Parents who want to set aside one snack portion
A sealed bag can go in your changing bag or car, so you don’t have to open a large bag for one snack. Check how many grams are in each bag: the number of bags alone won’t tell you the portion size.
Who are sharing bags useful for?
Shoppers looking to stock up for separate occasions
A multipack can be useful if you want to keep several individual portions in the cupboard. Compare the number of bags and the total weight with how many times you’re likely to use them, so a large box doesn’t end up sitting around.
Shoppers checking ingredients or allergens
A mixed box may contain different snacks and ingredients in each bag. Check the label on the individual variety, especially if not everyone in your household can eat the same products.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you need individually sealed bags. Then compare the portion size, how much you’ll be stocking up on and the ingredients in each variety.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions on the go | Check that each bag is sealed individually and how many grams it contains. | If I’m packing something for a short break, I don’t want to be left with a large, opened bag. For around 42% of consumers, a portion that’s easy to take along and keeps the amount in check would come first. |
| The right amount to stock up on | Compare the number of bags and the total weight with how often you expect to use them. | I want to have some in the cupboard for several snack occasions, but not so much that uneaten flavours are left over. This would be the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients in each variety | Read the ingredients and allergen information on each bag; if needed, compare the nutritional values per portion and per 100 g. | The bags in a mixed pack may differ, so I want to know which variety I’m picking up before I eat it or give it to someone. Around 25% of consumers would focus mainly on the ingredients. |
Common mistakes
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Treating a mixed box as one product
A mix may contain different types of crisps and other snacks. Albert Heijn lists a range of components in the Lay's Celebration Box, and allergens may also differ between varieties.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the individual bag you want to eat or give to someone, not just the front of the outer box.
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Comparing only the number of bags
Fifteen bags don’t tell you how many crisps you’ll get each time. Jumbo lists its paprika and ready salted sharing bags as 15 bags of 25 g, while a larger box may also mean stocking up on more than you need.
Compare the weight of each bag and the total contents with the occasions you’re buying the pack for.
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Assuming a small bag means a healthier choice
Individual packaging makes it easier to take a portion of your choice with you, but it doesn’t change the nutritional value of the crisps. Voedingscentrum gives an average of 215 kcal and 13.1 g of fat for 40 g of crisps; specific products may differ.
Use the nutritional information for your chosen flavour if you’re comparing energy, fat, sugars or salt.
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Relying on an ingredients list you read before
A product’s ingredients may change. With a mixed pack in particular, the information for one flavour doesn’t replace that for the other bags.
Check the current packaging if you’re looking for a specific variety or need to take allergens into account.
Brands and retailers to consider
These brands and retailers offer different types of packaging. Always check the specific product and variety.
Lay's
The range includes crisps and mixed snack packs. Albert Heijn lists 30 individually wrapped bags of different snacks in the Lay's Celebration Box.
- Individual bags and several varieties can work well if you’re stocking up for different snack occasions.
- A mixed box doesn’t necessarily have a single set of ingredients; check ingredients and allergens for each variety.
Pringles
Pringles lists Original tubes in 40 g, 70 g and 165 g sizes. A small single tube is a different option from a multipack of individually sealed bags.
- The listed sizes make it possible to choose a tube to suit one planned snack occasion.
- A tube doesn’t offer the range of sealed bags found in a crisps sharing pack; check the label for your chosen flavour too.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists its own-brand sharing pack of paprika and ready salted crisps as 15 bags of 25 g.
- The number of bags and the weight of each one make it easy to compare portion sizes.
- The product information lists milk as an allergen; check the packaging if this is important to your choice.
Lidl Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s own-brand snack range. Lidl also lists a multipack containing a mix of 15 bags of crisps.
- The pack of 15 bags is an option if you’re looking for individual portions while shopping at Lidl.
- Check the weight of each bag and the information for the individual varieties in the pack you choose.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn is a retailer here, not a brand of the crisps mix mentioned. Its listing for the Lay's Celebration Box describes what’s inside the box.
- The listed 30 items and different components help you assess the quantity and variety.
- Information about the box as a whole doesn’t replace the label on each individual bag.
Joybuy products to consider
Below are packs of crisps you can consider for individual snack occasions. Note the difference between bags, individual tubes and a mix where you’ll need to check the portion sizes on the packaging.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 2 × 15-pack
An option if you’re looking to stock up for several individual snack occasions.
The product name lists 2 × 15 packs. Check the contents and current ingredients and allergen information for each variety.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 15-pack
A smaller pack to consider if you’re planning individual snack occasions but don’t want to store a larger mix.
The product name lists 15 items. Check the packaging to see how many grams are in each bag, and read the labels for the different varieties.
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Lay's Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli, 10 × 40 g
This variety could suit you if you’re looking for ten portions of the same flavour rather than a mixed box.
The product name lists 10 × 40 g. Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before taking a bag with you.
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Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce Potato Crisps, 12 × 40 g
Consider this pack if individual portions are important but bags aren’t essential.
The product name lists 12 × 40 g. These are tubes rather than the individual bags in a sharing pack of crisps, so check whether the format suits your bag and how you plan to use them.
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Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g
If you want to take a small portion each time, the key thing to check with this mix is how the contents are divided.
The product name lists a total weight of 180 g. Check the packaging for the number of individual bags, the weight per bag and the ingredients in each variety.
Frequently asked questions
When are individual bags of crisps more convenient than one large bag?
Individual bags are more convenient if you want to take one sealed portion with you without opening a large bag. Check the weight of each bag and the total number, though: a large multipack may not be the best fit if you only eat crisps occasionally.
Should I check every bag in a mixed box for allergens?
Yes, check the variety you actually plan to eat or give to someone. A mix may contain different ingredients. According to Your Europe’s European food information, allergens in the ingredients list of prepacked foods must be clearly identifiable.
Does a small bag change the nutritional value of crisps?
No, the packaging doesn’t change the nutritional value of the crisps; it only sets the amount in that bag. Voedingscentrum lists an average of 215 kcal and 13.1 g of fat for 40 g of crisps. For a specific product, use the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g on the label.
How should I store unopened bags of crisps?
Follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the packaging. Jumbo says that the bags in the Lay's Family Mix should be stored in a cool, dry place.