Shoppers with a strict low-calorie requirement
You want to check the label to see whether a snack meets the threshold for the ‘low-calorie’ claim. If paprika crisps don’t meet that threshold, you’d rather choose something else.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Holidaymakers planning portions
You want to take paprika crisps for a set snack break, perhaps in an individual bag, without calling them low-calorie just because they come in a small pack.
Holidaymakers shopping for a group
You’re looking for a pack with enough crisps for several people or snack breaks, and want to decide in advance how to divide it up.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether ‘low-calorie’ is an absolute requirement. If you mainly want to take paprika crisps with you, compare the energy per 100 g, then choose an amount that suits your snack breaks.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Low-calorie claim | Check the kcal per 100 g. Under European rules, solid food must contain no more than 40 kcal per 100 g to carry the ‘low-calorie’ claim. ‘Lower fat’ doesn’t answer that question. | If I only want to take a demonstrably low-calorie snack, the value on the label must determine my choice. This is the top priority for around 38% of consumers. |
| Portion for each snack break | Check the weight of each individual bag, and the energy per portion as well as per 100 g. | When I’m out and about, I want to decide how many crisps to open for one snack break. Around 37% of consumers prioritise planning portions. |
| Pack size for a group | Compare the net weight with the number of people and snack breaks, and think about how you’ll share a large bag. | When buying for several holidaymakers, I want to take enough crisps without opening every portion at once. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Taking ‘lower fat’ to mean ‘low-calorie’
A cooking method or a claim about fat doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether a solid snack meets the European threshold of 40 kcal per 100 g for the ‘low-calorie’ claim.
If that claim is key to your choice, check the energy per 100 g on the label.
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Looking only at kcal per portion
Portions vary in weight. The Voedingscentrum gives 215 kcal as the average for a 40 g bowl of crisps; that isn’t the nutritional value of every paprika crisp.
Compare products by kcal per 100 g, then consider how many grams you actually want to open.
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Taking a large bag without a portion plan
A large bag doesn’t give you separate, pre-measured snack portions, so it’s harder to know in advance how much you’ll open each time.
Divide the contents into bowls in advance, or choose individual bags if having a set amount matters to you.
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Relying on out-of-date ingredient information
Ingredient and allergen information can change. Jumbo lists milk and sulphur dioxide/sulphites for Smiths Sticks Paprika.
Check the current label every time you buy the product if you need to be mindful of ingredients or allergens.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Paprika crisps are available in standard bags and multipacks with 40 g bags, as listed by Jumbo.
- The 20 × 40 g multipack has individually wrapped portions.
- Albert Heijn lists 507 kcal per 100 g for regular Lay's Paprika, so this variety doesn’t meet the threshold for the ‘low-calorie’ claim. Check the energy per 100 g separately for Oven Baked Paprika.
Smiths
Smiths Sticks Paprika is a paprika-flavoured snack in stick form, not a standard potato crisp.
- For this variety, Jumbo lists both the energy per 100 g and allergen information.
- At 491 kcal per 100 g, Smiths Sticks Paprika doesn’t meet the threshold for the ‘low-calorie’ claim. Jumbo lists milk and sulphur dioxide/sulphites as allergens.
Snack Day
Lidl lists Snack Day Paprika crisps as paprika-flavoured potato crisps in a 250 g bag.
- The pack size helps you work out how many portions to plan for a group.
- Check the nutritional information on the pack before assessing the energy per 100 g.
Sun Snacks
ALDI lists Sun Snacks Paprika crisps in a 250 g bag.
- The stated pack size helps you plan portions for several snack breaks.
- Use the nutritional information on the pack to assess the energy per 100 g.
Paprika crisps in portion packs
This Joybuy selection consists of individual bags of paprika crisps for anyone who wants to take a set amount for each snack break. A portion pack doesn’t tell you anything about the energy per 100 g.
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Pringles Red Pepper Flavoured Potato Chips, 12 × 40 g
The individual bags let you take a set amount for a snack break.
Pack: 12 bags of 40 g. Check the current energy per 100 g on the pack if you want to compare it.
Frequently asked questions
When can paprika crisps be labelled ‘low-calorie’?
Under European rules, this claim can only be used for a solid product containing no more than 40 kcal per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 507 kcal per 100 g for regular Lay's Paprika, and Jumbo lists 491 kcal per 100 g for Smiths Sticks Paprika; neither variety meets this threshold.
Are Oven Baked paprika crisps automatically low-calorie?
No. A description of how a product is made or a lower fat content doesn’t prove that it meets the threshold for the ‘low-calorie’ claim. Check the energy per 100 g on the current label for the specific variety.
What’s the benefit of a small bag of paprika crisps?
A small bag sets the amount you open, but doesn’t change the energy per 100 g. Compare the bag’s weight and kcal per bag with the amount you want to take for one snack break.
Which allergens should I check in paprika crisps?
It varies by product: Jumbo lists milk and sulphur dioxide/sulphites for Smiths Sticks Paprika. Always check the current label for the variety you choose, as ingredients and allergen information can change.