Looking for a classic potato crisp for a conference? Certified organic plain crisps are a good place to start. Vegetable or lentil crisps offer a different kind of snack if you’d like more variety. Check the organic label on the packaging and compare the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen details for each variety: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, organic does not automatically mean more nutritious. If you serve crisps unpackaged, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says guests must be able to get information about any allergens present at the point where the food is offered.
You want to present the crisps as organic and check the label on the packaging you receive. According to Skal Biocontrole, the EU organic logo is compulsory on pre-packed food produced in the EU and sold as organic.
You want to give guests clear information about ingredients and allergens in advance, especially if you’re serving crisps from their original packaging in bowls. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between allergen information on pre-packed products and information for food offered unpackaged.
You want to offer vegetable or lentil crisps alongside plain potato crisps, for example. Assess each variety based on its own ingredients and nutritional information, without assuming that the product category offers a health benefit.
First check the organic label and arrange allergen information for guests. Then decide which types of crisps and pack sizes will work best for serving.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Check for the EU organic logo on the packaging you receive. According to Skal Biocontrole, it is compulsory on pre-packed food produced in the EU and sold as organic. | If I announce that the crisps are organic, I want to be able to point to that label on the packaging. For an estimated 42% of consumers, being able to verify this is the main priority. |
| Dietary and allergen information | Check the label for each variety. If serving crisps unpackaged, make sure information about any allergens present is available where the food is offered. | When catering for a group with different dietary requirements, I want to be able to give guests the right product information before they eat. This information for guests is the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Variety and ease of serving | Compare the types of crisps, pack sizes and nutritional information per 100 g; also check availability before ordering. | For a break with a range of snack preferences, I want to be able to offer a choice and divide the packs up easily. Variety and ease of serving are the main considerations for around 25% of consumers. |
Organic certification relates to how a product is produced. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, there is generally no evidence that organic food is healthier than conventional food.
Use the certification to check the organic claim, then compare the ingredients, nutritional information and serving size of each product.
Vegetable crisps offer a different snack option, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, they are no healthier than regular crisps. The name alone doesn’t tell you how much salt or energy the pack contains.
Choose vegetable crisps for variety and check the nutritional information for the specific product; don’t present them as a substitute for fresh vegetables.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, guests must be able to get information about any allergens present in food offered unpackaged, at the place where it is offered.
Keep the labels for the varieties you use and make sure the corresponding allergen information is available when serving them.
Lidl lists its organic vegetable crisps as available in store only, subject to availability. A product listing therefore doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to buy the number of packs you need at the right time.
Check local availability before including this variety in your catering plan, and inspect the actual packaging when you buy it.
Albert Heijn lists AH Biologisch plain crisps in a 125 g bag.
Jumbo lists 125 g packs of organic plain crisps and 100 g packs of organic vegetable crisps with potato.
BioToday Lentil Crisps Sea Salt is an organic lentil crisp variety listed by Jumbo in a 75 g bag.
Lidl lists 100 g packs of organic vegetable crisps as an in-store product.
Look for the European organic certification logo, the green leaf, on the packaging. According to Skal Biocontrole, this logo is compulsory on pre-packed food produced in the EU and sold as organic.
Make sure guests can get information about any allergens present at the place where the unpackaged crisps are offered. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires providers of unpackaged food to supply this information, so keep the product details for every variety you use to hand.
No. Don’t assume that an organic label or the use of vegetables means a health benefit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says there is generally no evidence that organic food is healthier and that vegetable crisps are no healthier than regular crisps. Compare the nutritional information for the products you’re considering.
Compare details such as salt, fat and the amount per serving for each product. As a reference, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists average crisps as containing 215 kcal and 0.53 g of salt per 40 g bowlful. Check the packaging for the values of the crisps you buy.
Only do so after checking local availability. Lidl lists these vegetable crisps as available in store only, while stocks last.
