For the occasional snack while training for a marathon, if you’re avoiding gluten or other allergens, check the information for the specific variety on the packet you buy – don’t rely solely on the fact that it’s made from potatoes or labelled vegan. Crisps aren’t a substitute for a training nutrition plan based on your needs: the German Nutrition Society highlights the importance of carbohydrates in endurance sport. You’ll also need to consider timing and your own tolerance when choosing a snack.
If this applies to you, a clear gluten-free label is more useful than assuming potato crisps are gluten-free because potatoes are their main ingredient. The German Coeliac Society makes a clear distinction between products labelled gluten-free and other products that contain no gluten-containing ingredients.
It’s worth checking the specific variety, even with salted potato crisps: Lorenz says its Crunchips Gitterchips gesalzen may contain traces of milk, while REWE says ja! Salted Chips may contain traces of several allergens.
You may want to distinguish an occasional savoury snack from planned nutrition for longer periods of exercise. For the latter, the German Nutrition Society says carbohydrate intake is key in endurance sport.
First, check which labels you need for your diet. Then compare the nutritional information and consider whether the crisps are for an occasional snack or to eat around a training session.
| Criterion | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and allergens | Check the specific packet for the gluten-free information you need, ingredients and relevant may-contain statements. | If I need to avoid gluten or certain allergens, I need clear information about the variety rather than making assumptions based on its potato base. For around 38% of consumers, this kind of verifiable labelling comes first. |
| Snacking and running nutrition | Compare the carbohydrate and fat content per 100 g, and consider timing and your own tolerance. | Before a longer session, I want to know whether a snack fits my nutrition plan, rather than looking at its carbohydrate content alone. Around 31% of consumers prioritise how well it fits their training. |
| Fat content | Compare the fat content of different varieties using the same serving reference, such as per 100 g. | For an occasional snack, I want to compare the nutritional information for different varieties of crisps. Around 23% of consumers focus primarily on fat content. |
| Choosing a familiar variety | If you’re buying again, compare the variety name and information on the current packet. | If I’m buying a variety again, I don’t want to pick up a differently flavoured one by mistake. Choosing the right variety is the main consideration for around 8% of consumers. |
Ingredients vary by variety: EDEKA lists wheat flour in its GUT&GÜNSTIG Riffelchips Paprika. So the fact that crisps are made from potatoes doesn’t answer the question of whether they contain gluten.
Check the specific flavour and, if needed, look for an explicit gluten-free label on the packet.
Lorenz labels its Crunchips Gitterchips gesalzen as vegan, but also says they may contain traces of milk. These statements answer different questions.
If you need to avoid milk, check the vegan label and the may-contain statement separately.
The German Nutrition Society highlights the importance of carbohydrates in endurance sport. However, a single nutritional value can’t tell you whether potato crisps are right for you around a run.
Consider the full nutritional information, timing and your own tolerance. Don’t try a new snack for the first time before an important run.
Ingredients and labelling can change. EDEKA also notes that online product information may differ from the packaging.
Before eating the crisps, check the information on the packet you actually bought, especially if it’s a different variety.
Chio Chips Ready Salted is an example of simply salted potato crisps. Chio lists potatoes, vegetable oils and salt as ingredients.
Lorenz Crunchips Gitterchips gesalzen is labelled gluten-free and vegan, but also carries a warning that it may contain traces of milk.
The brand’s Ofen Chips offer an option for consumers who want to compare the fat content with that of standard potato crisps.
ja! Salted Chips is a salted potato crisp variety from the REWE own brand.
With this own brand’s ridged crisps, the flavour makes a difference when checking the ingredients and allergens.
These potato crisps include salted and flavoured varieties to choose from for an occasional snack. If you need to check for gluten or allergens, read the information on the specific packet; the variety name alone doesn’t confirm that it’s suitable for you.
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A ridged crisp variety described as natural, for an occasional savoury snack. The pack contains 150 g. If you need to avoid gluten or allergens, check the labelling on the specific packet.
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A variety flavoured with chilli and red pepper for anyone looking for seasoned potato crisps. The pack contains 150 g. If you need to avoid anything, check the ingredients and may-contain statements for this variety separately.
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A BBQ-flavoured option for an occasional savoury snack; the pack contains 150 g. If you need to avoid milk, pay particular attention to the may-contain statements on the specific packet. Information about other Crunchips varieties doesn’t necessarily apply to this one.
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A classic salted option for an occasional snack, in a 150 g pack. If you need to avoid particular ingredients or allergens, check the ingredients list and labelling on the packet you actually buy.
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A Hungarian-seasoned potato crisp variety for an occasional snack. The pack contains 150 g. If you need to avoid gluten or allergens, check the information for this specific flavour on the packet.
Potato crisps aren’t a universal substitute for a planned carbohydrate intake during prolonged exercise. The German Nutrition Society highlights the importance of carbohydrates in endurance sport. When choosing a snack, you should also consider timing, the full nutritional information and your own tolerance.
An ingredients list with no wheat isn’t the same as an explicit gluten-free label. The German Coeliac Society distinguishes between products labelled accordingly and products with no gluten-containing ingredients. So always check the information on the specific packet.
No. A vegan label doesn’t tell you whether a product may contain traces of milk. Lorenz labels its Crunchips Gitterchips gesalzen as vegan, but also says this variety may contain traces of milk.
The information on the packet you buy applies to the product you actually have. Recipes and labelling can change, and EDEKA also notes that online information may differ from the packaging.