Looking to buy lower-fat tortilla chips for a neighbourhood get-together? Check both the type of product and what the fat claim is being compared with. Albert Heijn describes La Morena Totopos as oven-baked corn tortilla chips with 70% less fat than regular tortilla and nacho chips. On its own, that claim doesn’t tell you about the nutritional value of the whole bag. So also compare the energy, salt, serving size and allergens on the pack you’ll actually be serving.
You want to serve tortilla chips and are looking for a clear comparison of fat content. Albert Heijn lists La Morena Totopos as having less fat than regular tortilla and nacho chips; check the pack you choose to see exactly what the claim refers to.
If your guests need to watch out for certain ingredients or allergens, check the bag that will be served. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for pre-packed products is shown on the label.
You’re choosing mainly based on flavour and the type of chips you want to serve. Jumbo lists Doritos Nacho Cheese and Sweet Chilli Pepper among its tortilla chips, but this product listing isn’t a claim about reduced fat.
Start by asking whether tortilla chips are a must-have for your get-together. Then compare the fat claim and the label on the specific bag, rather than treating all oven-baked chips as the same type of product.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter most to? |
|---|---|---|
| Clearly demonstrated lower fat | Check that they are tortilla chips and what the fat reduction is being compared with. | I want to serve tortilla chips and choose a bag only when the fat comparison is clear; around 36% of consumers prioritise clearly demonstrated lower fat. |
| Type of chips and flavour | Check the product description and decide whether another type of chip would also work for your get-together. | I’m serving chips with dip and want tortilla chips, even if they don’t carry a fat-reduction claim; the type of chips matters most to around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the current pack. | If guests need to watch out for certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the bag being served; around 21% of consumers give checking the label top priority. |
| Availability and substitutions | Check what your shop stocks and, if you choose a substitute, check the product type and claim again. | I want to do all my shopping for the get-together in one go and be able to choose a suitable alternative if needed; availability comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
The Voedingscentrum says that the calorie difference between light crisps and regular crisps can be small. A comparison of fat content also won’t tell you how much salt is in a specific bag.
Compare the energy, fat and salt per 100 g, and consider how many chips you plan to serve in bowls for your get-together.
Some oven-baked potato crisps carry a claim about having less fat. That doesn’t make them corn tortilla chips for a get-together where you specifically want to serve that type of chip.
Check the product description and ingredients before choosing a different type of chip as a substitute.
A claim such as gluten-free or lactose-free doesn’t answer every question about ingredients, allergens or warnings that may be relevant to a guest.
Read all the information on the bag you’re serving. If in doubt, check with the guest concerned about what needs to be verified.
Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. So a product description you looked at previously isn’t a substitute for checking the label on the pack you have at home.
Check the shop’s product listing when you do your shopping, then check the pack again before serving.
La Morena Totopos is worth looking at if you’re specifically after tortilla chips with a fat-reduction claim.
Here, Doritos is a reference point for regular tortilla chips when flavour and type of chip come first.
No, you can’t assume that from a fat-reduction claim. The Voedingscentrum says that the calorie difference between light crisps and regular crisps can be small. So compare the energy, fat and salt per 100 g on the tortilla chips you want to serve.
Read the packaging on the bag you’ll actually be serving. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for pre-packed products is shown on the label; also check for any warnings that may be relevant to your guests.
Tailor the amount to the number of guests and the other snacks you’re serving. The serving information on the pack you choose can help you divide the chips between bowls, but it isn’t a fixed amount per guest.
