New parents buying a snack for themselves
An individual bag can be convenient to keep to hand. Check the nutrition information for that bag as well as the per-100g figures, rather than treating a small pack as nutritionally negligible.
Who is this choice for?
These are crisps and snacks for adults buying for themselves, not foods to share with a baby.
Shoppers prioritising reduced fat
Look for a fat claim on the exact potato-crisp product. Walkers Oven Baked and Simply Roasted describe reduced-fat ranges; Walkers Lightly Salted addresses salt instead, while Tyrrells’ less-fat claim concerns its lentil crisps.
Households checking allergens or infant food
Ingredients vary between flavours, so read the current pack if someone needs to avoid an allergen. The NHS includes crisps among salty foods to avoid giving babies; a reduced-fat claim does not change that distinction.
What should you check?
Start with the claim that matches your reason for buying, then compare like-for-like nutrition figures and the amount in an individual bag.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat claim | Read what the claim compares the product with. Walkers UK says Oven Baked Sea Salt has 50% less fat than regular potato crisps; Simply Roasted compares its range with average fried crisps. Check total fat per 100g on the flavour you buy. | I want a potato crisp with an explicit reduced-fat claim, not just a name or cooking method that sounds lighter. |
| Salt | Compare salt separately, per 100g and per bag. Walkers UK lists 0.85g salt per 100g for Oven Baked Sea Salt; its Lightly Salted claim concerns less salt, not less fat. | Reducing fat matters to me, but I still want to see how much salt is in the crisp I choose. |
| Pack size | Use per-100g figures to compare different products, then read the figures for the amount you expect to eat. Walkers UK lists 2.8g fat per 22g Oven Baked Sea Salt pack; Simply Roasted lists 2.8g per 21.5g Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar serving. | A single bag is convenient between tasks, and I want its figures rather than relying only on a sharing bag’s label. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour. Walkers UK lists milk-derived ingredients in Oven Baked Cheese & Onion and barley malt vinegar extract and lactose from milk in Oven Baked Salt & Vinegar. | Someone in my household needs to avoid an ingredient, so a claim made for the range is not enough to choose a flavour. |
| Who will eat it | Keep the adult snack separate from food intended for a baby. NHS infant-feeding guidance includes crisps among salty foods to avoid giving babies. | I am buying something convenient for myself, not looking for a snack to share with my baby. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming reduced fat means less salt
Fat and salt are separate nutrition figures. Walkers UK lists 0.85g salt per 100g for Oven Baked Sea Salt despite its reduced-fat claim.
Compare both values on the same per-100g basis, then check the figures for the bag you plan to eat.
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Choosing “Lightly” for a reduced-fat requirement
Walkers UK markets Lightly Salted for its reduced-salt claim and Oven Baked Sea Salt for its reduced-fat claim. The names point to different comparisons.
If fat is your priority, read the fat claim and nutrition panel on the exact product rather than relying on “Lightly” in its name.
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Assuming flavours have the same ingredients
Walkers UK lists milk-derived ingredients in Oven Baked Cheese & Onion, while its Salt & Vinegar seasoning includes barley malt vinegar extract and lactose from milk.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack of each flavour, particularly in a variety pack.
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Treating an adult snack as food for a baby
The NHS advises avoiding salty foods, including crisps, for babies. A reduced-fat comparison does not make an adult crisp an infant food.
Keep this purchase for the adult snack cupboard and use infant-feeding guidance when choosing food for a baby.
Relevant brand ranges
Compare named ranges and flavours rather than assuming every crisp from a brand has the same fat claim or ingredients.
Walkers
Walkers UK positions Oven Baked as a reduced-fat route and Lightly Salted as a separate reduced-salt route.
- Walkers UK states that Oven Baked Sea Salt has 50% less fat than regular potato crisps and lists 2.8g fat per 22g pack.
- Check each flavour’s ingredients and allergen information; the Sea Salt figures do not describe every flavour.
Simply Roasted
Simply Roasted describes its crisps as roasted sliced potatoes rather than fried crisps.
- The maker claims 50% less fat than average fried crisps; Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar lists 13.1g fat per 100g.
- That range claim uses an average fried crisp as its comparator. Check nutrition and ingredients for the particular flavour.
Tyrrells
Tyrrells makes potato crisps and has a separate lentil-crisp line.
- Its potato-crisp range offers hand-cooked crisps made from English potatoes, according to Tyrrells.
- Tyrrells’ statement of 30% less fat than standard potato crisps on average applies to its lentil crisps, not its potato-crisp range.
KETTLE Chips
KETTLE Chips’ Lightly Salted product is a hand-cooked potato crisp.
- KETTLE Chips lists this specific product as gluten-free and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
- Its Lightly Salted product lists 29.5g fat per 100g; the name is not a reduced-fat claim.
Seabrook
Seabrook offers potato crisps including a Sea Salted flavour.
- Seabrook labels its Sea Salted product gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
- Sea Salted lists 30.4g fat per 100g; check another specific product before relying on a reduced-fat claim.
Pipers
Pipers describes its potato crisps as flavour-led, using sourced seasonings.
- Its range may be worth considering when a particular flavour is the deciding factor.
- For a reduced-fat requirement, check the claim and nutrition panel on the specific Pipers product rather than inferring either from the brand.
Joybuy snack options
These individual-bag multipacks offer potato crisps and potato-based snack options for an adult new-parent snack. Compare the exact pack’s fat, salt and ingredients before choosing; the products do not all make the same claim.
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PopChips Sour Cream & Onion 5 x 17g
Five individual 17g bags offer an adult snack in smaller packs. Check the nutrition panel for the fat and salt in one bag; the supplied product information identifies milk as an allergen, so read the current label if allergies matter.
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Walkers Oven Baked Variety Pack 6 x 22g
Six individual 22g bags provide flavour variety in an oven-baked potato-crisp multipack. Check the nutrition information and ingredients for each included flavour: Walkers UK lists milk-derived ingredients or barley in some Oven Baked seasonings.
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Walkers Oven Baked Cheese & Onion 6 x 22g
Six individual 22g bags suit a shopper who wants the Cheese & Onion flavour in the Oven Baked range. Walkers UK lists milk-derived ingredients for this flavour; check its current pack for the full allergen statement and its own fat and salt figures.
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Jacob's Crinklys Cheese & Onion Snacks 6 x 23g
This snack multipack contains six individual 23g bags. If reduced fat is the deciding factor, compare the exact pack’s claim and nutrition panel with potato crisps on a per-100g basis. The supplied product information identifies milk and wheat; check the current ingredients list.
Frequently asked questions
Does reduced fat mean reduced salt?
No. Walkers UK says Oven Baked Sea Salt has 50% less fat than regular potato crisps, while its Lightly Salted claim concerns 45% less salt than the average salt value of regular potato crisps. Read both fat and salt figures on the exact pack.
Should I compare figures per pack or per 100g?
Use per 100g to compare products with different pack sizes, then use the per-pack figures for the amount you expect to eat. A smaller bag can have a smaller total amount without having less fat per 100g.
Can I share reduced-fat crisps with my baby?
Do not treat reduced-fat crisps as baby food. NHS infant-feeding guidance includes crisps among salty foods to avoid giving babies; the reduced-fat comparison describes an adult snack.
What should I check if someone has an allergy?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack of the exact flavour. Walkers UK lists milk-derived ingredients in Oven Baked Cheese & Onion, and barley malt vinegar extract and lactose from milk in its Salt & Vinegar seasoning, so do not assume flavours share the same ingredients.