Not a Health Snack? Explaining the 60% Less Fat Claim
Packaging rarely shouts “health food,” even when the label suggests a healthier option. The latest example from the snack aisle is Maarud’s oven-baked chips with sour cream and onion, marketed with a claim of 60 percent less fat. On the surface, it sounds like a win for anyone watching calories, but nutritionists urge a closer look at what lies beneath the numbers.
What makes this case interesting is not just the fat figure, but the balance of nutrients that accompanies it. DinSide reports that the oven-baked variant contains about 9.3 g of fat (1.2 g saturated) and 7.5 g of sugars, while classic sour cream & onion potato chips pack around 33 g of fat (2.6 g saturated) and only about 0.5 g of sugars. The “60% less fat” label compares fat grams, but the overall energy and nutrient profile can move in another direction when fat is trimmed and other ingredients fill the gap.
What the numbers really tell us
According to Maarud’s market manager, Maria Brennodden, the company aims to stay well within the nutrition claims by adjusting the composition when removing fat. “When you remove something, something else has to be added,” explains nutrition expert Karoline Steenbuch. This reflects a common update in the snack category: products try to appear healthier by reducing fat, yet the total energy content and other nutrients don’t always align with a healthier profile.
Indeed, the oven-baked chips in question bear 9.3 g of fat and a notable 7.5 g of sugars per serving, while traditional potato chips carry far more fat but far less sugar. In practice, this means fewer calories from fat may be offset by added sugars, and the product becomes a different kind of snack rather than a genuinely healthier one. Steenbuch cautions that a lower fat count doesn’t automatically equate to a healthier choice, especially if it tempts consumers to eat more because it’s labelled as “better for you.”
Ingredients: a sign of ultraprocessing
Another clear distinction is the ingredient list. The oven-baked variant features a longer, more complex list than ordinary potato chips. A longer ingredient list is often a marker of an ultraprosessed product with multiple additives, stabilizers, and other elements you might not include in everyday home cooking. While not inherently wrong, it challenges the notion of a simple, wholesome snack and invites readers to consider what’s in the bag beyond fat grams.
Is it healthier, or just different?
Both the brand and nutritionists note that Maarud’s product is not marketed as “healthier potato chips.” Instead, it’s positioned as an alternative for consumers seeking lower fat content without sacrificing taste. Brennodden emphasizes that the new chips offer a different option for those who want a lower-fat snack with the same crunch and flavor, and the line even includes a 100-gram package for those who want to manage portion size more easily.
Consumer feedback so far has been positive about the crispness and flavor. Some shoppers appreciate the lighter energy profile and the chance to try something new in the chips aisle. Nonetheless, experts caution that a single “lower fat” claim should not displace broader considerations of a balanced diet or mindful eating. If the mindset shifts to “this is healthy” and leads to overeating, the advantage the label seeks to convey can be lost.
Bottom line for snack choices
In the end, Maarud’s oven-baked sour cream and onion chips offer a distinct option for those who want lower fat in a familiar snack format. They are not a health food, but they do illustrate how manufacturers adjust formulations to meet nutrition claims while maintaining flavor and texture. The lesson for shoppers is simple: read the full nutrition panel, consider sugar and salt in addition to fat, and be mindful of portion sizes. A bag labeled “60% less fat” can fit into a varied snacking plan when accompanied by an understanding of the whole nutrient picture.
