Choose paprika crisps for a school lunch based on the allergen that needs to be avoided, not the flavour name or a single claim such as gluten-free. Albert Heijn describes AH Chips paprika as gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan; Schär Curvies paprika carries a warning that it may contain milk, despite being labelled gluten-free and lactose-free, while Proper Paprika lentil chips may contain soya. So check the ingredients and any warnings on the actual packet you’re packing.
If you have a food allergy or coeliac disease, the information on the current packaging must match what you need to avoid. Check the ingredients and highlighted allergens, as well as any cross-contamination warnings.
An explicit gluten-free or lactose-free claim can help you choose, but it doesn’t automatically tell you anything about other allergens. Check which claims apply to the exact variant you’ve chosen.
The amount you pack and the rest of the lunch matter too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives fruit and vegetables as examples of snacks; paprika crisps don’t need to make up the lunch itself.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding a specific allergen | Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warnings such as ‘may contain milk’ on the current packet. | If gluten or a particular allergen must be strictly avoided, I wouldn’t rely on a claim on the front of the packet alone; around 42% of consumers put checking the full label first. |
| Specific product claims | Check separately whether the variant you’ve chosen is described as gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan; one claim doesn’t confirm another. | If you’re looking for a specific claim, you’ll want to know exactly which one applies to your chosen crisps; this is the main purchase concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portion size and nutritional information | Compare the pack size with the amount you’re taking and check the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion eaten. | For an occasional snack, I’d match the amount to the rest of the school lunch; around 25% of consumers prioritise choosing a practical portion size. |
A gluten-free claim doesn’t rule out other allergens. Albert Heijn warns that Schär Curvies paprika may contain milk and Proper Paprika lentil chips may contain soya.
Identify the allergen that needs to be avoided, then check the full information on the packaging, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn advises that the information on the packaging should therefore take priority.
Check the packet your child is actually taking to school, even if the same product seemed suitable before.
The fact that a product contains lentils, or a comparison of its fat content, doesn’t tell you everything else it contains. Albert Heijn lists 2.71 g of salt per 100 g for Proper Paprika lentil chips; Lay’s compares the fat content of Oven Baked Roasted Paprika with regular potato crisps.
Check the nutritional information and portion eaten separately, alongside the other food packed for lunch.
The product information for AH Chips paprika lists several separate dietary claims.
Curvies paprika is a paprika crisp with an explicit gluten-free claim.
Lentil flour is one of the ingredients in Proper Paprika lentil chips.
Oven Baked Roasted Paprika is a paprika variant that Lay’s compares in terms of fat content.
ALDI stocks paprika crisps from this brand in different pack sizes.
These paprika crisps are options for an occasional school-lunch snack. If a pupil needs to avoid an allergen, the full information on the current packaging will determine whether a particular packet is suitable.
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For an occasional paprika snack with a school lunch. Decide how much to take from the 300 g bag and, if there’s a specific allergen to avoid, check the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging.
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For an occasional paprika snack with a school lunch. Match the amount you take from the 185 g bag to the rest of the lunch and, if there’s a specific allergen to avoid, check any warnings on the packaging too.
No. Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens: for example, Albert Heijn says Schär Curvies paprika may contain milk. Check the ingredients and warnings for the allergens that need to be avoided.
Take the warning into account if the allergen mentioned needs to be avoided. A warning about possible milk or soya is separate from the ingredients list; assess all the information on the current packaging in light of what the pupil needs to avoid.
Use it to shortlist products, but also check the packaging of the packet that will be eaten. Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
It’s better to pack paprika crisps as an occasional addition rather than as the lunch itself. This also applies to variants labelled gluten-free or lactose-free; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives fruit and vegetables as other examples of snacks.
