If you’re trying to reduce ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in your diet, crisps might feel like something you need to give up completely. But the good news is that not all crisps are ultra-processed. Some crisps sold in UK supermarkets contain just a few simple ingredients, usually potatoes, oil and salt, making them non-UPF crisps or UPF-free crisps. These minimally processed crisps are much closer to real food and can be a better choice if you’re trying to avoid foods with additives, flavour enhancers and long ingredient lists.
UPF Free Crisps
I thought it would be useful to share my list of non-UPF crisps you can buy in UK supermarkets, plus also a few handy tips on how to spot them when you’re shopping.
How to Identify Non-UPF Crisps
When looking for crisps that are not ultra-processed, the ingredient list is key. Generally, the simplest crisps contain just potatoes, vegetable oil (such as sunflower or rapeseed oil) and salt. That’s it.
Once flavourings are added, such as cheese, barbecue or sour cream, the ingredient list usually becomes much longer and may include additives like flavour enhancers, acids, sugars or maltodextrin. These are typically considered ultra-processed ingredients.
A helpful rule when shopping is. The shorter and simpler the ingredient list, the less processed the crisps are likely to be.
Non-UPF Crisps in UK Supermarkets
Here are some examples of crisps that typically contain very simple ingredients and are often considered non-UPF crisps when choosing the plain salted varieties.
Tyrrells Lightly Sea Salted Sharing Crisps available from Tesco, Sainsburys, Ocado, Asda, Co-Op and other supermarkets.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/271208882
Tyrrells Sea Salted Veg Sharing Crisps available from Tesco, Sainsburys, Ocado, Asda, Co-Op and other supermarkets.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/tyrrells-mixed-root-vegetable-crisps-150g
Tyrrells are a popular hand-cooked crisp brand widely available in UK supermarkets. However, you might want to be aware that most flavoured Tyrrells crisps contain additional ingredients, so if you’re trying to avoid ultra-processed foods, it’s best to stick to the plain salted version.
Kettle Lightly Salted Potato Chips available from Tesco, Sainsburys, Ocado, Asda, Co-Op and other supermarkets.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/kettle-lightly-salted-potato-chips-130g
Gran Luchito Mexican Tortilla Chips Lightly Salted available from Sainsbury’s.
ASDA Lightly Salted Tortilla Chips available from Asda.
Specially Selected Sea Salt Hand Cooked Crisps available from Aldi.
ASDA Ready Salted Potato Sticks available from Asda.
https://www.asda.com/groceries/product/sharing-crisps/asda-ready-salted-potato-sticks-150g/5598783
Tesco Finest Lightly Salted Crisps available from Tesco.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/252688220
M&S Collection Extra Virgin Olive Oil Crisps available from Ocado and Marks & Spencer.
https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-collection-extra-virgin-olive-oil-crisps/652154011
Tyrrells Furrows Sea Salted Sharing Crisps available from Sainsbury’s.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/tyrrells-furrows-sea-salted-sharing-crisps-150g
Blanco Nino White Corn Tortilla Chips with Celestun Salt available from Sainsbury’s.
Pipers Anglesey Sea Salt Crisps available from Sainsbury’s.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/pipers-anglesey-sea-salt-crisps-40g
M&S Collection Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sea Salt Crisps available from Ocado and Marks & Spencer.
https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-collection-extra-virgin-olive-oil-with-sea-salt-crisps/651040011
Lightly Salted Handcooked Crisps available from Aldi.
Tesco Finest Lightly Sea Salted Crinkle Cut Crisps available from Tesco.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/321115593
Howdah Onion Bhaji available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/howdah-onion-bhaji/499212011
Burts Sea Salted Crisps available from Morrisons.
https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/burts-sea-salted-crisps/104842641
Brown Bag Lightly Salted potato crisps available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/brown-bag-lightly-salted-potato-crisps/647139011
Sainsbury’s Gourmet Sea Salt Crisps, Taste the Difference available from Sainsbury’s.
Deluxe Hand-Cooked Crisps available from Lidl.
https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/deluxe-hand-cooked-crisps/p3007
Simply Roasted Sea Salt Crisps available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/simply-roasted-sea-salt-crisps/590775011
Brindisa Sarriegui Olive Oil Crisps available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/brindisa-sarriegui-olive-oil-crisps/293733011
Emily Seaweed Crisps, Sea Salted available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/emily-seaweed-crisps-sea-salted/590622011
Stamford Street Co. Tortilla Chips available from Sainsbury’s.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-tortilla-chips–basics-200g
Purely Plantain Chips Naturally Salted available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/purely-plantain-chips-naturally-salted/496956011
Howdah Ancient Grain Chips – Tandoor Chilli available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/howdah-ancient-grain-chips-tandoor-chilli/570942011
M&S Only 3 Ingredient Avocado Oil Crisps With Mediterranean Sea Salt available from Ocado and Marks & Spencer.
Scrapples Apple Fruit Crisps available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/scrapples-apple-fruit-crisps/530348011
No.1 Hand-Cooked Sea Salt Crisps available from Waitrose.
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/no1-hand-cooked-sea-salt-crisps/343550-1-2
Tesco Finest Root Vegetable With Sea Salt Crisps available from Tesco.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/309488813
Jasper’s Organic Potato Crisps 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/jasper-s-organic-potato-crisps-100-extra-virgin-olive-oil/657014011
UPF Free Multipack Crisps
If you are looking for non-UPF multipack crisps, these could be good options.
Seabrook Crinkle Cut Crisps Sea Salted 6x25g available from Sainsbury’s.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/seabrook-crinkle-cut-potato-crisps–ready-salted-x6
Lightly Sea Salted Hand Cooked Crisps 6 Pack available from Aldi.
Organix Melty Veggie Sticks Organic Baby Puffs Multipack 7 months+ available from Ocado.
Itsu Crispy Seaweed Thins Sea Salt 4x5g avaialbnle from Sainsbury’s.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/itsu-crispy-seaweed-thins-sea-salt-4x5g
Kettle Chips Lightly Salted Multipack Crisps available from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Asda, Co-Op and other supermarkets.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/kettle-potato-chips-lightly-salted-5x25g
UPF Free Breadsticks – Multipacks
If you are looking for non-UPF breadsticks in multipack, this could be a good option.
M&S Mini Breadsticks available from Ocado and Marks & Spencer.
https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-mini-breadsticks/528129011
UPF Free Popcorn
If you are looking for non-UPF popcorn, this could be a good option.
Propercorn Microwavable Salted Popcorn available from Sainsbury’s.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/propercorn-microwave-salted-popcorn-210g
Are All Crisps Ultra-Processed?
No, and this often surprises people. While many crisps do fall into the ultra-processed category, particularly flavoured varieties, plain salted crisps made from just potatoes, oil and salt are much closer to minimally processed foods.
They are still a snack food, of course, but they don’t contain the long list of additives commonly found in ultra-processed products.
A Simple Tip When Buying Crisps
If you’re trying to choose crisps that are not ultra-processed, look for:
- A short ingredient list
- Recognisable ingredients
- No flavourings or additives
Plain salted crisps are usually the easiest option to find.
Avoiding ultra-processed crisps doesn’t necessarily mean you need to give up foods you enjoy. In many cases, it simply means choosing versions with fewer ingredients and less processing. When it comes to UPF-free crisps, selecting plain salted varieties made with potatoes, oil and salt can be a simple way to reduce ultra-processed foods while still enjoying a snack.
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