lists corn, vegetable oil and salt for g’woon Naturel.
  • Joybuy notes that Naturel may contain traces of gluten, soya or milk, while Sweet Chili may contain traces of milk and soya. Don’t assume that the information for either variety applies to the whole brand.

Doritos

Doritos offers a range of flavours, but allergen information varies by product.

  • Doritos Netherlands lists a range that includes plain, cheese and Sweet Chilli Pepper varieties.
  • According to Joybuy, Cool American contains milk and may contain soya, wheat and gluten; Sweet Chilli Pepper lists gluten, wheat, soya and egg white. Check the flavour you choose separately.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has separate online categories for tortilla chips and gluten-free crisps.

  • The gluten-free crisps category can help you find products whose labels you can then check.
  • A tortilla chip isn’t automatically gluten-free just because Albert Heijn also has a gluten-free category; check the specific product.

Tortilla chips on Joybuy

These two Santa Maria varieties are options for a savoury after-school snack. If gluten or soya needs to be avoided, check the allergen information on the current packaging for your chosen variety before buying.

Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted, 475 g bag

Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted – 475 g

For anyone looking for salted tortilla chips as an occasional snack; simply choose your own portion from the 475 g bag.

If gluten or soya needs to be avoided, check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the current packaging before choosing this variety.

Joybuy
Santa Maria Original Nacho Chips, 185 g bag

Santa Maria Original Nacho Chips – 185 g

For a snack when you’re considering a 185 g bag; remember to decide how much you’ll serve.

If you need to avoid gluten, check the label on the current pack. If you need to avoid soya, check the allergen and ‘may contain’ information for this variety too.

Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are corn tortilla chips automatically gluten-free?

No. The fact that corn is an ingredient doesn’t prove that tortilla chips are gluten-free. If gluten needs to be avoided, look for those exact words on the current packaging and check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ information too. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that ‘gluten-free’ is a label subject to specific requirements.

What should I check on the packaging if my child needs to avoid an allergen?

Read the ingredients list for the specific flavour and look for any relevant warning about possible traces. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly distinguished in the ingredients list; check the packaging in line with your child’s dietary requirements.

Can I pack tortilla chips for school or an after-school club?

First, check the school or after-school club’s rules on food and allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking a school’s food policy in its prospectus, on its website or in its app; if necessary, ask about the rules for your child’s group too.

Are tortilla chips suitable as an everyday after-school snack?

It’s best to serve tortilla chips as an occasional snack rather than making them a regular everyday choice. For snacks for children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends options including vegetables, fruit and wholegrain products; remember to watch how much you serve when offering chips too.