A bag to take with you
You want to take a snack with you while shopping at the market, without having to portion it out at home. An individual bag and a box containing several individual bags are two different ways to buy them.
Which pack size is right for you?
Choose your own portion
You want to decide how many chips to take with you and don't mind measuring out a portion in advance. Albert Heijn lists 25 g portions for its 200 g bag of plain tortilla chips.
Label-conscious snackers
You pay attention to ingredients, dietary preferences or allergens. Check the information for the exact variety; for its plain variety, Albert Heijn lists ‘May contain: soya’ among other details.
What should you look for when choosing?
When choosing tortilla chips for an individual snack while shopping at the market, it helps to decide whether convenience, quantity, flavour or label information matters most to you.
One individual bag
Choose this if: you want to take a sealed bag with you without measuring out a portion at home. PLUS lists Doritos Sweet Chili Pepper in a 44 g bag.
Bear in mind: the quantity is fixed, so compare it with how much you want to eat.
Box of individual bags
Choose this if: you regularly take a bag with you or want to give everyone their own bag. Jumbo lists Doritos Nacho Cheese as 20 x 44 g.
Bear in mind: you’re buying several bags at once, rather than one individual bag.
Portioning out a larger bag yourself
Choose this if: you want to decide how much to take with you. Albert Heijn lists eight 25 g portions in a 200 g bag.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to measure out a portion in advance and seal the opened bag properly.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging for on-the-go snacking | Check the weight of each bag and how many individual bags are in the pack. | If you want a snack you can take with you without any preparation, an individual bag is convenient; around 39% of consumers prioritise convenience on the go. |
| Quantity and nutritional values | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then check the values for the amount you eat. | If you want to choose the size of your snack and tailor the nutritional values to suit, the amount you eat is key; around 23% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Flavour variety | Check the exact flavour name; plain, cheese and sweet chilli are different varieties. | If you’re mainly looking for a flavour you can enjoy as it is, check the variety; around 23% of consumers make flavour their top purchasing priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and any warning about possible cross-contamination on the current packaging. | If an allergen or dietary feature matters to you, check the label on the exact variety; around 15% of consumers prioritise suitability based on the label. |
Common pitfalls
-
Mistaking a multi-portion bag for an individual portion bag
A 200 g bag with listed 25 g portions is different from a box of individual bags. Albert Heijn lists eight portions in its 200 g bag; Jumbo lists Doritos Nacho Cheese as 20 x 44 g.
Check both the number of individual bags and the weight of each one.
Portioning it yourself means measuring it out in advance and using a resealable container.
-
Comparing portion values for different quantities directly
A 44 g bag and a listed 25 g portion are not the same quantity. Any difference in nutritional values per portion may therefore also be due to the difference in weight.
Compare the values per 100 g first, then check them against the amount you plan to eat.
-
Assuming a dietary claim guarantees the product is free from all allergens
Albert Heijn describes its plain variety as vegan and gluten-free, among other things, but also states ‘May contain: soya’. These are separate pieces of label information.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the variety you’re considering.
-
Reading Nutri-Score as a general health claim
The Dutch Government explains that even an A or B does not automatically mean a product is healthy.
Use Nutri-Score to compare products within the same category, and also check the nutritional values and the amount you eat.
Brands and product ranges to consider
The examples below show a range of flavours and pack formats. Their inclusion is not a general quality rating or confirmation of availability.
Doritos
Includes seasoned tortilla chips in small bags and boxes of individual bags.
- PLUS lists Sweet Chili Pepper in an individual 44 g bag; Jumbo lists Nacho Cheese as 20 x 44 g.
- The description of mild chilli and light sweetness is Doritos’ flavour description and does not automatically apply to other varieties.
Albert Heijn
Own-brand plain tortilla chips in a 200 g bag, with portion information.
- The product information lists eight 25 g portions.
- This is one larger bag, not individual portion bags; the ‘May contain: soya’ statement is relevant if you have a soya allergy.
Jumbo
The range includes larger bags of own-brand tortilla chips and boxes of individual Doritos bags.
- Jumbo lists, among other products, own-brand varieties in 200 g and 300 g bags, and Doritos Nacho Cheese as 20 x 44 g.
- A larger own-brand bag and a box of individual bags are different ways to buy tortilla chips.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands lists Snack Day Tortillachips nacho cheese.
- The product listing identifies the product range and flavour.
- The listing doesn’t provide useful portion information for comparing it with individual bags.
Aldi
Aldi’s Dutch crisps range lists SUN SNACKS Tortillachips, 300 g.
- The product listing distinguishes tortilla chips from other crisps.
- The 300 g bag is a larger pack, not an individual portion bag of tortilla chips.
Mission
Mission Foods Europe describes a European range of tortilla chips in round and triangular shapes, with different flavours.
- The manufacturer describes different pack formats for retail and food service.
- This description of the European range does not confirm a specific variety for Dutch consumers or availability in shops.
Tortilla chips at Joybuy
This selection includes both bags you can portion out yourself and a variety in a smaller quantity.
Image unavailable
Doritos Sweet Chili Pepper Tortilla Chips, 44 g
The 44 g variety is a good fit if you want to take a pre-portioned amount with you.
Flavour: Sweet Chili Pepper. Quantity: 44 g.
Image unavailable
Doritos Dippers Naturel, 185 g
This bag is a good fit if you want to portion some out at home; you’ll need to divide it up yourself for a single snack.
Flavour: plain. Quantity: 185 g.
Image unavailable
Doritos Sweet Chilli Pepper Tortilla Chips, 170 g
This larger bag is a good fit if you want to portion out the amount yourself in advance.
Flavour: Sweet Chilli Pepper. Quantity: 170 g.
Image unavailable
g'woon Sweet Chili Tortilla Chips, 165 g
This larger bag is a good fit if you want to decide how much to take with you.
Flavour: sweet chilli. Quantity: 165 g.
Image unavailable
Santa Maria Original Nacho Chips, 185 g
This bag is a good fit if you want to portion out some chips for a snack in advance.
Variety: Original Nacho Chips. Quantity: 185 g.
Frequently asked questions
Is a small bag automatically one standard portion?
No. Check the weight and portion information for the specific variety. PLUS lists a 44 g bag of Doritos; Albert Heijn lists 25 g portions for a 200 g bag. These product listings are not general portion recommendations.
How should I store crisps once I’ve opened a larger bag?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing crisps in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. For opened crisps, it recommends 2–5 days in the kitchen cupboard; also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
What should I check if I’m watching out for allergens?
Read the ingredients list and any cross-contamination warning on the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that any applicable allergens from the list of 14 allergens must be stated in the ingredients list.
Does a favourable Nutri-Score mean the crisps are healthy?
No. According to the Dutch Government, even an A or B doesn’t automatically mean a product is healthy. Use Nutri-Score to compare products of the same type, and also check the nutritional values and the amount you eat.
Should I throw crisps away as soon as they pass their best-before date?
Not necessarily. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking, smelling and tasting crisps after their best-before date if the packaging is intact and they still look good. Follow the storage advice on the packaging; best-before and use-by dates don’t mean the same thing.