Before choosing between plain, vegetable and sweet potato crisps, check the organic labelling on the pack. Plain crisps are the classic choice if you’re looking for a potato crisp; the other varieties offer a different base ingredient and flavour. Whichever type you choose, compare the nutritional information and decide how much you want to have with your coffee: crisps aren’t a substitute for breakfast.
You don’t want to rely on words such as ‘natural’ or ‘plant-based’ alone. Check the pack for the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and an indication of where the agricultural ingredients come from, as described by the European Commission for organic labelling.
You’re looking for a snack to take with you and want to decide in advance how much to pack. If you’re also having breakfast, keep crisps separate from the breakfast foods described by Voedingscentrum.
You’re considering vegetable or sweet potato crisps as well as plain crisps. The ingredients in the specific variety will help you decide; whatever the base ingredient, check the organic label and nutritional information.
First, check the organic labelling on the specific pack. Then choose based on portion size, nutritional information and the ingredients you want to eat.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic labelling | Check the current pack for the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and an indication of where the agricultural ingredients come from. The European Commission describes these details as part of organic labelling. | I want to check what the word ‘organic’ on these crisps is based on, rather than relying on the product name alone. This is the most important check for roughly 33% of consumers. |
| Portion size with coffee | Read the stated portion size and decide how much to take with you. Keep a savoury snack separate from your breakfast. | For a short coffee break, I want to take a measured amount without treating the whole pack as breakfast. Around 27% of consumers prioritise portion size and the snack’s role alongside coffee. |
| Nutritional information | Compare energy, fat, saturated fat and salt per 100 g; also work out how much of each is in your portion. | When choosing between packs, I want to know how much fat, salt and energy I’ll get from the amount I eat. This is the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and flavour | Check whether the variety is made from potato, a vegetable mix or sweet potato; also read the ingredients list on the specific pack. | I’m mainly looking to add some variety to my usual plain crisps, so I deliberately choose a different base ingredient. This flavour choice is the deciding factor for around 13% of consumers. |
These words don’t mean the same thing as an organic label. Vegetable crisps aren’t certified organic simply because they’re made with vegetables.
Check the specific pack for the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and the indication of origin referred to by the European Commission for organic labelling.
An organic label doesn’t change the fact that crisps are a snack. Voedingscentrum describes different food groups for breakfast, including wholegrain products and fruit.
If you’re having breakfast on the go, take breakfast foods with you too. If you choose crisps, treat them as a separate savoury extra.
Jumbo’s listing for 125 g of organic plain crisps uses a portion size of 30 g. So the nutritional values per portion are quite different from those for the whole pack.
Check the portion size on your pack and decide in advance how much to take for your journey.
Ingredients and certification details on a product page don’t mean the crisps are currently available. Jumbo’s page for the organic plain variety says this item is no longer part of its online range; Lidl says its organic vegetable crisps are only available in store.
Check availability separately and read the current packaging of your chosen variety when you buy it.
The listing for Jumbo Chips Naturel Biologisch 125 g is a useful example if you want to check the organic labelling on plain crisps.
Albert Heijn offers crisps labelled organic in plain, vegetable and sweet potato varieties, for shoppers who want to compare the base ingredients.
Lidl offers organic vegetable crisps for shoppers who can check the packaging during a visit to the store.
Check the organic labelling on the current pack of the specific crisps. For organic labelling, the European Commission refers to the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and an indication of the origin of the agricultural ingredients. A word such as ‘natural’ doesn’t give you this information.
Organic crisps aren’t a replacement for breakfast as described by Voedingscentrum. If you’re having breakfast on the go, choose breakfast foods too; decide separately whether, and how many, crisps you want to take as a savoury snack.
Read the ingredients list and check the highlighted allergens on the packaging of the specific variety. Under the general EU labelling rules explained by Your Europe, allergen information must be included on pre-packed foods. Don’t rely on the name of the type of crisp alone.
No. Check current availability separately from the product description. Jumbo says that its 125 g organic plain crisps are no longer part of its online range, while Lidl says its organic vegetable crisps are only sold in store.
