Who is this choice relevant to?

Snack buyer looking for certification

You want to know whether the crisps are certified organic, so you check the EU organic logo, the code of the inspection body and the origin statement on the packaging.

Portion-conscious snack buyer

You want something crunchy for late morning, but you also consider how much you eat and the nutritional information per portion.

Comparing types and ingredients

You compare potato, vegetable, lentil or banana crisps by their ingredients and nutritional information, or check a specific claim and the allergen statement.

What should you look for when choosing?

First check the organic labelling on the packaging. Then compare the type of crisps and read the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, so differences in pack size don’t cloud your decision.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important to?
Organic certification For pre-packed organic crisps, look for the EU organic logo, the inspection body’s code and the origin statement. If I’m choosing organic crisps specifically because of how they’re produced, I want more reassurance than words such as “natural” on the front of the pack. For around 40% of consumers, checking the organic label is the top priority.
Portion size and nutritional information Compare energy, fat and salt per 100 g and per portion; check how many portions the pack contains. For a snack, I want to be able to estimate how much I’ll actually take from the bag, without assuming that organic means a particular nutritional value. Around 40% of consumers give the portion size and nutritional information the highest priority.
Type and ingredients Read the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen statement for the exact variety; check any dietary claims on that pack. For example, I might look for vegetable crisps to compare fibre, or lentil crisps because protein is one of my criteria. For around 20% of consumers, the type of crisps and their ingredients matter most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming organic means a particular nutritional value

    Organic certification relates to how a product is produced. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, organic food has not been shown to be healthier than conventional food in general.

    Use the certification to check whether a product is organic, and read the nutrition table separately when choosing your snack.

  • Judging by the word “vegetable” in the name alone

    According to Albert Heijn, AH Biologisch Robuuste chips groente zeezout contains 54% vegetables and 12 g of fibre, but also 472 kcal per 100 g. The main ingredient therefore doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value.

    When comparing vegetable crisps, also check energy, fat and salt per 100 g and per portion.

  • Thinking of the whole bag as one portion

    Albert Heijn and Jumbo each list five 25 g portions for their 125 g bags of organic ready salted crisps. A bag and a listed portion are therefore not the same amount.

    Decide how much you want to have beforehand and use the portion size as a guide for your calculations.

  • Treating banana crisps like fresh bananas

    According to the product information, AH Biologisch Bananenchips contains coconut oil and cane sugar. The nutritional information lists 10 g of added sugars and 22 g of saturated fat per 100 g.

    Compare banana crisps as a sweet variety of crisps, not as a like-for-like alternative to fresh fruit.

Brands to consider

AH Biologisch

This range includes ready salted potato crisps, vegetable crisps and banana crisps. The differences go beyond flavour.

  • Albert Heijn lists the EU organic logo and NL-BIO-01 for its ready salted crisps.
  • Check the exact variety: the listed ingredients and nutritional values differ between the ready salted, vegetable and banana crisps.

Jumbo Biologisch

Jumbo’s organic own-brand range includes ready salted potato crisps and vegetable crisps made with potato.

  • The ready salted variety lists 76% organic potatoes, 23% organic sunflower oil and 1% sea salt.
  • The vegetable variety also contains potato and oil; compare the full ingredients list and nutritional information.

BioToday

BioToday Linzenchips zeezout is an organic option if you want to compare lentils as an ingredient with other types of crisps.

  • The product information lists 43% lentil flour and 12 g of protein per 100 g.
  • Also check the listed 1.7 g of salt per 100 g and the warning about possible traces of allergens.

Trafo Bio Organic

Trafo Bio Organic Aardappelchips is a potato crisp made with organic potatoes and organic sunflower oil.

  • The product information on Jumbo lists the EU organic logo and NL-BIO-01.
  • Before buying, check whether this variety is available and read the nutritional information on the packaging.

Products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I recognise certified organic crisps?

For pre-packed organic crisps, look for the EU organic logo and the accompanying inspection and origin information. According to the European Commission, the organic logo may only be used on products certified as organic by a recognised control authority or inspection body. The word “natural” alone doesn’t offer the same assurance.

Are organic crisps automatically suitable as a daily mid-morning snack?

No. The organic label alone doesn’t tell you anything conclusive about the nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says organic food has not been shown to be healthier than conventional food in general, and points out that many snacks are high in energy, salt, sugar or saturated fat. So compare the nutritional information and your portion size.

How should I use the portion size shown on the bag?

Use the listed portion to calculate the nutritional value for the amount you eat; it doesn’t mean the whole bag is one portion. According to their product information, AH Biologisch Chips naturel and Jumbo Biologisch Naturel Chips each list 25 g portions for a 125 g bag.

Are vegetable or lentil crisps always a better choice than potato crisps?

No. Focus on the specific difference that matters to you, then compare the full nutritional information. Albert Heijn lists 12 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Biologisch Robuuste chips groente zeezout, while BioToday Linzenchips zeezout lists 12 g of protein and 1.7 g of salt per 100 g. These individual values don’t determine which crisps are the better choice in every respect.

What should I check for gluten and other allergens?

Check the claims and allergen statement on the exact packaging. According to the product information, BioToday Linzenchips zeezout is labelled gluten-free, but it also warns that it may contain traces of allergens including celery, milk, peanuts and soya.