For a sandwich lunch with several people, individual bags are handy if you want to pack or hand out crisps: the weight of each bag is set in advance. A larger bag works if you want to portion the crisps yourself; choose a mixed box only if the types of snacks and flavours suit the people eating them. For each pack, compare the total contents, portion size and label for the specific variety.
If you're putting crisps out or packing them for several people at a sandwich lunch, individual bags make it easy to portion them out in advance. Jumbo states that its own-brand sharing pack contains 15 bags of 25 g. Check the number of bags and the weight per bag on any other pack.
If you're planning for several lunches, it’s not just the number of bags that matters but also the total net weight. A box with lots of small bags doesn’t necessarily contain more crisps than a pack with fewer, larger bags.
If nutrition, ingredients or allergens will influence your choice, compare the specific flavours you want to buy. The nutrition information per 100 g and per portion shows how the packs compare; with a mixed box, check the individual types of snacks too.
First decide whether you need pre-portioned bags. Then compare the quantity of crisps and the contents of the packs that suit your lunch.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and convenience | Check the number of individual bags and the weight of each one. | If I want to set out a bag for each person, I want to know in advance how big each portion is. For around 37% of consumers, portioning convenience comes first. |
| Total contents | Compare the pack’s net weight with the amount you want to portion out. | If I’m buying crisps for several lunches, I want to make sure I have enough without judging by the number of bags alone. Total contents are the first consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Label and ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare nutrition values per 100 g and per portion for the flavours you’ve chosen. | If not everyone can or wants to eat the same snacks, I need to know what’s in each bag. Around 27% of consumers put checking the label first. |
The number of bags doesn’t tell you how many crisps are in the pack as a whole. For example, Jumbo states that its own-brand sharing pack contains 15 bags of 25 g, while the contents and weight per bag vary in other multipacks.
Check both the total net weight and the weight of each bag before deciding which pack you can share across your planned lunches.
A box can contain different flavours as well as different types of snacks. That doesn’t automatically make it suitable for everyone, especially if ingredients or allergens are a concern.
Check which bags are in the box and read the allergen information for the specific products.
You may be left with bags in flavours no one wants to eat.
Nutrition values and ingredients can vary by flavour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides values for average crisps, but these won’t necessarily describe the variety in your basket.
Use the nutrition information on the pack you’ve chosen to compare products. The Dutch Government says Nutri-Score is intended to compare products of the same type; you should also read the ingredients and allergen information.
Jumbo’s own brand offers sharing bags for anyone who wants to portion out crisps in advance for different lunches.
Lay's offers individual bags of crisps and mixed packs for groups with different flavour preferences.
Pringles is an option if you want to choose a particular flavour or a tube rather than a box of different individual lunch bags.
Smiths Sticks are shaped crisps for anyone looking for that particular product or flavour.
Snack Day is Lidl’s snack brand, with a range of crisp flavours.
These products include individual portions of crisps and packs to share at a sandwich lunch. Check each box to make sure the number of bags, flavours and labels suit the people you’re buying for.
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For anyone who wants to take individual lunch portions in one flavour. The pack states that it contains 12 bags of 40 g; if you have an allergy, check the ingredients on the current pack.
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For a lunch where you want to hand out individual bags of the same flavour. The pack states that it contains 10 bags of 40 g; if you have an allergy, read the ingredients and allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen.
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For a lunch where you want to share a mix. The pack states that it contains 180 g; check which flavours and individual portions are inside before sharing it out.
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For several people who each want to choose a bag from a mix. The title states that it contains two packs of 15 bags; read the ingredients and allergen information for each type of snack.
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For a lunch with several people who want to choose individual snacks. The box states that it contains 15 pieces; check which snacks are inside, how much each bag contains and which allergens are listed on the packs.
Compare the total net weight, number of bags, weight per bag and flavours. This will help you see whether a pack suits the number of people and lunch occasions you have in mind.
Yes. The weight per bag tells you in advance how many crisps each individual pack contains. Check the label of the variety you’ve chosen if you also want to compare nutrition information per portion.
Compare Nutri-Score on products of the same type, such as crisps with crisps. The Dutch Government describes the logo as a tool for this kind of comparison; also read the nutrition values and ingredients on the specific pack.
Check the allergen information for each type in the mix on the current pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens which must be declared have to be listed in the ingredients of prepacked foods. Don’t assume the information for one flavour applies if the box contains several snacks.
Check the current pack before eating the crisps. Albert Heijn warns that online information about ingredients, nutrition values and allergens can change, and recommends reading the label.
