Who are these formats for?

If you take your snack with you

If you’d rather slip a set amount into your bag than open a large multipack while you’re out, check the weight of each individual bag. Auchan, for example, stocks multipacks of 25–30 g bags in its crisps range.

If you keep an eye on what you eat

To compare two snacks, check the nutritional values per 100 g, then work them out for the amount you plan to eat. A bag and a tube won’t necessarily contain the same amount.

If you pay attention to ingredients

If certain ingredients or allergens affect your choice, check the list and any allergen information on the specific pack you’re buying. The word ‘plain’ alone doesn’t tell you what’s in it.

What should you compare?

Start by deciding how much you’d like to have available for your snack, then compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the product you’ve chosen.

What to consider What to check Who is this for?
Amount to take with you The weight of each individual bag and the number of bags, rather than just the total weight of the multipack. I want to set off with a pre-determined amount, without opening a large multipack during my break. Around 42% of consumers prioritise having a portion they can take on the go.
Nutritional values Energy and fat per 100 g, then for the amount you plan to eat. If I finish the pack I’ve opened, I want to know what that amounts to, even if it’s more than 30 g. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this check.
Salt and ingredients Salt for the amount you’ll eat, along with the pack’s ingredients list and allergen information. Depending on my dietary needs, the salt content or ingredients may matter more to me than the format. Around 25% of consumers prioritise these checks.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming ‘single-serve’ means it’s a weight-loss choice

    A bag sets the amount available, but its format doesn’t mean it will affect your weight. Manger Bouger recommends limiting foods that are high in fat, salt and ultra-processed.

    Use the bag to plan your portion, then check its nutritional information.

  • Comparing only the values per 100 g

    These values let you compare different recipes on the same basis, but they don’t always reflect what’s in an individual pack. Pringles France lists 158 kcal for 30 g of Pringles Original, while the small tube contains 40 g.

    To compare what you plan to eat, take the weight of the whole bag or tube into account.

  • Confusing a recipe with a format

    At Carrefour, a 125 g product with no added salt and a multipack of 30 g bags answer different questions: the first is about the recipe, the second about the amount in each bag.

    Check the salt content, net weight and number of bags separately.

  • Relying on the word ‘plain’ to tell you what’s in it

    A flavour name is no substitute for the ingredients list or allergen information on the product you’re buying.

    Check the physical pack if an ingredient or allergen affects your choice.

Brands to compare

Vico

The Auchan range reviewed includes La Classique crisps in individual bags of 6 × 27.5 g.

  • This pack size tells you the weight of each bag before you set off.
  • Check the weight of the product you choose: a large bag is suited to a different use.

Lay's

Lay's has a Plain Individual Pack product, and Auchan also stocks plain crisps in 6 × 25 g bags.

  • At 25 g per bag, it’s easy to plan how much to take with you.
  • Check the exact product: not all Lay's packs contain the same amount.

Pringles

Pringles Original is available in a 40 g tube, according to Pringles France.

  • The tube is a compact pack with its weight clearly stated.
  • The 158 kcal listed by Pringles France is for 30 g, not the whole 40 g tube.

Carrefour

Carrefour Classic' includes crisps in a multipack of 6 × 30 g bags.

  • Each bag gives you a set amount for your snack.
  • The 125 g Classic' product with no added salt is a different format, so compare the two products separately.

E.Leclerc / Pom'Lisse

E.Leclerc stocks Pom'Lisse plain crisps in bags of 6 × 30 g.

  • The multipack lets you take a 30 g bag without portioning out a larger pack.
  • A different recipe or a single 125 g bag calls for a separate comparison of the format and label.

Auchan

Auchan offers thin plain crisps in individual bags of 6 × 30 g.

  • Auchan’s product listing gives nutritional values for a 30 g bag.
  • Don’t apply these values to a different recipe or a bag of a different weight.

An option on Joybuy

If you want to take a single 30 g bag with you, this selection features burdock root crisps. They’re not potato crisps, and they don’t come in a multipack.

OHS burdock root crisps, 30 g bag

OHS Burdock Root Chips 30g

The single 30 g bag makes it easy to take a set amount with you for a snack. If you’re comparing it with potato crisps, check the pack’s nutritional information and ingredients list: they’re different products.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a single-serve bag enough to manage how many crisps you eat?

It lets you decide how much to take with you, but doesn’t guarantee how much you’ll ultimately eat or affect your weight. Before buying, check the bag’s weight and nutritional information. Manger Bouger recommends limiting foods that are high in fat, salt and ultra-processed.

Should you compare values per 100 g or per bag?

Both are useful: values per 100 g let you compare recipes on the same basis, while values for the bag or tube tell you about the amount you plan to eat. Check the pack’s weight before comparing these figures.

How much salt is in a 30 g bag?

It depends on the product. Auchan’s listing for POUCE plain crisps gives 0.33 g of salt per 30 g bag. Check the label for the product you’ve chosen rather than assuming this applies to all bags.

Should you check the ingredients in crisps labelled ‘plain’?

Yes, especially if an ingredient or allergen affects your choice. Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the specific product, even if it’s labelled ‘plain’.