If you have an allergy or need to strictly avoid an ingredient, choose crisps based on the allergen you need to avoid, then check the ingredients and trace warnings on the packet you plan to serve: ‘plain’ doesn’t tell you enough. A ‘gluten-free’ label addresses gluten, but doesn’t guarantee that the product is free from milk, peanuts, soya or other allergens.
If you need to avoid a specific allergen, the ingredients and trace warnings on the packet you serve matter more than the description ‘plain crisps’. The DGCCRF states that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list on prepacked foods.
An explicit ‘gluten-free’ label provides information beyond simply checking the ingredients. Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 reserves this claim for foods sold to the final consumer with a gluten content of no more than 20 mg/kg; on its own, it tells you nothing about other allergens.
If your guests have different dietary requirements, keep each packet easy to identify and its label within reach. The product listing for Auchan plain crisps notes that the ingredients may vary depending on the store and purchase date, so check the packet you receive before serving.
For a movie night, start by finding out what each guest needs to avoid before comparing recipes or pack sizes. The proportions below show consumers by their main requirement; a short ingredients list is not a guarantee that a product is free from allergens.
| What matters | What to check | Which consumers? |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allergen and traces | On the packet you plan to serve, check the highlighted ingredients and trace warnings for the allergen to avoid. | If I need to strictly avoid an allergen, a recipe that looks simple isn’t enough for me to feel comfortable sharing a packet. Around 36% of consumers prioritise checking for their allergen and relevant traces. |
| ‘Gluten-free’ label | Look for an explicit claim, then check separately for any other allergens of concern. Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, ‘gluten-free’ means a maximum gluten content of 20 mg/kg in food sold to the final consumer. | For my movie-night snack, I want to be able to distinguish a ‘gluten-free’ claim from a recipe that simply doesn’t seem to contain wheat. This gluten-related requirement comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Milk, peanuts or soya in the recipe | Check the seasoning ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings; don’t rely on the flavour name alone. | A cheese flavour or a recipe with several ingredients prompts me to check for milk and any other allergens I need to avoid before offering it to guests. Avoiding milk, peanuts or soya in these recipes is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Sharing and identification | Keep each product in its original packaging and separate the options for guests with different dietary requirements. | If I’m preparing several options for the film, I want everyone to be able to recognise their packet and check its label when they help themselves. Being able to identify products is a priority for around 14% of consumers. |
A short ingredients list doesn’t rule out trace warnings. The Carrefour Classic’ plain crisps listing, for example, mentions possible traces of gluten, milk, mustard and celery.
Before sharing, check the ingredients and trace warnings on the packet for the allergen your guest needs to avoid.
A ‘gluten-free’ claim doesn’t cover every allergen. The Carrefour listing for Curvies Schär displays this claim while also mentioning possible traces of milk.
Check for every other allergen you need to avoid separately, regardless of any gluten-related claim.
According to Vico, its cheese-flavoured lentil crisps contain milk and may contain gluten and soya. Pringles lists wheat flour in its Original recipe.
Choose the exact product after checking its label, rather than relying on the brand or how it looks.
Auchan says the ingredients in its plain crisps may vary depending on the store and purchase date.
When you collect your order or have it delivered, check the packet you receive and keep it within reach while serving.
The Curvies Schär crisps listed by Carrefour carry a ‘gluten-free’ claim.
Vico products show why it’s important to distinguish plain crisps from cheese-flavoured recipes.
The Original recipe shows that a potato crisp isn’t necessarily made using a simple plain-crisp recipe.
Carrefour’s listings for Classic’ plain crisps and Curvies Schär provide different information for each product.
Auchan’s listings let you check the ingredients in plain crisps and other savoury snacks, product by product.
These cassava, vegetable, sweet potato and plantain snacks are worth considering for a movie night. If you need to avoid a particular ingredient, check the ingredients and trace warnings on the packet you receive; don’t assume a product carries a ‘gluten-free’ claim.
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A 57 g bag of cassava crisps to consider as a different option for your movie night. If you need to avoid gluten or another allergen, check the relevant claims and trace warnings on the packaging you receive.
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A 57 g bag of vegetable crisps to add some variety to the snacks you serve. Check the ingredients and trace warnings for this product before offering it to someone who needs to avoid a specific allergen.
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This 250 g bag of cassava crisps could be a good option to share. Keep the packaging with the crisps so everyone can check the ingredients and trace warnings before helping themselves.
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These Original Flavour sweet potato crisps come in a 70 g bag. Check the label for this variety for any allergens or traces that matter to your group.
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A 75 g bag of salted banana crisps to keep separate from the other options on your snack table. Read the ingredients and trace warnings before offering it to anyone who needs to avoid a particular ingredient.
No. The Carrefour Classic’ plain crisps listing mentions possible traces of gluten, milk, mustard and celery. If you need to avoid a specific allergen, read the ingredients and warnings on the packet you buy.
No. Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 sets a maximum gluten content of 20 mg/kg for the ‘gluten-free’ claim on food sold to the final consumer; the claim doesn’t extend to other allergens. The Carrefour listing for Curvies Schär displays ‘gluten-free’ but also mentions possible traces of milk.
Because the ingredients shown online may not match those on the packet you receive: Auchan says the ingredients in its plain crisps may vary depending on the store and purchase date. Check the label on the packet delivered before serving it.
The DGCCRF states that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list. If you’re choosing crisps for someone who needs to avoid a particular ingredient, also check any trace warnings on the packet.