Walkers Crisps – Tried and Tasted
Recently snack giant Walkers announced a change in its crisp production. In the spirit of these more health-aware times they have reduced the sodium and cut saturated fat content by 70% compared to 2003 levels.
Though efforts have been made before to make crisps healthier through advances in methods and following public pressure; this is probably the biggest leap for some time.
We have tested the popular variety packs of the old style crisps, the new Sunseed generation and the Lites! brand to see if the healthier Walkers are still the leaders of the packs.
| Product | Ready Salted (Old style) | Ready Salted (Sunseed) | Ready Salted Lites! |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
| Conclusion | For many people the archetypal 'plain' crisp. A good solid start to the taste test. Nothing extraordinary; no complaints. | Slightly more greasy and salty than the old style pack but still as satisfying and inoffensive as ever. | According to the team, everything you would expect from something "Lite". Paler, dry & tasteless though with some degree less fat. |
| Serving Size | 25g Pack | 25g Pack | 24g Pack |
| Calories (kcal) | 133 | 133 | 113 |
| Fat (g) | 8.5 | 8.5 | 5.3 |
| Product | Salt & Vinegar (Old style) | Salt & Vinegar (Sunseed) | Salt & Vinegar Lites! |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
| Conclusion | May be quite a strong, harsh flavour for some but very popular among the team. | Also indistinguishable from it's non-Sunseeded brother. Also full of flavour and satisfying. | Like a watered down almost "stale" version of the standard crisps. Quite disappointing when tasting these last of the three. |
| Serving Size | 25g Pack | 25g Pack | 24g Pack |
| Calories (per serving) | 131 | 131 | 114 |
| Fat (g) (per serving) | 8.3 | 8.3 | 5.3 |
| Product | Cheese & Onion (Old style) | Cheese & Onion (Sunseed) | Cheese & Onion Lites! |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
| Conclusion | Many members of the team were surprised at the "blandness" and lack of flavour. | There was a suggestion that Walkers had tried to "over-flavour" this crisp which had resulted in a "chemically" taste. | Like a very bland, stripped down version of the old style crisps. Not very appealing or satisfying for the tasters. |
| Serving Size | 25g Pack | 25g Pack | 24g Pack |
| Calories (per serving) | 131 | 131 | 113 |
| Fat (g) (per serving) | 8.3 | 8.3 | 5.0 |
| Product | Prawn Cocktail (Old style) | Prawn Cocktail (Sunseed) |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
| Conclusion | Generally pleasing to the testers. No real complaints here though quite a strong flavour for some. | Again, no discernable difference between the two. Like most of the other flavours, you would be forgiven for thinking they had come from the same packet. |
| Serving Size | 25g Pack | 25g Pack |
| Calories (per serving) | 131 | 131 |
| Fat (g) (per serving) | 8.3 | 8.3 |
Walkers have succeeded in at least one of their goals: reduced sodium and saturated fat levels with very little affect on flavour.
The winners here seem to have been salt & vinegar and, recently promoted to the 'main' variety-pack, prawn cocktail.
Although the panel could not pick out which were the new style crisps they could all identify, and would mostly avoid, the Lites brand.
Some dietitians warn that benefits of 'sunseed' oil may be lost during the cooking process. Plus, although the fats are 'better' for you, there is still quite a lot of fat in all these crisps. But, however small an increase in how healthy these snacks are, if we consider their popularity and market share it has to be a positive step for the nation's health.
Start a Free Trial Today
You can use the tools in Weight Loss Resources to look up the calorie and fat content of 50,000 foods. Keep an online food diary that adds up fat and calories each day and find out how many calories you need to lose or maintain weight. Try it free for 24 hours.
Sam, 29 lost
8½ Stone with
Sam was 19st 12lb, now 12st 6lb
"Going from XXL and 44" waist to M and 32" waist is really, really satisfying."
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Yes… You need to lose weight
Your weight is substantially above your healthy weight range
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 20-25 is considered healthy.
You should lose to be within the healthy weight range for your height. Losing would also be beneficial to your health and could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“(Weight Loss Resources) has truly been the best weight loss assistance I have ever had.”
Rachel (RunningRach) lost 7 stone with Weight Loss Resources
Yes… You need to lose weight
Your weight is significantly above your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 20-25 is considered healthy.
You should lose to be within the healthy weight range for your height. Losing would also be beneficial to your health and could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“(Weight Loss Resources) has truly been the best weight loss assistance I have ever had.”
Rachel (RunningRach) lost 7 stone with Weight Loss Resources
Yes… You need to lose weight
Your weight is above your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 20-25 is considered healthy.
You should lose to be within the healthy weight range for your height. Losing would also be beneficial to your health and could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“(Weight Loss Resources) was just the resource I wanted!
I signed up for a free trial and bought a 6 month subscription the same day.”
Matt (BeerMatt) has lost 4st 10lb with Weight Loss Resources
Yes… You should lose weight
Your weight is above your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 20-25 is considered healthy.
Losing would put you in the middle of the healthy weight range for your height. Losing would be beneficial to your health and could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“The free trial tempted me to try and I've hardly gone a day since without visiting the site!”
Simon (SpyBey) has lost 3 stone with Weight Loss Resources
Maybe… Just a little
Your weight is within your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 18.5-25 is categorised as healthy.
However, you could lose up to and remain within your healthy weight range. Losing could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“I took the free trial and that was me, it was fantastic just what I had been looking for.”
Emma (Emsy1981) lost 1st 5lb with Weight Loss Resources
Maybe… maybe not!
Your weight is within your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 18.5-25 is categorised as healthy.
However, you could lose up to and remain within your healthy weight range. Losing could make you look and feel better.
You could lose in weeks with Weight Loss Resources.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could well be the breakthrough you've been waiting for!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“Once I'd lost my first few pounds I felt fantastic, and my clothes started to fit with a little more ease.”
Emma (Emsy1981) lost 1st 5lb with Weight Loss Resources
No… You don't need to lose weight
Your weight is within your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of 18.5-25 is categorised as healthy.
You should aim to maintain your current weight by eating a healthy, balanced diet.
You can see how healthy your diet is with Weight Loss Resources
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could be a real eye-opener!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“Fill in the food diary and analyse what you are putting into your mouth. You can learn a lot about healthy eating this way.”
Maria (EinsteinMC), Weight Loss Resources' member
No… You need to gain weight
Your weight is below your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of - a BMI of less than 18.5 is categorized underweight.
You should not try to lose any weight, and putting on a few pounds may benefit your health.
You could use Weight Loss Resources to help you gain weight.
Our free trial will show you how…
It takes just 2 minutes to input your details and could be a real eye-opener!
Start Your Free Trial Today »“Blimey, this site has helped put my life back on track… I looked at the weight range for my height and settled on the lowest that was healthy… put the goal as maintaining that weight and off I went!”
Suzi (Whiskas) gained 2½ stone with Weight Loss Resources
The tools and information on the Weight Loss Resources site are intended as an
aid to weight loss and weight maintenance, and do not offer medical
advice. If you suffer from, or think you may suffer from, a medical
condition you should consult your doctor before starting a weight
loss and/or exercise regime. If you decide to start exercising after a
period of relative inactivity you should start very slowly and consult
your doctor if you experience any discomfort, distress or any other
symptoms. If you feel any discomfort or pain when you exercise, do not
continue. The tools and information on the Weight Loss Resources site are
not intended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, or for any
person under the age of 18.
Copyright © 2000-2012 Weight Loss Resources Ltd. All
product names, trademarks, registered trademarks, service marks or
registered service marks, mentioned throughout any part of the Weight Loss
Resources web site belong to their respective owners.
