Lunch organisers keeping an eye on quantity
If crisps are a side for a group, the net weight per bag is a practical place to start. Jumbo and ALDI both list tortilla chips in 300 g bags.
Who is a sharing bag for?
Organisers catering for different tastes
If you’re serving salsa, guacamole or other toppings, you could choose a plain variety as a base. Check the label on the exact bag before offering it to anyone with a food allergy.
Canteen and catering buyers ordering for larger groups
If you’re looking for a larger pack size, consider the 500 g bags that Mission Foods Europe lists for retail and foodservice. Ask the supplier which variety and pack size you can order.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide how many crisps you want to serve alongside the rest of the lunch, then choose between a neutral base and a bolder flavour. Check the information on the pack you’ve chosen before serving.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Weight per bag | Compare the net weight and work out how many bags you’ll need alongside the other lunch dishes. | If a large group will be sharing the crisps, I don’t want to rely on the words ‘sharing bag’ alone; around 33% of consumers would put having enough in the bag first. |
| Neutral flavour | Check whether the variety you’ve chosen is plain and suits the dips or toppings you’re serving. | With different dips on the table, I want people to be able to choose their own combination; around 25% of consumers would put a neutral base first. |
| Bolder flavour | Check the exact flavour and whether you’d also like to serve it without a dip. | If there’s no dip with lunch, I want a crisp with a distinct flavour; around 25% of consumers would consider this most important. |
| Allergen information | Read the label on the exact variety and keep the information available if the crisps are served loose. | If I’m serving crisps to people with food allergies, I need to know what the chosen bag says; around 17% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming plain and cheese-flavoured varieties contain the same allergens
Ingredients and allergens vary by variety. Albert Heijn lists milk and lactose in its Tortilla chips nacho cheese flavour; the information for that bag doesn’t automatically apply to plain crisps.
Before buying and serving, read the label for the exact flavour and pack you’ve chosen.
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Choosing a sharing bag without checking its weight
Jumbo and ALDI list 300 g own-brand bags, while Jumbo lists Doritos varieties at 272 g. This difference can matter if you need several bags for the same group.
Compare the net weight and decide how many bags to put out based on the rest of the lunch.
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Serving crisps loose without allergen information
In the Netherlands, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires information about 14 allergens when unpackaged food is served. This is relevant when a canteen or caterer serves crisps from a bag in bowls.
Keep the packaging for the crisps you’re serving and make the allergen information for that variety available with the food.
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Assuming a foodservice pack is available to order as a standard bag
Mission Foods Europe lists tortilla chips in 500 g packs. If you choose this option for a group lunch, you’ll need to agree with the supplier which exact variety and pack size they can provide.
Confirm the product variety, ingredients list and delivery arrangements before basing your lunch plans on it.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo lists its own-brand tortilla chips in plain and nacho cheese flavours, in 300 g bags.
- The plain variety is an option if you want to serve the crisps with dips.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the flavour you choose; the varieties aren’t interchangeable.
SUN SNACKS
ALDI lists SUN SNACKS Tortilla Chips in a 300 g bag.
- The listed weight gives you a useful comparison for a shared lunch.
- If anyone has a food allergy, read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack.
Doritos
Jumbo lists Doritos Nacho Cheese, Sweet Chilli Pepper and Cool American in 272 g bags.
- There are several bold flavours to choose from.
- The bags listed contain less than Jumbo and ALDI’s 300 g own-brand bags; check the allergens for each flavour.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists, among other products, 150 g organic plain tortilla chips and 200 g tortilla chips with a nacho cheese flavour.
- The product information shows which details to compare on the label for each flavour.
- These packs contain less than the 272 g and 300 g sharing bags listed above.
Mission
Mission Foods Europe lists 500 g tortilla chips in a range of flavours and shapes for retail and foodservice.
- This size is worth considering if you’re buying for a larger lunch group.
- Agree the exact variety and ordering terms with your supplier in advance.
Snack Day
Lidl Netherlands lists Snack Day tortilla chips with a sweet chilli flavour.
- The listed variety gives you a specific flavour option.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack; Lidl says it doesn’t provide an online list for food products.
Tortilla chips at Joybuy
These bags of tortilla chips are worth considering for a shared lunch. Choose a flavour that suits your serving plan and check the label on the exact pack before serving.
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Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted, 475 g
A salted variety to serve with dips at a shared lunch.
The bag contains 475 g. If anyone has an allergy, check the information about soya on the exact pack.
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Santa Maria Nacho Chips Original, 475 g
A nacho-style variety for a group that wants to serve a chosen flavour alongside dips.
The bag contains 475 g. If anyone has an allergy, check the information about soya on the exact pack.
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Doritos Nacho Cheese, 272 g
A nacho cheese-flavoured tortilla crisp for a group that has specifically chosen this flavour.
The bag contains 272 g. Check the exact pack for milk and possible traces of gluten, soya and wheat.
Frequently asked questions
How large should a bag of tortilla chips be for a shared university lunch?
It depends on the number of people and what else you’re serving. Jumbo and ALDI list 300 g bags, while Mission Foods Europe lists 500 g packs. Work out how many crisps you want to serve alongside the other lunch dishes before deciding how many bags to buy.
Should I choose plain or flavoured crisps for a mixed group?
Plain is a practical choice if you’re offering different dips or toppings; choose a flavoured variety if you specifically want to serve that flavour. Check the label for each variety separately: for example, Albert Heijn lists milk and lactose in its Tortilla chips nacho cheese flavour.
Does a university canteen have to provide allergen information for crisps served in bowls?
Yes. If a canteen or caterer in the Netherlands serves the crisps as unpackaged food, it must provide allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists 14 allergens. Make sure the information for the exact variety being served is available to the people you’re offering the crisps to.
Is online allergen information enough to serve the crisps?
Before serving, also check the label on the exact pack. Ingredients and allergens can vary by variety. Lidl Netherlands also says it doesn’t provide an online list of ingredients, allergens and nutritional values for food products.