Office snackers keeping an eye on total fat
You want to take crisps with you, but are looking for an option with less total fat listed than comparable regular crisps. Compare the values per 100 g, then consider how much you’ll pack.
Who might find this choice useful?
Shoppers looking at nutrition more broadly
Salt, saturated fat and energy matter to you as well as fat. Use any Nutri-Score only to compare similar products, such as crisps with crisps; this is also how the Dutch Government recommends using it.
Lunch planners checking ingredients
If you have an allergy or dietary requirement, check the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen flavour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clear allergen information on food labels.
What should you look for?
Start by comparing the fat content of similar crisps per 100 g. Then check the other nutritional values and decide how much you’ll actually take with you.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Total fat | Compare the fat content per 100 g with that of regular crisps, and check what any lower-fat claim refers to. | I want to keep taking crisps with me, but mainly choose based on a lower listed fat content for the same quantity. Around 36% of consumers choosing crisps for an office lunch put this first. |
| Other nutritional values | Check salt, saturated fat and energy per 100 g and per planned portion. Compare any Nutri-Score only within the same product category. | If I’m looking beyond fat, I want to know how much salt and energy my portion contains. For around 29% of these consumers, this broader nutritional comparison matters most. |
| Portion size and packing | Check the portion size on the label and decide how many crisps you can take in a tightly sealed container. | I’d rather take a pre-selected amount than an open bag that I keep dipping into while I work. Around 21% of consumers say choosing a portion is their main priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen flavour on the current packaging. | If ingredients are the deciding factor for me, I check the specific flavour before looking at its fat content. This check comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Focusing only on ‘lower fat’
The claim refers to fat compared with a product used for comparison, not to all nutritional values. Jumbo lists Lay's Oven Baked Original as containing 13 g of fat and 0.85 g of salt per 100 g; regular Lay's Original contains 30 g of fat and 1.1 g of salt per 100 g.
Compare saturated fat, salt and energy per 100 g too, and check what your chosen portion contains.
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Comparing Nutri-Scores across different snacks
The Dutch Government says Nutri-Score is intended for comparing products of the same kind. It is not a substitute for the nutritional information table.
Use the score, at most, as an extra point of comparison between crisps, and check the values on the label as well.
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Assuming every flavour has the same allergens
Ingredients can vary between flavours. For example, Pringles lists milk and soya as potentially present in Original; this tells you nothing about the ingredients in other varieties.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the physical pack for your chosen flavour.
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Taking a whole bag as your lunch portion
Nutritional values per portion are only helpful when choosing if that portion matches the amount you eat.
Decide in advance how much you want to take, then pack it separately in a tightly sealed tub or bag.
Brands to consider
Lay's
The Oven Baked range is worth considering if you want to compare the listed total fat in crisps with regular original crisps.
- Jumbo lists Lay's Oven Baked Original as containing 13 g of fat per 100 g, compared with 30 g per 100 g for regular Lay's Original.
- Check the salt, portion size and ingredients for the specific flavour too; the values for Original do not automatically apply to other varieties.
Albert Heijn
AH Ridged Crisps Original, Lower Fat is a supermarket own-brand option that explicitly compares itself with regular AH Ridged Crisps Original.
- Albert Heijn lists 20 g of fat per 100 g and says the fat content is 35% lower than that of AH Ridged Crisps Original.
- The same product information lists 0.9 g of salt and 461 kcal per 100 g; consider these values separately from the fat claim.
Chio
Jumbo includes Chio Oven Chips in its lower-fat crisp range, which features a selection of flavours.
- The choice of flavours makes it easier to find an option that suits your lunch.
- Compare the nutritional information and ingredients for each flavour; details for one variety do not automatically apply to the whole range.
Pringles
Pringles Original is a stackable crisp in a tube, but the packaging tells you nothing about its fat content.
- If you’re considering a tube, the product information for Pringles Original gives you a specific option to assess for its nutritional value.
- Pringles lists 31 g of fat per 100 g for Original and says milk and soya may be present. Check other varieties separately.
Crisp options on Joybuy
These oven-baked crisps are worth considering when comparing flavours and pack sizes for an office lunch. Use the nutritional information and ingredients for the specific variety on the current pack to help you choose.
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Lay's Oven Baked Mediterranean Herbs – 150 g
A herby flavour for anyone who wants to take a pre-measured portion from a larger bag. Compare the nutritional information for this flavour per 100 g and check the ingredients on the pack.
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Lay's Oven Baked Barbecue – 150 g
A barbecue flavour for a pre-measured lunch portion from a 150 g bag. Check the nutritional information and allergens for this flavour separately.
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Lay's Oven Baked Paprika – 150 g
A paprika flavour for anyone who wants to take a portion from a 150 g bag. Compare the fat and salt values on the pack with those of other flavours.
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Lay's Oven Cheese Onion – 150 g
A cheese and onion flavour for anyone who wants to measure out their own portion from a 150 g bag. Check the portion guidance and ingredients on the pack before buying.
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Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt – 125 g
A sea salt variety in a 125 g bag for anyone comparing flavours and pack sizes. As well as the fat content, check the salt and allergen information on the current pack.
Frequently asked questions
Does lower fat mean I don’t need to check other nutritional values?
No. The comparison is about fat relative to a particular product. Check salt, saturated fat and energy too, and decide how many crisps you’ll actually put in your lunch.
Should I compare crisps per portion or per 100 g?
Use both: comparing products per 100 g lets you assess them side by side, while the values per planned portion show what you’ll be taking with you. The Lay's Oven Baked Original and AH Ridged Crisps Original, Lower Fat packs reviewed list portions of 30 g and 25 g respectively; choose an amount that matches your own portion.
Should I check the allergens again if I choose a different flavour?
Yes. Check the ingredients and allergen information for each flavour you choose on the current packaging. Different varieties may have different ingredients.
How should I take crisps to the office for lunch?
Measure out the portion you want in advance and pack it in a tightly sealed, dry container. Follow the storage instructions on the pack too, even if you’re keeping a larger bag after opening it.