People who need to avoid an allergen
If you need to avoid gluten, wheat, milk or soya, the current packaging and any information about possible traces matter more than the fact that the chips are made from maize or the brand name.
Who should consider this?
People who want to have chips with a meal
You’re looking for something crunchy to have with a dip or another part of your meal, and want to assess the nutritional information per serving without treating chips as a complete meal.
Snack shoppers looking for flavour and convenience
A flavoured option or a pack to take with you might appeal, but if you have dietary restrictions, you’ll also want to check the added ingredients. For example, Albert Heijn lists milk in Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavour.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out which allergens are relevant to you. Then consider how the chips fit in with what else you eat after your workout, and whether you’d prefer a plain or flavoured option.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement. If you avoid gluten, also look for an explicit gluten-free claim. | If I need to avoid a specific allergen, I don’t want to rely on the fact that the chips are made from maize or on the brand name. For around 46% of consumers, checking for allergens would be the first consideration. |
| Nutritional information | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per serving, and consider what you’ll eat alongside the chips. | After a workout, I want to know how a serving of chips fits in with my next meal. Around 36% of consumers would give most weight to how the chips fit into a meal. |
| Flavour and use | Choose between plain chips with a dip of your choice and a flavoured option. If you choose the latter, check the allergens again. | For a quick snack, I want to choose between a neutral base and an option that’s already flavoured. Flavour and convenience would come first for around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming maize chips are always gluten-free
Albert Heijn says Doritos Naturel may contain soya and wheat (gluten), even though maize is the main ingredient.
If you avoid gluten, check the current packaging for both an explicit gluten-free claim and information about possible traces.
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Assuming cheese-flavoured chips are milk-free
Albert Heijn lists milk in Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavour. So the flavour name alone won’t tell you whether an option is suitable if you need to avoid milk.
Check the ingredients and allergen information again for every flavoured option.
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Treating chips as a complete post-workout meal
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a normal main meal after exercise. A serving of tortilla chips won’t automatically replace that meal.
Consider what else you’re eating, and use the nutritional information per serving to see how the snack fits in.
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Relying only on product information you’ve read before
Ingredients and allergen information can change, so the packaging you bought previously may not be the same as the one you’re choosing now.
Check the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
Brands to consider
Doritos
Plain chips and flavoured options call for different allergen checks.
- Albert Heijn lists maize as the main ingredient in Doritos Naturel.
- According to Albert Heijn, Doritos Naturel may contain soya and wheat (gluten); the retailer lists milk in Nacho Cheese Flavour.
Santa Maria
Nacho Chips Original is a plain product that Albert Heijn describes as gluten-free.
- An explicit gluten-free claim makes it easier to identify when comparing chips if you avoid gluten.
- Check for other relevant allergens too: this product may contain traces of soya.
Willy Nacho
The Salted option is a plain choice if you’d like to pick a suitable dip yourself.
- Jumbo lists maize, sunflower oil and salt as ingredients in Willy Nacho Tortilla Chips Salted.
- A short ingredients list doesn’t replace checking the current allergen information on the packaging.
Tortilla chips on Joybuy
These plain tortilla chips are options to compare if you’re looking for a snack to have with a dip of your choice after a workout. Check each pack to see whether its allergen information matches the allergens you need to avoid.
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Santa Maria Original Nacho Chips, 185 g
A plain option to pair with a dip of your choice. Albert Heijn describes Santa Maria Nacho Chips Original as gluten-free; if you need to avoid soya, check the information on this pack too.
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g'woon Tortilla Chips Natural, 165 g
A plain option if you’d like to choose your own dip. Before buying, check the current packaging for possible traces of gluten, soya and milk. The name Natural doesn’t confirm that the product is suitable if you have an allergy or dietary restriction.
Frequently asked questions
Are maize tortilla chips automatically gluten-free?
No. Albert Heijn says Doritos Naturel may contain wheat (gluten), despite being made from maize. If you avoid gluten, check the current packaging for an explicit gluten-free claim and information about possible traces.
Where should I check for allergens when buying tortilla chips?
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that food labels must list 14 allergens. Also read any ‘may contain’ information that’s relevant to you.
Can tortilla chips replace a meal after a workout?
Not automatically. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a normal main meal after exercise, so consider how a serving of chips fits in with what else you eat rather than looking only at the nutritional value per 100 g.
Should I check the label again on a product I know?
Yes, check the packaging of the product you’re buying now. Albert Heijn says ingredients and allergen information can change, even if you’ve chosen the same product before.