Households considering a large plain bag
If several people will be eating crisps during the week, check the bag’s net weight and consider whether you’ll be able to finish it after opening.
Who are these formats for?
Households looking to portion them out
If you want to serve crisps on different occasions without leaving a large bag open, individual portions may be more convenient. Auchan, for example, offers a pack of six 30 g bags.
Shoppers keeping an eye on salt and allergens
Compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the exact product. The Vico La Gourmande recipe featured by Auchan contains milk and may contain peanuts; this information may not apply to other Vico crisps.
What should you look for?
Your choice of pack size depends first on how you’ll eat the crisps throughout the week. Then compare the labels of recipes that suit the way you plan to enjoy them.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Finishing a large bag | Net weight and storage advice after opening. | If several people will be helping themselves from the same bag, I want to avoid leaving it open for too long; around 36% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Portioning them out | Number of bags and the weight of each; Auchan offers a 6 × 30 g pack. | If I’m serving crisps on several occasions, I’d rather open one portion at a time. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Checking the label | Salt per 100 g, ingredients list and allergens for the exact product. | If salt or an allergen affects my choice, the ingredients of the specific pack become a priority; around 21% of consumers prioritise checking this. |
| Choosing a recipe | Product description, ingredients and the type of cut shown on the pack. | If I’m mainly looking for thin or ridged crisps, I check the recipe rather than relying on the brand alone. Recipe and texture are the top criteria for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming individual bags suit every occasion
They let you open a set amount each time, but they also mean more packaging. If everyone in your household shares crisps at the same time, this benefit may matter less.
Compare the number of bags and their weight with the amount you actually plan to serve during the week.
-
Taking a recipe claim as a summary of the label
A claim such as ‘no preservatives’ or ‘no added salt’ doesn’t tell you everything about the other ingredients, allergens or nutritional values.
Read the ingredients list and nutritional information per 100 g for the product you choose. The DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the list.
Brands and ranges to know
Vico
Vico offers plain crisps and ridged varieties, as well as 400 g bags for some products.
- Vico describes its La Gourmande recipe as made in France with French potatoes, with no palm oil or preservatives.
- The La Gourmande recipe featured by Auchan contains milk and may contain peanuts; check the label of the recipe you buy.
Lay's
The range includes plain crisps and Recette Paysanne, available in different pack sizes.
- Carrefour’s product listing for Recette Paysanne plain crisps gives a list of ingredients including potatoes, vegetable oils, salt and antioxidants.
- Recipes and weights vary by product, so check the exact pack before choosing.
Carrefour
Carrefour’s ranges include plain crisps in different weights, as well as a Classic' product with no added salt.
- Plain varieties let you choose an amount to suit the occasions you have planned.
- The Classic' no added salt product featured by Carrefour comes in a 125 g bag and may contain traces of milk and peanuts.
E.Leclerc
The retailer offers Marque Repère crisps, including Pom'lisse plain crisps in a 350 g bag.
- The 350 g Pom'lisse bag offers an amount worth considering for serving on several occasions.
- Check the recipe and pack size available in your store.
Auchan
Auchan offers both large bags of plain crisps and individual bags.
- Its plain crisps multipack of 6 × 30 g lets you open one portion for each occasion.
- Check the total weight if you’re choosing between this multipack and one large bag.
Sharing bags on Joybuy
These two Lay's products are bags of potato crisps made for sharing. For your weekly shop, choose the quantity to suit the occasions you have planned, and check the pack’s instructions for after opening.
Image unavailable
Lay's Country-Style Potato Chips, 295 g
This 295 g bag may suit you if you’re planning to share the crisps. Before buying, check the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for this product.
Image unavailable
Lay's Plain Salted Potato Crisps, 250 g family-size bag
This 250 g family-size bag is for anyone who wants to share salted plain crisps. If you plan to enjoy it over several days, follow the storage advice for after opening.
Frequently asked questions
What should you check if someone in your household has an allergy?
Read the label on the exact pack you’re buying: according to the DGCCRF, allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the ingredients list. The Vico La Gourmande recipe featured by Auchan contains milk and may contain peanuts; the Carrefour Classic' no added salt product featured by Carrefour may contain traces of milk and peanuts.
Is Nutri-Score enough to compare two bags of crisps?
No: also check the nutritional information and ingredients for both products. The DGCCRF states that nutritional information given per 100 g allows you to compare prepacked foods on a like-for-like basis.
Does a ‘no added salt’ claim mean you don’t need to read the rest of the label?
No: compare the salt listed per 100 g and check the ingredients and allergens for the exact product. A claim about salt alone doesn’t tell you everything about the product’s composition.
How do you choose a bag that will be opened more than once?
Choose an amount you think you’ll be able to finish, and follow the pack’s storage advice after opening. If you’re planning several occasions spread across the week, individual bags let you open just one at a time.