Who is this choice for?

People who need to avoid gluten

Look for a ‘gluten-free’ label on the packet you choose. Check separately for any other allergens and look at the sandwich ingredients.

People with an allergy to a specific allergen

A ‘gluten-free’ filter isn’t enough if you need to avoid milk, soya or another allergen. Your choice depends on the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the product you buy.

People looking for a simple side

Plain or lightly seasoned crisps may be easier to compare with your sandwich. Even so, check the allergens listed and the salt content if that matters for your meal.

What should you check?

What to check Check for Who is it for?
‘Gluten-free’ label Look for this label on the exact packet you’re buying, then also read the ingredients list and any allergen information. If I need to avoid gluten, I want to be able to check this information before choosing my crisps; around 36% of consumers prioritise this label.
Other allergens Identify the allergen in question in the ingredients and check any ‘may contain’ warnings, following the guidance that applies to you. If I’m allergic to milk, soya or another specific ingredient, I can’t rely on the ‘gluten-free’ label alone; avoiding another allergen comes first for around 29% of consumers.
Recipe and seasoning Compare the ingredients and seasoning in plain and flavoured varieties. A short ingredients list doesn’t mean a product is allergen-free. With a sandwich that already has a filling, I’m mainly looking for crisps that suit me as a side; this is the priority for around 21% of consumers.
Salt and portion size Compare the salt per 100 g and, where provided, per portion; also take the packet size into account. If my sandwich also contains cheese or cold meat, I want to see how much the crisps add to the meal; around 14% of consumers put salt and portion size first.

In the European Union, Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 reserves the ‘gluten-free’ label for foods sold to the final consumer that contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. This label alone doesn’t tell you whether other allergens are present.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘allergen-free’

    Tortilla crisps labelled gluten-free may still carry a warning that they could contain milk, soya or other allergens, depending on the product.

    If you need to avoid something else, check for that allergen in the ingredients and on the packet’s warnings, even if ‘gluten-free’ appears on the front.

  • Choosing plain crisps without reading the whole packet

    A short ingredients list doesn’t tell you whether there may be traces. Vico, for example, warns that its Extra Craquantes crisps may contain milk and peanuts.

    Check the information on the packaging of the product you buy, even when the crisps are plain.

  • Checking the crisps but not the sandwich

    Check the bread, sauce and fillings separately from the packet of crisps. In France, Decree No 2015-447 sets out requirements for allergen information on non-prepacked foods.

    Ask the bakery for the available allergen information before choosing the whole meal deal.

  • Forgetting about the salt in the whole meal

    The salt listed for the crisps is only part of the meal’s total salt content, especially if the sandwich also contains salty ingredients.

    Compare like-for-like crisps by salt per 100 g, then consider how much you plan to eat.

Brands and retailers to know

Vico

The brand makes it possible to compare plain potato crisps with more complex lentil crisp recipes.

  • Extra Craquantes lists potatoes, vegetable oils and salt.
  • Vico warns that this product may contain milk and peanuts. Its Chips de Lentilles Fines Herbes also carry trace warnings that you should check.

Lay's

Recette Paysanne Nature is a ridged potato crisp that’s worth checking as a side for a sandwich.

  • Lay's describes this product as thick, ridged crisps.
  • If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packet you buy rather than assuming it’s suitable because it says ‘plain’.

Pringles

Flavoured crisps need to be checked individually, as ingredients vary by flavour.

  • The ingredients list lets you identify the allergens present in each product.
  • Pringles says Salt & Vinegar contains wheat flour, barley and lactose, among other ingredients; this recipe shouldn’t be assumed to apply to all its flavours.

Carrefour

The retailer lists Schär Curvies and Socca Chips among its products labelled ‘gluten-free’.

  • These products let you compare two different recipes rather than treating all gluten-free crisps as the same product.
  • The gluten information isn’t enough if you need to avoid another allergen: read the ingredients and warnings on each packet.

E.Leclerc

The Chaque Jour Sans Gluten range includes paprika-flavoured crisps.

  • E.Leclerc says that the range’s ‘crossed grain’ logo is a guarantee issued by AFDIAG for the products concerned.
  • This information relates to gluten, so check separately for any other allergens in the product you choose.

Auchan

The retailer stocks gluten-free tortillas and snacks from a range of brands.

  • The product listings for Tortillas Nature Jardin BiO étic and Nachips Old El Paso let you compare their allergen information.
  • Auchan warns that the former may contain traces of soya, while the latter may contain several other allergens. Check the packaging of the product you buy.

Crisps to consider on Joybuy

These two products are worth considering as a side for a sandwich if you’re looking for a simple recipe. Their inclusion here doesn’t confirm that they’re suitable if you need to avoid gluten or another allergen, so check the exact packaging before choosing.

57 g packet of SAMAI cassava crisps

SAMAI cassava crisps, 57 g

Worth considering as a side for a sandwich if you’re looking for a 57 g packet of cassava crisps. If you need to avoid gluten or another allergen, check the packaging for the information that applies to this product, including any trace warnings.

View on Joybuy
155 g packet of LAY'S Old Fashioned Original Flavor potato crisps

LAY'S Old Fashioned Original Flavor potato crisps, 155 g

The 155 g packet may be worth considering if you’d like to serve potato crisps with several sandwiches. If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the ingredients, gluten information and any trace warnings on the packet you buy.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are ‘gluten-free’ crisps also free from other allergens?

No. In the European Union, the ‘gluten-free’ label is linked to the 20 mg/kg threshold set by Regulation (EU) No 828/2014; it doesn’t guarantee that milk, soya or other allergens are absent. Read the ingredients and any trace warnings for the product you choose.

Should you also check the allergens in a bakery sandwich?

Yes. Check the sandwich and crisps separately. Ask the bakery for the available allergen information about the bread, sauce and fillings; French Decree No 2015-447 sets out requirements for this information on non-prepacked foods.

How should you store tortillas after opening?

For Tortillas Nature Jardin BiO étic, Auchan advises resealing the packet after opening and storing it in a cool, dry place. For other products, follow the instructions on the packaging.

How should you take the salt in crisps into account with a sandwich?

Compare the salt per 100 g in similar crisps, then consider your portion size and what’s in the sandwich. Manger Bouger recommends limiting salty foods, so remember that crisps are only part of the meal.