Organisers catering for someone with an allergy
If someone needs to avoid milk, peanuts, soya, sesame, mustard or another allergen, choose based on the exact variety and packet, not on a general ‘free from’ claim.
Who is this guide for?
Festival-goers looking for gluten-free crisps
A recipe made with maize or potatoes isn’t enough to establish that a product is gluten-free. Look for this claim on the packaging, and check separately for any other relevant allergens.
Groups sharing snacks with no declared dietary restrictions
Keep the packets within reach so everyone can check what’s being served. The flavour matters too: ingredients can vary between different varieties from the same brand.
What should you check?
First, find out which ingredients people in your group need to avoid; ease of sharing comes next. France’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) reminds consumers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the label.
| What you need to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding a specific allergen | Compare the allergen in question with the highlighted ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packet. Check the accompaniments too. | If someone needs to avoid an ingredient, I want to be able to check everything that will be served with the crisps. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise avoiding a specific allergen. |
| Choosing gluten-free crisps | Look for a ‘gluten-free’ claim on the packaging; don’t infer it from the main ingredient. Check for other allergens separately. | If gluten is my main concern, a recipe that appears not to contain wheat isn’t enough. Around 33% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Sharing packets at the festival | Keep the packaging easy to read and separate products intended for people with dietary restrictions. | If no one in the group has declared a dietary restriction, I want everyone to be able to check the label on whatever they pick up. Practical sharing would come first for around 25% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing ‘gluten-free’ with ‘free from allergens’
A ‘gluten-free’ claim doesn’t tell you whether a product contains milk, soya or other allergens. Crisps labelled gluten-free may still carry a warning that they could contain traces of milk.
Ask which specific ingredient needs to be avoided, then check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packet you’ve chosen.
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Relying only on the main ingredient
Seasonings change a product’s ingredients. According to Pringles France, the Flame Sweet Chili recipe contains, among other things, a dairy ingredient and wheat flour.
Check the exact variety, including its seasonings, rather than making assumptions based on the brand or the recipe’s main ingredient.
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Using an out-of-date ingredients list
Pringles France says its recipes may be adjusted. An old photo or product listing viewed before you buy may therefore not match the packet you take with you.
Check the packet you’ve bought before setting off, and keep it within reach while you’re sharing.
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Forgetting dips and shared bowls
A dip or mixing several snacks together could bring the crisps into contact with an ingredient someone needs to avoid.
Check every dip and serve products intended for people with dietary restrictions separately.
Brands to check, product by product
These examples show why it’s important to check the exact recipe: information about one product doesn’t apply to the whole range.
Schär
Curvies Original 170 g is one product to consider when you’re looking for a gluten-free option.
- Carrefour’s product information describes them as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free.
- The same information warns that they may contain traces of milk. The ‘lactose-free’ claim doesn’t make them suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
Old El Paso
Nachips Original tortilla chips, 185 g, are a maize-based option labelled gluten-free that you can check.
- Auchan’s product information describes this variety as gluten-free.
- It warns that the product may contain milk, soya, mustard, sesame and celery.
Jardin BiO étic
According to Auchan’s product information, the 125 g chilli-flavoured tortillas are both organic and gluten-free.
- This maize-based product is labelled ‘gluten-free’.
- The product information warns that it may contain traces of soya. The chilli flavour also needs to suit your group.
Vico
Check the ingredients product by product, including for lentil-based snacks.
- Vico’s website has a ‘gluten-free’ filter to help you find products to check.
- The product information for the Fine Herbs Lentil Crisps warns that they may contain milk, peanuts, soya and gluten.
Pringles
With flavoured crisps, the variety you choose determines which ingredients you need to check.
- Pringles France advises checking the ingredients list on the packaging, particularly if the recipe may have changed.
- The Flame Sweet Chili variety listed by the brand contains a dairy ingredient and wheat flour.
Joybuy products for sharing when no dietary restrictions have been declared
These two snacks are for sharing when no one in your group has said they need to avoid a particular ingredient. The first is a buckwheat crisp; the second is a konjac snack in individual portions, not a conventional crisp. Check their allergen information against everyone’s individual needs.
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BRET'S Buckwheat Crisps with Guérande Salt, 120 g
A packet of buckwheat crisps to consider for sharing when no dietary restrictions have been declared. The product information warns that they may contain traces of gluten, milk, eggs and mustard. So, despite their buckwheat base, don’t consider them a gluten-free option or a solution for avoiding these allergens. Check the packet you buy.
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Wei Long Konjac Crisps Vegetarian Tripe-Style, Spicy, 20 × 18 g
The 20 individual 18 g packets make it easy to serve this spicy snack without tipping it into a shared bowl. This product contains soya and wheat, so don’t choose it if these ingredients need to be avoided or as a gluten-free option. Check the packaging for any other dietary requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Are ‘gluten-free’ crisps also free from other allergens?
No. The claim relates to gluten, not all allergens. Carrefour’s product information for Schär Curvies warns that they may contain traces of milk, while Auchan’s product information for Old El Paso Nachips Original mentions several other possible traces.
Where can you find allergen information on a packet of pre-packed crisps?
Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packet you’ve chosen. In France, the DGCCRF reminds consumers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the ingredients list.
What does ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging mean?
In the European Union, Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 reserves this claim for foods containing no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. On its own, it doesn’t address restrictions relating to milk, soya or another allergen.
Is an old photo of the packet enough to help you choose?
No, not if your choice depends on the ingredients or allergens. Pringles France says its recipes may change, so check the variety and the packet you’re actually buying.
How should you store crisps at a festival?
Follow the instructions on each packet. Auchan’s product information for the Old El Paso and Jardin BiO étic tortillas says to store them in a cool, dry place. The Jardin BiO étic information also says to reseal the packet after opening.