Whether you’re having crisps with a sandwich or adding them to a lunch box, a multipack of individual bags means you don’t have to open a large bag every lunchtime. Choose a single flavour if you want the same recipe in every bag, or a variety pack if you’d prefer more choice. If you opt for an assortment, check the ingredients for each flavour. The weight per bag, allergens and nutritional information are all worth comparing for the product you choose.
An individual bag fits neatly into a packed lunch, so there’s no need to transfer the crisps to another container. The Auchan and Carrefour ranges, along with the Vico products reviewed, include multipacks of small bags.
A variety pack lets you choose between several flavours in the same pack. The Lay’s pack featured by Auchan contains barbecue, roast chicken and emmental bags; check the ingredients for each flavour separately.
To compare two products, check the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and nutritional information. The DGCCRF sets out the labelling rules for pre-packed food; recipes vary from product to product.
Start by checking the weight of each bag to see whether it’s suitable as a side, then choose between a single recipe and a selection of flavours. Before sharing the pack, read the label for each flavour included.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and portability | The number of bags and the weight of each one: products featured by Auchan, Carrefour and Vico include bags weighing between 27.5 g and 30 g each. | If you want to pack a sealed portion alongside a sandwich and split the multipack across several lunches, around 40% of consumers prioritise an easy-to-carry portion. |
| Flavour variety | The flavours on offer and the ingredients in each recipe. The Lay’s variety pack featured by Auchan contains six 26.5 g bags. | When several people are sharing a pack, or you’d rather not eat the same flavour every time, around 30% of consumers prioritise variety. |
| Food labelling | The declared allergens, ingredients list and nutritional values, particularly salt, for the exact product. | If the meal is for someone who needs to check the ingredients or compare salt levels, around 30% of consumers put reading the label first. |
Two packs may contain different numbers of bags or bags of different weights. This affects how much you can take with you for lunch.
Check the number of bags, the weight of each one and the total pack weight.
In the Lay’s assortment described by Carrefour, the barbecue recipe lists soya, while the emmental recipe contains ingredients derived from milk.
If you have an allergy or intolerance, check the ingredients and allergen information for each flavour on the packaging of the product you buy.
A small bag tells you it’s a handy portion to take with you, not how much salt or fat it contains. Nor does the word “plain” replace the nutritional information.
Compare the “salt” line and other nutritional values on the same basis, for example per 100 g, then check how much each bag contains.
Vico offers crisps in individual bags, including plain and barbecue multipacks.
Lay’s offers an individual plain pack and an assortment of six bags featured by Auchan.
Pringles offers its Original product in tubes, including an individual 40 g size.
The Carrefour range includes multipacks of plain Carrefour Classic’ and Carrefour Original crisps.
The E.Leclerc range includes several Pom’Lisse multipacks, including plain crisps in six 30 g bags.
Auchan offers its own-brand plain crisps in six individual 30 g bags.
These Joybuy products come in separate bags, making them easy to take with you or share. CRISUP potato sticks come in 20 g bags, while KOIKEYA crisps come in 60 g bags. Bear this difference in portion size in mind if you’re looking for a small side for a lunch box.
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Take a small, individually packed portion with you for several lunches. This pack contains five 20 g bags of tomato-flavoured potato sticks. Check the packaging if ingredients or allergens are important to your choice.
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Split small portions between several lunch boxes or people. The pack contains five 20 g bags of potato sticks. Check the packaging before sharing if you need to avoid any particular ingredients.
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Choose a peppery flavour in small bags that are easy to take with you. The pack contains five separate 20 g portions. If salt is a factor in your choice, check the value on the packaging before comparing this product with another.
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Share several bags of chilli-flavoured crisps or save them for different meals. The pack contains twelve 60 g bags, each holding more than a small bag intended as a side with a sandwich. Check the packaging if you need to take allergens into account.
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Keep separate bags to share, rather than small portions for a lunch box. This pack contains twelve 60 g bags of crisps. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before offering them to several people.
A bag of crisps is better suited as a side with lunch than as a meal on its own. Manger Bouger recommends limiting foods that are high in fat and salt. An individual bag is easy to carry, but it doesn’t change the nature of the product.
First check the weight of the bags, then look at the ingredients list, allergens and nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen. For pre-packed food sold in France, the DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the ingredients list.
Check every flavour in the pack before buying. In the Lay’s assortment described by Carrefour, the barbecue recipe lists soya and the emmental recipe contains ingredients derived from milk. The pack name alone isn’t enough to judge all its flavours.