A ‘free from’ or ‘lower fat’ claim doesn’t automatically make paprika crisps suitable if you have diabetes and a food allergy. Compare the carbohydrates in the portion you plan to eat and check the current packaging for the specific allergen you need to avoid. An oven-baked variety may contain less fat but more carbohydrates than a regular variety.
If you want to know how many carbohydrates you’re getting from a bowl of crisps, you’ll need both the nutritional information per 100 g and the size of your portion. Diabetes Fonds recommends counting carbohydrates for type 1 diabetes; for type 2, it highlights carbohydrates, salt and saturated fat.
An oven-baked paprika variety may be worth considering if fat is your main point of comparison. Lower fat doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates a product contains or whether it includes allergens, as the product details for Lay's Paprika and Lay's Oven Baked Roasted Paprika at Albert Heijn show.
If you need to avoid, for example, milk, soya, gluten or lactose, that’s a specific requirement for the product you put in your basket. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. ‘Allergen-free’ without specifying the allergen isn’t a useful way to narrow down your choice.
Start with the carbohydrates in your planned portion and the allergen you need to avoid. Then compare fat, salt and other nutritional values. A single claim on the front of the pack doesn’t replace the nutrition information.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates per portion | Check the carbohydrates per 100 g and calculate the amount for the portion you plan to eat. | If I’m keeping track of carbohydrates, I want to know what’s in my own bowl rather than just looking at the bag. An estimated 50% of consumers prioritise carbohydrates per portion. |
| A specific allergen | Check the ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid a particular allergen, that information needs to be accurate for the crisps I buy. For around 30% of consumers, this specific allergen is the main priority. |
| Fat and salt | Compare fat, saturated fat and salt per 100 g alongside carbohydrates. Check the fibre content too, if it’s listed. | If I’m mainly watching fat or salt, I don’t want to rely on a claim such as ‘oven-baked’ or on a different main ingredient. These nutritional values matter most to an estimated 20% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn lists 13 g of fat and 69 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for Lay's Oven Baked Roasted Paprika. For regular Lay's Paprika, the retailer lists 29 g of fat and 54 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. So, for these two products, the difference in fat doesn’t correspond to the difference in carbohydrates.
First compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then work out the carbohydrates in your planned portion.
According to Jumbo’s product information, Jumbo Paprika Chips contains milk. Albert Heijn lists milk for Lay's Oven Baked Roasted Paprika and warns that Proper Paprika Lentil Chips may contain soya. The relevant warning therefore varies from product to product.
Identify the allergen you need to avoid, then check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging.
Albert Heijn lists 2,71 g of salt per 100 g for Proper Paprika Lentil Chips, compared with 0,65 g for Lay's Paprika and 0,8 g for AH Chips paprika. A different main ingredient doesn’t determine the salt content.
Compare salt per 100 g separately from protein, fat and carbohydrates.
If you have an allergy, your choice depends on the ingredients and warnings for the product you actually buy. General category descriptions or a picture of the packaging aren’t a substitute.
Read the label on the bag you receive or buy before eating the crisps, even if you’ve already made a shortlist online.
These brands offer examples of different paprika varieties. The values and features listed apply to the specific products, not every crisp made by a brand.
Regular and oven-baked paprika crisps with varying nutritional values.
Albert Heijn’s own-brand paprika crisps, with product features and nutritional values listed by the retailer.
Regular paprika crisps, with nutritional values and allergen information listed by the retailer for the specific product.
Lentil-based paprika crisps as an alternative to compare nutritional values.
Lidl’s own-brand range includes a 250 g paprika crisp variety.
This selection includes regular and oven-baked paprika varieties, including a cheese and paprika variety and a pack with individual portions. Use the pack size to plan your portion, and always check the label on your chosen variety if you have an allergy.
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A paprika variety for measuring out your own portion from a bag. The pack contains 150 g. Check the label for the carbohydrates in your chosen portion and for any relevant allergens.
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The twelve individual 40 g packs give you a clearly defined portion size. Use the nutrition information to check the carbohydrates in each portion. According to the stated allergen information, this variety contains wheat and milk and may contain soya. Avoid it if you need to avoid any of these allergens, and check the current label.
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A paprika variety in a 100 g bag, so you can decide how much to pour out. The stated allergen information lists soya. Don’t choose this product if you need to avoid soya, and check the current label before eating.
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This 125 g pack is a cheese and paprika variety, not just paprika-flavoured. The stated information lists milk as an allergen, so avoid this product if you need to avoid milk. Check the warnings on the current packaging for other allergens.
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An oven-baked paprika variety in a 150 g bag, for comparing fat with other nutritional values. Don’t assume ‘oven-baked’ means a particular carbohydrate content: check the current packaging for this variety. The stated allergen information lists milk, so don’t choose it if you need to avoid milk.
Paprika crisps aren’t necessarily a suitable everyday snack. Diabetes Fonds describes crisps as something to enjoy occasionally and in limited amounts. If you’re keeping track of carbohydrates, check the amount in the portion you actually eat and compare the other nutritional values too.
Not necessarily. Albert Heijn lists 69 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for Lay's Oven Baked Roasted Paprika, compared with 54 g for regular Lay's Paprika. Check the nutritional information for the exact variety you’re buying, then calculate your portion.
No, those claims don’t cover every allergen. Albert Heijn describes AH Chips paprika as gluten-free and lactose-free, but if you have another allergy, check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warning on the current packaging separately.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal the opened bag tightly. Albert Heijn’s product information for the AH, Lay's and Proper varieties mentioned above says to store them in a cool, dry place.
