Less fatty crisps: good idea or bin fodder?
Confession: I usually steer clear of most light, low-fat, no-sugar, supposedly-better-for-you products from the supermarket. Usually, one thing has simply been replaced by something else with less flavour, or a nasty taste, or you end up in surreal situations where, for example, a bag of sweets says that it contains (at least) no fat…
I’m really not afraid of sweeteners, it’s just that they’re usually so revolting. (The only exception I make is for Cola Zero or Light). And I never buy ‘oven baked’ crisps anymore either, after tasting them once out of curiosity. I’d rather eat fewer crisps, or skip a piña colada now and then. But then I came across this!
Good story, nice and short
Honestly, I wasn’t looking for it. But my eye fell on these ridged crisps from Albert Heijn’s own brand, which contain 35% less fat, when I was standing in front of the crisps aisle. Since I love reading labels, I thought, ‘let’s take a look’. And there was a surprisingly good story, as far as the ingredients were concerned. (Generally, the shorter the story, the better, in the supermarket). Namely: potato, oil and salt.
Plain crisps for the win
If you’ve read this article about plain crisps, you know that they’re the best choice (if you’re going to eat crisps anyway). And although I was initially a little suspicious (because how could crisps that have been tampered with be better than the original version), I have to admit now: I’m sold.
Not for the faint-hearted
Because these crisps are seriously crunchy, nicely ridged and perfectly salty. Mega crunchy, honestly, and what I like is that they’re not too airy but a little firm, with some bite. And therefore less fat. So I had to ask myself: what are you actually missing? Are you a fan of greasy fingers, and do you and your cat, whose fur you always wipe your fingers on, simply need that ritual, then these may not be the crisps for you. But in every other case, I can wholeheartedly say that there’s almost nothing wrong with them. Maybe one thing…
Unfairly priced
And that is the price. Because while you pay €1.09 for 250 grams of AH own-brand plain ridged crisps, you pay €1.29 for just 150 grams of this less fatty variety. That’s not very nice. The price per kilo of the ‘healthier’ variety is almost twice that of the less healthy one: €8.60 versus €4.36.
Think about it, producers
Of course, according to the packaging, an additional step is involved, namely removing fat after frying. And a step costs money, we understand that. But surely it would be nice and progressive to encourage the healthier choice. For example, as a producer or supermarket, you could keep in mind the piles of money you earn from cheap products, or charge the same amount for (or offer a so-called discount on) a package that, without announcement, simply contains one-fifth less*. And then think, ‘you know what, let’s not make people pay double for a slightly better choice – I’ll make up that difference somewhere else’. Will that ever happen? Let’s hope so. With a crisp on the side.
*What do you think, for example, about simply charging the same amount for considerably less content, in other words ‘shrinkflation’? An example: the cherries and strawberries at AH (there are now 400 instead of 500 grams in a package). The AH own-brand popcorn. From 150 grams (or 125, I don’t remember exactly) to 100. And there are probably plenty more examples, including at other supermarkets. But now you immediately know a little about what I live on in the summer…
Also read:
- 10 of the hottest crisps from the supermarket (try at your own risk)
- 4 crisps from the Asian supermarket that you really want to try (and 1 to leave on the shelf)
- Questions about life: how many potatoes are in a bag of crisps?
