What is actually in the snacks children eat at home?
Children’s health experts at Stem Protect analysed the ingredients of the top 20 UK snack brands to uncover which have the highest and lowest numbers of added ingredients. They have also partnered with a nutritionist to provide expert commentary.
Key Findings:
-
McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes have the highest number of ingredients (31)
-
Kettle Chips Lightly Salted is the cleanest snack analysed – with just four counted ingredients and no counted sugars, syrups, generic flavourings or additives.
-
Both crisps and tortilla chips are the most common snack categories in the top 10, featuring three times
-
Jaffa Cakes, Pringles Sour Cream & Onion, and both Doritos Cool Original and Tangy Cheese all had the highest additive count (10).
Top 10 Snacks children eat with the highest number of added ingredients:
|
#
|
Product
|
Category
|
Ingredient count
|
Additives/
processing
aids
|
Sugars/
syrups
|
Oils/
fats
|
Generic flavourings?
|
Ingredient
transparency
score / 10
|
|
1
|
McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes
|
Biscuits/cakes
|
31
|
10
|
4
|
5
|
Yes
|
0.3
|
|
2
|
Pringles Sour Cream & Onion
|
Crisps
|
27
|
10
|
3
|
2
|
Yes
|
1.5
|
|
3
|
Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough
|
Ice cream
|
27
|
3
|
3
|
5
|
Yes
|
2.3
|
|
4=
|
McVitie’s Milk Chocolate Digestives
|
Biscuits
|
23
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
Yes
|
2.8
|
|
4=
|
Doritos Cool Original
|
Tortilla chips
|
22
|
10
|
2
|
1
|
Yes
|
2.8
|
|
6
|
Doritos Tangy Cheese
|
Tortilla chips
|
24
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
Yes
|
3.3
|
|
7
|
Walkers Cheese & Onion
|
Crisps
|
20
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
Yes
|
3.5
|
|
8
|
Pringles Salt & Vinegar
|
Crisps
|
18
|
8
|
1
|
2
|
Yes
|
4
|
|
9=
|
Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food
|
Ice cream
|
19
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
Yes
|
4.3
|
|
9=
|
Doritos Chilli Heatwave
|
Tortilla chips
|
18
|
8
|
1
|
1
|
Yes
|
4.3
|
The full dataset can be found here.
Top 10 Children’s Snacks with the lowest number of added ingredients:
|
#
|
Product
|
Category
|
Ingredient count
|
Additives/
processing
aids
|
Sugars/
syrups
|
Oils/
fats
|
Generic flavourings?
|
Ingredient
transparency
score / 10
|
|
1
|
Kettle Chips Lightly Salted
|
Crisps
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
No
|
9.5
|
|
2
|
Hula Hoops Original
|
Crisps
|
7
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
No
|
8.8
|
|
3=
|
Pringles Original
|
Crisps
|
10
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
No
|
8
|
|
3=
|
Walkers Ready Salted
|
Crisps
|
8
|
4
|
0
|
2
|
No
|
8
|
|
5
|
Kettle Chips Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar
|
Crisps
|
10
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
Yes
|
6.5
|
|
6
|
Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie
|
Ice cream
|
18
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
No
|
6.3
|
|
7=
|
Hula Hoops Cheese & Onion
|
Crisps
|
19
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
Yes
|
5.3
|
|
7=
|
Hula Hoops Salt & Vinegar
|
Crisps
|
13
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
Yes
|
5.3
|
|
9=
|
Walkers Salt & Vinegar
|
Crisps
|
12
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
Yes
|
5
|
|
9=
|
Kettle Chips Mature Cheddar & Red Onion
|
Crisps
|
19
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
Yes
|
5
|
Unsurprisingly, original and lightly salted flavours had the shortest ingredient lists, but there were still clear differences between brands. Kettle Chips Lightly Salted was the simplest overall, with just four counted ingredients, compared with seven in Hula Hoops Original, eight in Walkers Ready Salted and 10 in Pringles Original.
Even within the same brand, the choice of flavour can make a noticeable difference, often doubling or even tripling the length of its ingredient list.