Choose individual bags if you want to give each guest their own, sharing bags if you’re filling communal bowls, or a resealable snack box if you want to share from one pack and close it between servings. For a multipack, check the number of bags and the contents of each one. If you need to cater for dietary requirements, always check the label on the exact product.
You want to share crisps around the table and choose the quantities and flavours yourself. The amount in each bag and whether the crisps are suitable for dipping matter more to you than individual portions. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and ALDI offer examples of individual bags.
You want to portion out the bags in advance or take them along unopened. Check the actual number of inner packs: a snack box is not the same as a multipack of individual bags. A Doritos multipack containing twenty 44 g bags is one example, according to Jumbo.
You want to check the exact product for guests with specific ingredient restrictions, including any warnings about cross-contamination. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows why you can’t assume details apply from one flavour to another.
Before your Christmas party, decide whether you mainly want to fill sharing bowls, hand out individual bags, cater for ingredient restrictions, store leftovers or compare costs.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Crisps for sharing bowls | Check the net weight and make sure you’re buying crisps, not soft tortilla wraps. | If I’m filling sharing bowls, I want enough crisps and the freedom to mix flavours. Around 29% of consumers choosing for a Christmas party prioritise serving the group. |
| Individual bags | Check the number of inner bags, the contents of each bag and the mix of flavours. | If I want to give each guest a sealed bag, I count the inner packs rather than just the outer pack. Around 24% of consumers choosing for a Christmas party prioritise handing out individual portions. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information, dietary claims and warnings on the exact pack. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check the exact product and pack. Around 18% of consumers choosing for a Christmas party prioritise suitability for dietary requirements. |
| Resealing leftovers | Check whether the pack can be resealed and follow the storage advice on the label. | If I want to use the supply at different times, I want to be able to seal opened leftovers properly. Around 18% of consumers choosing for a Christmas party prioritise storage and using the supply over time. |
| Comparing costs | Compare the total price per equal unit of weight and check for any delivery charges. | If I want to keep track of what I’m spending on crisps I can use, I compare the amount that suits my guests. Around 11% of consumers choosing for a Christmas party prioritise the total cost of their purchase. |
A 140 g snack box is one pack; the multipack reviewed contains twenty individual 44 g bags. These formats aren’t interchangeable if you want to give each guest their own sealed bag.
Check both the number of inner packs and the contents of each one.
If you want one individual bag per guest, a single snack box may mean you need to buy extra packs.
Ingredients and warnings apply to the exact product and pack, not automatically to every product from the same brand.
Read the label for every guest with a relevant restriction, and keep different varieties clearly identifiable.
Storage advice differs for opened crisps and unopened packs.
Open only what you’re serving and seal any leftovers properly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing crisps in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed pack; also follow the product-specific label.
The Dutch product examples mentioned include a multipack of individual bags and a snack box.
A retailer offering product information for items including AH plain crisps and a Doritos snack box.
Its range includes tortilla chips in different flavours and pack sizes.
One example is a 300 g pack of Snack Day sea salt tortilla chips.
The Dutch range listing includes 300 g bags of SUN SNACKS tortilla chips.
Mission Foods Europe describes a European tortilla chip range with round and triangular shapes and different pack formats.
The options shown are individual bags of tortilla chips to serve in a bowl or share with dips, not multipacks of individual bags for handing out.
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The description suggests scooping and serving with dips, making these a good fit for a sharing bowl.
This is one 185 g bag, not a multipack. You’ll need extra bags if you want to hand out several individual portions.
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The description suggests sharing these and serving them with dips at parties or gatherings.
This is one 165 g pack, not a multipack. You’ll need extra packs if you want to hand out several individual portions.
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The description suggests sharing these and serving them with dips or salsa, making them a good choice for a larger sharing bowl.
This is one 475 g bag, not a multipack. You’ll need extra bags if you want to hand out several individual portions.
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The description suggests serving these tortilla chips with a Tex-Mex meal or as a snack with dips or salsa.
This is one 185 g bag, not a multipack. You’ll need extra bags if you want to hand out several individual portions.
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The description suggests serving these with salsa, guacamole or cheese dip at gatherings.
This is one 170 g bag, not a multipack. You’ll need extra bags if you want to hand out several individual portions.
Divide the number of individual bags you want to hand out by the number of bags in one multipack, then round up. If there are twenty bags in each pack, you’ll need one pack to hand out twenty portions. This isn’t advice on how many crisps someone should eat.
Not without checking the serving size. Albert Heijn gives a 25 g serving for its plain crisps; for the Doritos snack box, Albert Heijn states an average serving of 30 g. Use the total net weight to compare how much you’re buying.
Store opened crisps in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 2–5 days in a kitchen cupboard as a general guide for crisps after opening. Also follow the instructions on the pack and check the best-before date on unopened supplies.
Check the ingredients list and any warnings on the exact pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that the mandatory declaration applies to fourteen allergens; also check for warnings about possible cross-contamination. A flavour name is no substitute for the information on the label.
The pack size only tells you how easy it is to take along, not whether the food is nutritionally suitable for lunch. For primary school children, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a lunch based on foods from the Wheel of Five.
