To go with lunch at university, start with the flavour you want to pair with the rest of your meal, then check the ingredients and pack size. Two products with the same flavour name can have different ingredients, allergen information and salt levels. So choose based on the specific product, not just its name.
If your sandwich or salad is already the main part of your lunch, you can choose crisps based on the flavour you want to add. The ranges from Vico and Lay’s include spicy and vinegar flavours, for example. However, the name alone won’t tell you how intense the flavour will be.
If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the recipe for the flavour you’re buying, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. Depending on the product, options from Pringles, Auchan and E.Leclerc may list soya, milk or other potential allergens. In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that allergens in pre-packed food must be listed and highlighted on the label.
Between classes, the weight of the pack and the number of individual bags may matter more than a large sharing pack. E.Leclerc, for example, lists Pom’Lisse barbecue crisps in six 30 g bags. Compare this pack format with the amount you want to open during a break.
Choose a flavour to go with your lunch, then compare the options you’re interested in by their ingredients, packaging and nutritional information.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour | The flavour description and the ingredients for that specific recipe: paprika, smoked, barbecue, cheese and onion, or vinegar do not mean the same ingredients are used by every brand. | If my lunch already has a strong flavour, I look for crisps that will go well with it, rather than relying on the recipe name alone. Around 33% of consumers prioritise flavour. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack you’re buying. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, an appealing flavour isn’t enough to make my decision: I need to be able to check what’s in it. Around 25% of consumers make this their priority. |
| Pack size | The net weight and, for multipacks, the number of bags and the weight of each one. | For a break between classes, I prefer to choose how much I’ll open and carry in my bag. Around 25% of consumers prioritise pack size. |
| Salt | The salt content per 100 g and, if shown on the pack, per serving; compare servings of the same weight. | If I’m comparing different recipes to go with my meal, I want to know their salt content before deciding. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this. |
Pringles France and Auchan list 0.33 g of salt per 30 g of Pringles Paprika and 0.42 g per 30 g of Auchan Paprika crisps, respectively. These figures apply to these two recipes and the same serving size. If you’re choosing a different flavour or pack size, check the nutritional information on the pack you plan to buy.
A ‘paprika’ or ‘cheese’ description doesn’t tell you which spices, flavourings or other ingredients are used. The Auchan listing for Lay’s Paprika, for example, details a flavouring base, while the Savour cheddar and chive recipe listed by E.Leclerc contains dairy ingredients.
Read the ingredients for the specific product and pack size you’ve chosen, even if you already know another flavour from the same brand.
A flavoured recipe may contain allergens or carry ‘may contain’ warnings that aren’t obvious from its name. The Auchan Paprika listing, for example, mentions possible traces of cereals containing gluten, milk, celery and mustard.
If these warnings are relevant to you, check the pack before eating the crisps rather than relying on another recipe from the range.
An individual bag and a large pack aren’t suited to the same kind of break at university. Once you’ve opened a large pack, you’ll also need to reseal it if you want to keep the rest.
Compare the net weight and pack format with the amount you plan to take with you and open for lunch.
Vico’s range includes several flavoured options, including Street Food products and vinegar and shallot crisps.
Lay’s France offers ridged crisps in flavours including paprika and sour cream and onion, as well as a salt and vinegar option.
Pringles makes stackable crisps in several flavours, including Paprika.
Carrefour offers barbecue-flavoured crisps in a 135 g pack, among other options.
The E.Leclerc catalogue includes Pom’Lisse barbecue crisps in six 30 g bags and 120 g packs of Savour cheddar and chive crisps.
Auchan offers paprika-flavoured crisps in a 135 g pack, among other options.
These options come in different flavours and pack sizes to go with a lunch on the go. Choose based on the flavour you fancy and how much you want to open, then check the ingredients on the packaging.
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An option to consider if you’d like a cheese and onion flavour with your lunch. The pack contains 125 g. Check the ingredients and allergen information if you have any dietary restrictions.
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This 70 g pack could suit you if you’re looking for a barbecue flavour and want to compare a smaller size with larger packs. Check the label for the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for this recipe.
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Worth considering if you fancy a spicy barbecue flavour to go with your lunch. The pack contains 120 g. Reseal it if you don’t eat it all, and check the allergen information before eating.
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This 50 g pack is a handy small-size option with an Iberian ham flavour. If ingredients or allergens are important to your choice, check the information on the packaging.
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Consider these if you’d prefer paprika-flavoured tortilla chips to another style of crisp. The pack contains 160 g. Check the label for the ingredients, allergens and salt content of the recipe you buy.
Start with the flavour you’d like to pair with your sandwich, salad or other dish: paprika, barbecue, cheese and onion, and salt and vinegar all offer different flavour profiles. Then compare the ingredients of the products you’re interested in, as a flavour name doesn’t tell you everything about the recipe.
For the lunch we’re discussing here, choose crisps as an accompaniment rather than the only part of your meal. Salt content varies by product. If you’re comparing packs, check the amount per 100 g and, where available, per serving.
It depends on the recipe. Depending on the product, options from Pringles, Auchan and E.Leclerc may contain ingredients or carry ‘may contain’ warnings for allergens including soya, milk or cereals containing gluten. In France, the Ministry of the Economy states that allergens in pre-packed food must be listed and highlighted. Check the label on the pack you buy.
Reseal it if you want to keep the rest, and follow the instructions on the packaging. For its Smoked Paprika product, Vico recommends eating the crisps soon after opening, according to the listing published by Auchan.