First compare the calories per 100 g, then work out your own portion. The checked plain varieties from AH, Jumbo and Doritos list 470–481 kcal per 100 g. According to the European Commission, the threshold for a ‘low energy’ claim on solid foods is 40 kcal per 100 g. Also check the salt and ingredients, and count dips and toppings separately.
You want to keep eating tortilla chips, but compare the energy per 100 g with the amount you actually serve. A lower figure in this category does not automatically mean a product meets the ‘low energy’ claim; the European Commission sets a separate threshold for this.
You’re buying a bag to share and want to decide in advance how many chips and toppings to serve per person. AH’s product information lists a 25 g portion; Jumbo and Doritos list 30 g. These on-pack portions don’t determine how much you serve yourself.
You’re looking for a range of snacks for the family during the autumn half-term. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests vegetables and fruit as snacks, and says that how much a child can eat between meals depends on their age and sex.
First decide whether energy per equal amount, portion control, the whole snack combination or the ingredients matter most to you. Each row focuses on one main reason to buy; choose the one that matters most to you.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer calories for the same amount | AH and Doritos list 470 kcal per 100 g; Jumbo lists 481 kcal per 100 g for the checked plain varieties. For a ‘low energy’ claim on solid foods, the European Commission sets a threshold of 40 kcal per 100 g. | If I want to eat the same amount of chips, I compare the calories per 100 g first; around 36% of consumers prioritise this comparison. |
| Keeping portions in check | AH lists an on-pack portion of 25 g; Jumbo and Doritos list 30 g. Weigh your own portion and compare products at the same weight. | For a film night, I want to weigh my portion in advance so I know how much I’m serving; around 29% of consumers put portion control first. |
| Chips, dip and toppings | Calculate each item separately: calories per 100 g × grams eaten ÷ 100. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests snack vegetables. | When I put together a snack platter with chips, dip and other bites, I consider the whole combination; around 21% of consumers prioritise the overall mix. |
| Salt and ingredients | Doritos lists 0.71 g of salt per 100 g; AH and Jumbo list 0.9 g. Also check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety: AH plain is listed as gluten-free and may contain soya, while the Doritos information mentions the possible presence of cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. | If ingredients, allergens or salt are important to me, I read the label for the variety I want to buy; around 14% of consumers prioritise this check. |
The checked plain varieties contain 470–481 kcal per 100 g. That doesn’t mean they meet the European requirement for a ‘low energy’ claim.
Compare the actual calorie figures and portion sizes. For this claim on solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g.
AH lists a 25 g portion, while the checked Jumbo and Doritos pages list 30 g. A lower calorie count per on-pack portion may therefore be due to a smaller portion, not less energy per gram.
Compare per 100 g first, then work out the same portion size for each product.
A snack with dip or toppings contains more than just chips. The calories in the chips alone don’t tell you how much energy the complete dish contains.
Keep track of the amounts of chips, dip and toppings separately when putting your snack together.
The words ‘blue corn tortilla chips’ identify a variety, but don’t tell you anything about its energy content by themselves. ‘Plain’ is not a guarantee about allergens or other nutritional values either.
Check the current nutrition table and ingredients list on the exact pack.
The checked Dutch plain variety is marketed for dipping and nacho dishes.
AH Tortilla chips naturel is a 200 g own-brand bag, described as suitable for eating on its own, dipping or serving in nacho dishes.
Jumbo Tortilla Chips Naturel is a 300 g own-brand pack with ten listed portions of 30 g.
Lidl Netherlands lists Tortilla chips sweet paprika and sells Snack Day as its own crisps and snacks brand.
ALDI Netherlands lists SUN SNACKS Tortillachips blauwe maïs as a specific variety.
Mission Foods Europe describes tortilla chips in round and triangular shapes and a range of flavours.
These Joybuy options are tortilla chips for snacking or serving with dip. Their listed energy ranges from 470 to 480 kcal per 100 g. According to the European Commission, none meets the 40 kcal per 100 g threshold for a ‘low energy’ claim on solid foods.
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The product description suggests serving them with dips or as loaded nachos.
Energy: 470 kcal per 100 g. Salt: 0.71 g per 100 g.
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The product description suggests serving them as a snack or with dips; the pack size may be useful if you want to portion them out in advance.
Energy: 472 kcal per 100 g. Salt: 0.9 g per 100 g.
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The product description suggests serving them as a snack or with dips; the bag contains 185 g.
Energy: 474 kcal per 100 g. Salt: 0.9 g per 100 g.
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The product description suggests serving them with dips or as nachos.
Energy: 480 kcal per 100 g. Salt: 0.89 g per 100 g.
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The product description suggests snacking on the go; the pack contains 44 g.
Energy: 477 kcal per 100 g. Salt: 1.1 g per 100 g.
Only if the solid product meets the European requirement for ‘low energy’: no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. The checked plain varieties, at 470–481 kcal per 100 g, don’t meet this requirement. A smaller portion doesn’t make the chips themselves low calorie.
No. According to the European Commission, a ‘reduced energy’ claim requires a reduction of at least 30%, and the property responsible for the reduction must be stated. This is a different requirement from the maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g for a ‘low energy’ claim on solid foods.
Multiply the calories per 100 g by the weight eaten in grams, then divide by 100. Do this separately for the chips, dip and toppings. At 470 kcal per 100 g, 30 g of chips provides 141 kcal. This is a calculation example, not personalised portion advice.
No, check the information for the exact variety. AH Tortilla chips naturel is listed as gluten-free and may contain soya. The product information for Doritos Naturel Tortilla Nacho Chips 185 gr mentions the possible presence of cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
Don’t use calories as your only way to choose, and don’t treat an on-pack portion as advice for every child. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests vegetables and fruit as snacks, and says that how much a child can eat between meals depends on their age and sex.
