Sea Salt Popchips
A short, additive-free ingredient list and lower fat than fried chips, but it's still a refined, salty potato snack with little fiber or nutrition.
Ingredients (6)
Dried potatoes (62%)
A whole-food base ingredient that provides carbohydrates and some potassium. Dehydrating and reforming it reduces fiber and raises its glycemic index compared with whole potatoes, but it's not a concern in itself.
Sunflower oil
Mostly unsaturated fat and a common, generally well-tolerated cooking oil. It is high in omega-6 linoleic acid (unless high-oleic), which is fine in moderation, and here it is used in small amounts.
Rice flour
A refined starch that offers little fiber or micronutrients and digests quickly. It's also a possible source of trace inorganic arsenic, which is worth moderating if rice products make up a large part of the diet, particularly for young children.
Potato starch
A purified starch used for texture and binding. It's safe, but it adds refined, fast-digesting carbohydrate and no nutritional benefit.
Sea salt
ControversialChemically it's sodium chloride, just like regular salt, so it has no real health advantage. Salty snacks make it easy to exceed sodium recommendations, especially with other salty foods.
Salt
Sodium chloride adds flavor but high intake is linked to raised blood pressure. Listing both salt and sea salt suggests salt is a significant seasoning component, so portion size matters.
Healthier alternatives
A whole grain with more fiber and typically fewer calories per volume, plus you control the salt.
Find on AmazonProvide more protein and fiber for greater satiety than starch-based chips.
Find on AmazonOffers a similar crunch with the option of lower sodium and more varied ingredients.
Find on AmazonPopchips are made by pressure-heating and popping a potato-based mixture, similar to how popcorn or rice cakes puff, rather than frying slices, which is why they tend to contain less fat than classic fried potato chips.