Chips Comparison: Flavor Enhancers, Additives & What to Watch
Chips are one of the most popular snack categories, with hundreds of flavors and varieties. The ingredient list can range from three items (potatoes, oil, salt) to thirty or more. This guide covers what shoppers look for, which additives are most common, and how to find chips with cleaner labels.
What Shoppers Usually Look For
Most shoppers look for a short ingredient list, recognizable ingredients, and a reasonable sodium level. Many also check for MSG, artificial flavors, and the type of oil used. Kettle-cooked chips and baked chips are popular alternatives to traditional fried chips, though they don't necessarily have cleaner ingredient lists.
Ingredients to Watch
Monosodium glutamate (MSG, E621) is a flavor enhancer used in many flavored chips. Disodium inosinate (E631) and disodium guanylate (E627) are often used alongside MSG to amplify its effect. Artificial colors like Red 40 (E129) and Yellow 6 (E110) appear in some flavored chips. Maltodextrin is used as a flavor carrier and can spike blood sugar.
Common Additives in This Category
MSG (E621) is the most common flavor enhancer. Disodium inosinate (E631) and disodium guanylate (E627) are used alongside MSG. Citric acid (E330) is used as a flavor enhancer and preservative. Artificial colors appear in some flavored varieties. Natural and artificial flavors are nearly universal in flavored chips.
Better Buying Rules
Look for chips with three to five ingredients: potato (or corn), oil, and salt. Avoid chips with MSG if you're sensitive to it — look for 'no MSG added' claims, but note that disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate have similar effects. Choose chips fried in olive oil or avocado oil over those fried in vegetable or canola oil if oil quality matters to you.
Homemade Alternative
Homemade baked potato chips or kale chips require only a few ingredients and give you full control over oil type and seasoning. Thinly sliced potatoes tossed in olive oil and salt, baked at high heat, produce a crispy chip with no additives. Kale chips are even simpler and add nutritional value.
Scan Products with BioBrief
BioBrief scans any chip barcode and flags MSG, artificial colors, and other additives by name and safety level. You can set dietary rules — no MSG, no artificial colors — and BioBrief highlights any product that violates them.
How BioBrief Helps With This Category
BioBrief scans any product barcode and flags the additives most common in this category. Here's how it compares to other food scanner apps.
| Feature | BioBrief | Other food scanner apps |
|---|---|---|
| MSG / flavor enhancer detection | Yes | Sometimes |
| Artificial color detection | Yes | Varies |
| Maltodextrin flags | Yes | Rare |
| Allergen detection | Yes | Varies |
| AI food questions | Yes | Rare |