People taking a snack with them
If you want to pop sealed bags in a bag or hand them out at a picnic, a multipack means you don’t have to open a large bag in advance. Auchan and Carrefour, for example, offer packs of six 30 g bags.
Who are small bags for?
People keeping an eye on how much they buy
If the crisps are just for one snack break, look at the total weight of the multipack as well as the weight of each bag. Six individual portions won’t necessarily meet the same need as one bag to share straight away.
People who need to check the ingredients
If you prefer plain crisps or need to avoid certain ingredients, read the label for the specific product you choose. Carrefour’s listing for Vico Extra Craquantes Nature warns that it may contain milk, while the Vico La Gourmande recipe featured by Auchan contains dairy ingredients.
What should you check before choosing?
For a quick snack shop, first decide whether you need the portions to stay sealed and separate. Then compare the number of bags, their weight and the recipe.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions to take with you | Whether the pack contains individual bags, how many there are and the weight of each one. | For a snack away from home or sharing between several people, I want bags that stay sealed until they’re needed. Around 33% of consumers prioritise separate portions. |
| Quantity you need | The total weight of the pack and the weight of each portion. | If I only need a small amount right now, I want to avoid confusing a multipack with a single large bag. Getting the quantity right for the occasion comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Salt and ingredients | The ingredients list, any declared allergens, and the salt content per 100 g or per bag. | If I need to avoid an ingredient or keep an eye on the salt shown on the label, the exact recipe matters more than the format. Around 25% of consumers put this check first. |
| Texture and flavour | The recipe description: plain, traditional-style, ridged or flavoured. | For a snack to share, I might look for a particular texture or flavour rather than simply an individual portion. This is the main priority for around 17% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming all bags weigh the same
The individual formats listed in the product information we checked include bags of 25 g and 30 g. So the same number of bags doesn’t necessarily mean the same total quantity.
Check the weight per bag and the total weight before choosing a format to take with you.
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Assuming “plain” means you don’t need to read the label
Carrefour’s listing for Vico Extra Craquantes Nature warns that it may contain milk. For its plain ridged crisps, Auchan lists 0.33 g of salt per 30 g bag; this figure doesn’t apply to other plain crisps.
Check the ingredients, any declared allergens and the nutritional information for the product you’re actually buying.
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Guessing the ingredients from the texture
“Ridged” describes the shape of the crisps, not their recipe. The Vico La Gourmande product featured by Auchan contains, among other things, cream powder, whey, buttermilk and butter, all listed as dairy ingredients.
Choose the flavour or texture after checking the ingredients list if it will affect your purchase.
Brands to compare
Vico
The products we checked include plain crisps and a flavoured recipe in packs of six 30 g bags.
- Carrefour’s Extra Craquantes Nature multipack contains 30 g bags.
- Its listing warns that it may contain milk; the La Gourmande recipe featured by Auchan contains dairy ingredients.
Lay's
Lay's France features a Nature Format Individuel product.
- This description helps distinguish the individual portion from the brand’s other formats.
- Check the weight and number of bags for the product you choose: “individual format” doesn’t tell you on its own what the pack contains.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour offers Classic' Nature crisps in a pack of six 30 g bags.
- The number and weight of the portions are stated for this product.
- Check the packaging for the recipe and nutritional information of the variety you choose.
E.Leclerc / Pom'Lisse
The Pom'Lisse range includes plain crisps in 6 x 30 g bags, as well as a traditional-style product featured by E.Leclerc.
- The plain option gives you six separate portions.
- Don’t assume the traditional-style and plain versions have the same ingredients: check the exact product.
Auchan
Auchan offers plain ridged crisps in six individual 30 g bags.
- The product information gives the number and weight of the bags, and states that each contains 0.33 g of salt.
- This salt content applies to this specific product, not all ridged crisps.
A portion-packed option on Joybuy
If you want small, potato-based portions to take with you, this option comes in separate bags. They’re potato sticks, not sliced crisps, so bear this difference in mind if the shape of the product matters to you.
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CRISUP Crispy Potato Sticks Original Flavour, 5 x 20 g
The five separate bags are handy if you want to take small portions with you or share them out. The pack contains 100 g of original-flavour potato sticks; these aren’t classic sliced crisps.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if a pack contains individual bags?
Look for the words “individual bags”, then check how many there are and their weight. For example, Auchan’s product information for plain ridged crisps states that the pack contains six individual 30 g bags.
What should you check if you need to avoid certain ingredients?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product. Carrefour’s listing for Vico Extra Craquantes Nature warns that it may contain milk, while the Vico La Gourmande recipe featured by Auchan contains several dairy ingredients.
What information should you look for on a pre-packed bag of crisps?
Look for the ingredients list, net quantity and nutritional information, among other details. The DGCCRF includes these among the labelling information required for pre-packed food; check the packaging of the product you choose for its specific details.
What does the date on a bag of crisps mean?
First check whether it’s a use-by date (DLC) or a best-before date (DDM). The DGCCRF states that a use-by date must not be exceeded; a best-before date may be passed if the packaging is intact. Discard any bag that’s damaged or already open.