Snackers with a specific allergy
If you need to avoid soya, milk or wheat, for example, a general description such as ‘corn chips’ isn’t enough. Check the ingredients, allergens and warnings about possible presence on each bag.
Who is this relevant to?
Consumers looking for gluten-free snacks
Look for an explicit gluten-free label on the variant you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn and Jumbo label certain plain varieties as gluten-free, but also give separate warnings about soya.
Consumers following a vegan or lactose-free diet
Check each flavour individually. Albert Heijn describes AH Tortilla chips naturel as vegan and lactose-free; the allergen information for a cheese variant listed by Jumbo includes milk and lactose.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide which feature matters most to you. Then compare the flavours and pack sizes that meet that requirement.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding a specific allergen | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings on the current bag. | If I need to avoid soya, milk or wheat, I want to know what’s in this particular flavour and which warnings apply. Avoiding one specific allergen is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Choosing gluten-free | Look for an explicit gluten-free label and check other relevant allergens separately. | For my afternoon snack, I don’t want to rely on the fact that it’s made from corn; I want to choose a product labelled gluten-free. Around 29% of consumers make this their top requirement. |
| Following a vegan or lactose-free diet | Check the claims for the variant you’ve chosen, and read the ingredients for seasoned flavours too. | I want to choose a flavour that suits my vegan or lactose-free diet, without assuming that a cheese variant is the same as a plain one. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Flavour and pack size | Once you’ve checked any dietary requirements, compare the flavour you’ve chosen and the amount in each bag. | If I don’t need to avoid any allergens or other ingredients, I mainly want a flavour and pack size that suit my snack break. This is the first thing around 14% of consumers consider. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘free from all allergens’
Jumbo labels Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted 185 g as gluten-free, but also says that the product may contain traces of soya. So the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether this variety is suitable for someone with a soya allergy.
Make a list of the ingredients you need to avoid and compare it with both the ingredients and warnings on the packaging.
-
Assuming plain chips have no relevant warnings
For Doritos Naturel 185 g, Jumbo warns that the product may contain cereals containing gluten, gluten, soya and wheat, despite its corn base.
Read the allergen information for the exact flavour and pack; don’t draw conclusions based on the product category.
-
Assuming a cheese flavour is the same as a plain one
Jumbo’s product information for Willy Nacho Tortilla Chips Nacho Cheese lists milk and lactose, among other ingredients. Information about a plain variety doesn’t tell you what’s in a different flavour.
If you’re following a lactose-free diet or have a milk allergy, check the chosen flavour for milk and milk products.
-
Relying on a product page you looked at earlier
Albert Heijn warns that ingredient and allergen information can change. The packaging you buy may therefore differ from information you looked at previously.
Check the label on the current bag again, especially if you have an allergy.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
AH Tortilla chips naturel is an own-brand variety that Albert Heijn describes as vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free.
- The product page lists corn flour, sunflower oil, salt and flavouring as ingredients.
- Albert Heijn also states ‘May contain: Soya’. Check the current packaging if you need to avoid soya.
Santa Maria
Jumbo describes Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted 185 g as gluten-free.
- For this 185 g variety, Jumbo lists corn flour, sunflower oil and salt as ingredients.
- According to Jumbo, this variety may contain traces of soya. Check the label on other pack sizes and varieties separately.
Doritos
When choosing a free-from option from the Doritos range, the allergen information for the exact variety is what matters.
- Jumbo lists corn, rapeseed oil, salt and antioxidants for Doritos Naturel 185 g.
- The same product page warns that it may contain cereals containing gluten, gluten, soya and wheat.
SUN SNACKS
ALDI lists plain, cheese and sweet chilli varieties of SUN SNACKS Tortillachips.
- The range offers different flavours to check on a pack-by-pack basis.
- If you have a dietary requirement, read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen flavour on the bag; don’t assume they’re the same as another variety.
Tortilla chips on Joybuy
This 475 g variety is one option to consider if you’re looking for tortilla chips for an afternoon snack. If you need a gluten-free option, check the label and allergen information on the current packaging.
No image available
Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted, 475 g
If you’re keeping an eye on gluten in your afternoon snack, check the gluten-free label on the current 475 g pack. The allergen information for this variety mentions soya, so don’t assume it’s a soya-free option.
Frequently asked questions
Are tortilla chips automatically gluten-free because they’re made from corn?
No. A corn base alone doesn’t prove that the bag you’ve chosen is gluten-free. Albert Heijn and Jumbo explicitly label certain plain varieties as gluten-free, while Jumbo warns that Doritos Naturel 185 g may contain cereals containing gluten, gluten and wheat.
What does ‘may contain: soya’ mean if I need to avoid soya?
Don’t treat a product with this warning as a confirmed soya-free option. Read the warning on the current packaging for the variety you want to buy and take it into account when making your choice.
Are vegan tortilla chips also suitable for someone with a milk allergy or following a lactose-free diet?
Don’t assume so: check the claims and allergens for the exact variety. Albert Heijn describes AH Tortilla chips naturel as vegan and lactose-free; Jumbo lists milk and lactose for Willy Nacho Tortilla Chips Nacho Cheese.
Do allergens have to be listed on the label of a bag of tortilla chips?
Yes. Allergen information must be included on the labels of prepacked foods. Ondernemersplein states that allergens on the EU list, which covers 14 allergens, must be declared on the label.
Is a supermarket product page enough to base my choice on?
Use the page to shortlist products, but also read the packaging on the bag you buy. Albert Heijn says that ingredient and allergen information can change, so checking the latest information is especially important if you have an allergy.