Consumers keeping an eye on fat
You want to serve crisps, but your main concern is comparing how much fat each variety contains per 100 g. You don’t mind choosing a different base from that of classic potato crisps.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Consumers comparing salt as well
You’re looking for lower-fat crisps, but also want to know how much salt each variety contains per 100 g and per stated serving.
Consumers who consider flavour and texture too
For your get-together, flavour and the texture you’re after matter too. That’s why you’ll also look at the ingredients, rather than focusing solely on the fat-reduction claim.
What should you look for when choosing?
First compare the fat content of similar products per 100 g. Then take salt and your portion into account, before choosing a flavour and ingredients that suit the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Compare the fat per 100 g in similar crisps; check separately what product a fat-reduction claim is comparing against. | If my main aim is to serve less fat, I want to compare the actual figures rather than relying on claims on the front of the pack. Around 42% of consumers prioritise fat content. |
| Fat and salt together | Check the salt per 100 g and per stated serving alongside the fat content. | If I’m having more than one handful, I also want to know how much salt I’ll be eating in the amount I choose. For around 33% of consumers, balancing fat and salt is the main consideration. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Check the flavour and whether the ingredients include, for example, potato, potato flakes or potato powder. | If the crisps need to go with the rest of the food I’m serving, I won’t choose based on nutritional values alone; flavour and the texture I’m after matter too. This is the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming a fat-reduction claim means the lowest fat content
The claims don’t all use the same product for comparison. Albert Heijn compares AH Ribbelchips naturel minder vet with regular AH Ribbelchips naturel; the claims for the Chio and Lay's varieties discussed here refer to regular potato crisps.
Use the claim as context, and compare the grams of fat per 100 g when making your choice.
-
Looking only at fat
Jumbo lists 9.2 g of fat and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g for Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt. For Lay's Oven Baked Naturel, Jumbo lists 13 g of fat and 0.85 g of salt per 100 g. If you consider both figures, you’ll weigh things up differently than if you compare fat alone.
Check both figures on the same basis, then think about how much you plan to serve.
-
Expecting the energy value to fall by the same amount
A claim about fat doesn’t tell you how much energy a product contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 196 kcal for a 40 g bowl of plain light crisps and 214 kcal for 40 g of flavoured crisps; these are general nutritional values, not a comparison of the specific products above.
If energy value matters to your choice, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving for the products you’re considering.
-
Assuming all oven-baked crisps have the same texture
The Lay's Oven Baked Naturel discussed here contains potato flakes and starch, Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt contains potato powder and starch, and AH Ribbelchips naturel minder vet lists 79% potato. So the name of the cooking method alone won’t tell you which ingredients are used.
Read the ingredients list if the type of potato base or a particular texture matters for your get-together.
Brands compared
Lay's
Lay's Oven Baked includes plain and several seasoned flavours. Compare the nutritional values for each flavour.
- For Oven Baked Naturel, Albert Heijn claims 50% less fat than regular crisps; Jumbo lists 13 g of fat and 0.85 g of salt per 100 g.
- The relative claim doesn’t tell you how much fat another Lay's Oven Baked flavour contains per 100 g.
Chio
Chio Oven Chips includes Sea Salt, Paprika and Onion & Sour Cream. The nutritional values for Sea Salt are useful for comparison with the plain varieties discussed here.
- Jumbo lists 9.2 g of fat per 100 g for Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt.
- The same variety contains 1.5 g of salt per 100 g, as well as potato powder and starch. If you have allergies, check the current packaging.
Albert Heijn
AH Ribbelchips naturel minder vet is a supermarket own-brand option for anyone comparing ridged crisps with regular AH Ribbelchips naturel.
- Albert Heijn says this variety has 35% less fat than AH Ribbelchips naturel and contains 79% potato.
- With 20 g of fat and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g, it’s worth comparing the actual figures rather than relying on the reduction claim alone.
Oven-baked crisps for sharing on Joybuy
This selection includes Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt and four Lay's Oven flavours. First choose the flavour you’d like to serve, then check the nutritional information for that variety to compare fat and salt.
Image unavailable
Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt 125 g
For anyone mainly comparing fat per 100 g when choosing crisps to share: Jumbo lists 9.2 g of fat and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g for this sea-salt variety.
Its ingredients include potato powder and starch. If you have allergies, check the current packaging.
Image unavailable
Lay's Oven Baked Mediterranean Herbs 150 g
A Mediterranean herb-flavoured oven-baked crisp for when you fancy serving something other than plain crisps.
The bag contains 150 g. Compare the nutritional values per 100 g on the packaging, and check the ingredients if you have allergies.
Image unavailable
Lay's Oven Baked Barbecue 150 g
An oven-baked barbecue flavour for anyone who wants to serve this classic at their get-together.
The bag contains 150 g. To compare nutritional values, check the fat and salt per 100 g on the packaging; if you have allergies, check the ingredients too.
Image unavailable
Lay's Oven Baked Paprika 150 g
A paprika-flavoured oven-baked crisp for anyone who wants to serve this flavour at their get-together.
The bag contains 150 g. Compare fat and salt on the same basis as other flavours, and check the current packaging if you have allergies.
Image unavailable
Lay's Oven Cheese Onion 150 g
A cheese and onion-flavoured oven-baked crisp for anyone looking for this flavour combination to share.
The bag contains 150 g. Check the fat and salt per 100 g on the packaging, and read the current ingredients list if you have allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘less fat’ mean the same as ‘low fat’?
No. ‘Less fat’ compares one product with another; it doesn’t automatically mean that a product is ‘low fat’. The European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ nutrition claim on solid foods; Jumbo lists 9.2 g of fat per 100 g for Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt. For a reduction claim, check both the product it’s compared with and the actual fat content.
Should I compare crisps per 100 g or per serving?
Use the values per 100 g to compare crisps on a like-for-like basis, then consider what the stated serving means for your get-together. For 30 g servings, Jumbo lists 3.8 g of fat and 0.26 g of salt for Lay's Oven Baked Naturel, and 2.8 g of fat and 0.45 g of salt for Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt.
Is a better Nutri-Score enough to choose crisps?
No. Use Nutri-Score as an additional way to compare products within the same category, not as a substitute for nutritional information. Lidl Netherlands describes it as a tool for comparing products within a category; also check the values that matter for your choice, such as fat, salt and serving size.
Should I check the ingredients again even if I know the flavour?
Yes. Check the current packaging if ingredients or allergens matter to your choice. Flavours can vary, so don’t assume a variety has the same ingredients as another product in the same crisp range.