Not Health Food, but a Different Kind of Snack
Snacks labeled as “protein” or “clean ingredients” are everywhere on packaging, but there’s a long-standing nutrition promise that often slips through the cracks: a claim of reduced fat. When Maarud released its new oven-baked chips with sour cream and onion, the claim was bold: 60% less fat. Our review shows the numbers don’t lie, but they also don’t tell the whole story.
On the surface, a 60% reduction sounds compelling. However, a closer look at the nutrition panel reveals a nuanced picture. The oven-baked chips contain 9.3 grams of fat per serving, of which 1.2 grams are saturated, while sugars amount to 7.5 grams. By comparison, classic potato chips (sour cream and onion) carry about 33 grams of fat, with 2.6 grams of saturated fat, and roughly 0.5 grams of sugars. The fat reduction is real, but the drop comes with other changes in the nutritional profile.
Calories and Carbs: A Trade-Off?
The usual marketing refrain is that cutting fat lowers calories, but nutritionist Karoline Steenbuch notes that removing one component often requires adding something else to compensate. “When you take something out, something else has to come in,” she explains. In the case of these oven-baked chips, the lower fat is accompanied by a higher sugar content, which can offset some of the calorie savings and change how the product affects blood sugar and satiety.
Even at 9.3 grams of fat per portion, the overall energy density is still high enough to be a snack that fits into a broader “occasional treat” category rather than a daily staple. Steenbuch cautions that healthier-seeming labels can inadvertently encourage over-consumption if consumers equate “less fat” with “healthy.”
The Ingredient List: What You See Is Often What You Get
Another important signal is the length of the ingredients list. Ordinary potato chips typically list a handful of ingredients, while the oven-baked version carries a longer, more complex lineup. A longer ingredients list often points to an ultraprosessed product with additives and substances not commonly found in home kitchens. This aligns with Steenbuch’s critique that “less fat” does not automatically translate to a healthier product, particularly within the snacks category where indulgence is part of the appeal.
What the Brand Says—and What It Means for Consumers
According to the product’s marketing lead, the oven-baked chips are not marketed as “healthy potato chips.” They are offered as an alternative for shoppers who want lower fat in a snack without sacrificing taste. The message is clear: a lower fat option exists, but it remains a snack, and the taste, texture, and overall quality are the priority. Feedback from early consumers has highlighted a notably crisp texture and a distinct flavor that some now consider a new favorite in the chips aisle.
Practical Takeaways for Snackers
For those watching their weight or mindful of nutrition, a few practical guidelines emerge:
- Read the nutrition panel, not just the fat claim. Pay attention to sugar content and total energy per serving.
- Consider serving sizes. A 100-gram bag option may help with portion control, especially if typical bags range from 175 to 250 grams.
- Think of chips as a category: convenient, tasty, and best enjoyed in moderation as an occasional treat rather than a daily staple.
Bottom Line
Maarud’s oven-baked chips demonstrate a real fat reduction, yet the product is not a health food. It’s a lower-fat alternative within the snack category, offering a different balance of fat and sugar. For consumers, the key is to enjoy responsibly, respect portion sizes, and remain mindful that a lower fat label does not automatically equate to a healthier choice.
