Who is this choice relevant to?

A catering buyer who needs to check allergens carefully

You’re buying for several students and need to check the allergens listed for each product. This matters too when chips are served from an opened bag or added to a nacho dish.

A student or canteen looking for gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan options

You’re looking for a chip that carries the dietary claim you need for the flavour you’ve chosen. Being made from corn, or another flavour from the same brand carrying the claim, is no substitute.

A lunch organiser who needs to consider pack size

You want a pack that suits the planned serving arrangements, but only compare sizes once you’ve confirmed that the chips meet the relevant dietary and allergen requirements.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide which allergens need to be avoided and which dietary claims you need. Then compare packs for the planned lunch service.

What to consider What to check before buying Most relevant to
Allergens and serving Read the allergen information and warnings on the chosen bag. If serving the chips loose, make sure information about any allergens present is available before purchase. If I’m serving chips to students with allergies, I want to know which allergens are present in this exact product before they choose. Around 50% of consumers put this allergen information first.
Dietary claims for each flavour Check that the chosen flavour explicitly carries the claim you need for gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan use, and read the allergen information as well. I need a specific dietary claim for my lunch choice; I can’t assume that an original flavour and a seasoned flavour are the same. An explicit claim is a key consideration for around 30% of consumers.
Packaging and portions Compare bag weights and how well they’ll work for the planned portions, once you’ve checked the dietary and allergen requirements. If I’m buying chips for a lunch group, I want a pack size that suits the service without skipping the allergen check. This is the first practical consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common purchasing pitfalls

  • Assuming corn means allergen-free

    Corn chips can still carry a relevant allergen warning. Jumbo’s product page says that Doritos Naturel may contain cereals containing gluten, gluten, soya and wheat.

    Check the allergen information and the dietary claim you need for the exact flavour.

  • Assuming a dietary claim applies to every flavour from a brand

    Albert Heijn describes AH Tortilla chips naturel as gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan; that tells you nothing about another flavour. Albert Heijn also says that ingredients and allergen information may change.

    Record the full product name and flavour for the canteen, and check the packaging again if the product changes.

  • Choosing a large bag before checking allergens

    Pack size doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for a particular dietary requirement. For example, check the information on the chosen bag of SUN SNACKS Tortillachips before buying it for a lunch group.

    Let the current packaging or product specification guide your choice, then compare pack sizes.

  • Serving loose chips without making allergen information easy to find

    The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that, for unpackaged food, information about any allergens present must be available before purchase. Students must therefore be able to get this information when chips are served from an opened bag too.

    Provide the information in writing alongside the food, or, if staff give it verbally, make it clear that customers can ask for it.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

AH Tortilla chips naturel is particularly relevant if you need several explicit dietary claims for one chosen flavour.

  • Albert Heijn describes this original flavour as vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free.
  • The same product page says the chips may contain soya. Check the physical packaging when you buy them.

Santa Maria

Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted is a salted option to consider when you need an explicit gluten-free claim.

  • Jumbo’s product information describes the Salted flavour as gluten-free.
  • The information also mentions possible traces of soya; a gluten-free claim doesn’t mean the product is free from all allergens.

Doritos

Check the packaging of each Doritos flavour you choose individually.

  • Doritos Naturel is a distinct original flavour alongside the seasoned varieties.
  • Jumbo says Doritos Naturel may contain cereals containing gluten, gluten, soya and wheat. The corn base doesn’t remove this warning.

SUN SNACKS

This ALDI own-brand range includes tortilla chips in flavours such as original, cheese and sweet chilli.

  • ALDI lists a 300 g pack, which may be useful when planning how to serve them.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens for the chosen flavour and pack before serving them to people with dietary requirements.

Snack Day

Sweet Paprika tortilla chips are a distinct flavour option for a product bought in store.

  • Lidl lists a 60 g pack for the variety shown.
  • Check the allergen information and any dietary claims on the specific bag in store.

Mission

Mission Foods offers an international range of tortilla chips.

  • The range gives you a brand to include when comparing specific varieties.
  • For a canteen lunch in the Netherlands, rely only on the ingredients, allergens and any dietary claims for the pack you’ve actually chosen.

Joybuy products for lunch

This Santa Maria variety is a good fit for a lunch with dips or nachos. Before serving it to anyone with specific dietary requirements, check the claims and allergen information on the current packaging.

Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted, 475 g pack

Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted, 475 g

For a lunch with dips or nachos, provided the current packaging meets your guests’ dietary requirements.

Pack size: 475 g. Check the gluten-free claim on the chosen bag; the allergen information mentions soya. Don’t choose this variety if soya must be strictly avoided.

If you need a lactose-free or vegan claim, check for it separately on the packaging.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does the canteen have to provide allergen information for chips served from an opened bag?

Yes. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that, for unpackaged food, information about any allergens present must be available before purchase. This information can be provided in writing or verbally; if it’s given verbally, it must be clear that customers can ask for it.

Are corn tortilla chips automatically gluten-free?

No. Being made from corn alone doesn’t confirm that a product is suitable for a gluten-free diet. Check the claim and allergen warning for the variety you’ve chosen: Jumbo describes Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted as gluten-free, but says Doritos Naturel may contain cereals containing gluten, gluten and wheat.

Are vegan tortilla chips also suitable for someone with a soya allergy?

Not necessarily: a vegan claim doesn’t rule out soya. Albert Heijn describes AH Tortilla chips naturel as vegan, but also says the product may contain soya.

How can you keep product information up to date for the canteen?

Use the packaging for the variety you’re actually buying, and update the product information if the flavour, supplier, recipe or packaging changes. Albert Heijn itself warns that ingredients, nutritional, dietary and allergen information may change.