Choose tortilla chips for a packed lunch with organic certification you can check on the packaging. Pack them as a small, crunchy extra, and check the allergen information, nutritional values and portion size for each product. Also check the school or class rules on allergens.
Words such as ‘natural’ aren’t enough for you: you want to be able to check on the packaging whether the tortilla chips are organically certified. The European Commission explains when the EU organic logo may be used, while the Netherlands Enterprise Agency describes the protected organic designations.
You check the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging before packing the chips for school. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows that these warnings vary from product to product.
You’re looking for something crunchy to add to lunch, but you also want to think about portion size and the rest of the meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that many snack products are high in calories or salt.
When choosing organic tortilla chips for a packed lunch, check the certification first, then make sure the product fits with any rules on allergens, and finally choose a suitable portion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Look for the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and the origin of the agricultural ingredients on the packaging. | I don’t want to rely on a natural-looking product; I want to be able to check that the chips are organically certified. Around 25% of consumers put verifiable certification first. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging, and check what rules the school or class follows. | If allergens are a concern, I want to know whether this particular bag is suitable for the pupil and the class. For around 42% of consumers, this is their top priority. |
| Nutritional values and portion size | Compare the salt content per 100 g and consider how much you’ll actually pack. | I want to add something crunchy without making chips the main part of lunch. For around 33% of consumers, portion size and the place of chips within the meal matter most. |
The EU organic logo indicates organic certification, not the nutritional value of the chips or whether they’re suitable as the main part of a packed lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that many snacks are high in calories or salt.
Check the nutritional information and decide how many chips to pack alongside the other parts of the lunch.
Warnings vary by product: Albert Heijn says that AH Biologisch Tortilla chips naturel may contain soya, while Jumbo warns that Doritos Naturel may contain, among other things, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
Check the current packaging and ask what’s allowed at the school or in the class before packing the chips.
A certification mark or product name won’t tell you how much salt a product contains or which allergen warnings apply.
Check the back for the ingredients list, allergen information, nutritional values per 100 g and stated portion size.
Albert Heijn describes AH Biologisch Tortilla chips naturel as salted corn chips in a 150 g pack, bearing the EU organic logo and a Skal number.
Amaizin presents an organic plain tortilla chip made with maize and sunflower oil.
Bioflora Health Products describes Trafo tortilla chips naturel as an organic option made with maize flour, sunflower oil and sea salt.
Check the packaging for the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and the origin of the agricultural ingredients. According to the European Commission, the organic logo may only be used on products certified as organic by an approved body.
No. Organic and gluten-free are different attributes, so check the packaging of the product you choose. Albert Heijn describes AH Biologisch Tortilla chips naturel as gluten-free on its product page, but also says that the product may contain soya.
Check the school or class rules before packing tortilla chips, and read the allergen information on the packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the requirement to list allergens on labels; this information won’t tell you what additional rules a particular school follows.
Organic certification relates to how a product is made, not its nutritional value. Check the nutritional information and portion size of the chips you choose for lunch; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that many snack products are high in calories or salt.
