Most Processed Chips & Crisps Brands
Basic potato chips need just three ingredients: potatoes, oil, and salt. But flavored varieties add maltodextrin, artificial flavors, MSG (as "yeast extract"), artificial colors, and multiple forms of processed cheese powders. The processing gap between plain and flavored chips is one of the largest in any snack category.
Chips & Crisps at a Glance
15 Most Processed Chips & Crisps Brands
Brands ranked by highest average processing score across all their products in this category.
| Rank | Brand | Products | Scores | Ultra | Minimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frito-lay | 12 | 42.3 4.5 | 10 | 1 |
| 2 | Wilton | 9 | 29.9 3.8 | 9 | 0 |
| 3 | Kelloggs | 5 | 25.2 4.9 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | Rancheritos | 6 | 19.1 5.0 | 6 | 0 |
| 5 | Doritos | 609 | 17.9 5.0 | 549 | 6 |
| 6 | Sabritones | 16 | 17.7 3.5 | 16 | 0 |
| 7 | Yummies | 8 | 17.6 4.0 | 8 | 0 |
| 8 | Encanto | 5 | 17.5 5.0 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | Cravem snacks | 6 | 17.5 5.0 | 6 | 0 |
| 10 | Chesters | 20 | 16.7 4.8 | 20 | 0 |
| 11 | Snaky | 7 | 16.6 4.9 | 4 | 0 |
| 12 | Funyuns | 5 | 16.5 5.3 | 5 | 0 |
| 13 | La molienda | 5 | 16.5 5.2 | 5 | 0 |
| 14 | Dots | 6 | 16.0 6.5 | 6 | 0 |
| 15 | Sabritas | 19 | 15.9 4.8 | 17 | 0 |
Closest Look: Top 5 Most Processed
Least Processed Chips & Crisps Products
Individual products with the lowest processing scores.
Most Processed Chips & Crisps Products
Individual products with the highest processing scores.
What to Look for on the Label
- 1Plain salted chips (potatoes, oil, salt) are Level 2 — the simplest option
- 2Flavored chips with "seasoning blend" typically contain 10+ hidden sub-ingredients
- 3"Natural flavors" in chips is not the same as natural — it is an industrial extract
- 4Kettle-cooked chips use the same ingredients as regular but a different cooking method
Least Processed Chips & Crisps Brands
For comparison — brands with the lowest average processing scores.
| Rank | Brand | Products | Scores | Ultra | Minimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glean | 5 | 1.0 7.2 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | Natierra | 14 | 1.0 10.0 | 0 | 14 |
| 3 | Pocasville | 14 | 1.3 6.1 | 0 | 12 |
| 4 | Gembos | 7 | 1.6 2.9 | 0 | 7 |
| 5 | Mama lycha | 14 | 1.7 4.8 | 0 | 14 |
| 6 | Mitica | 5 | 2.0 6.0 | 0 | 5 |
| 7 | Ara real | 5 | 2.0 7.0 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | Natura | 7 | 2.0 4.7 | 0 | 7 |
| 9 | Hacienda de gutierrez | 6 | 2.0 6.5 | 0 | 6 |
| 10 | Big papis kitchen | 8 | 2.0 6.5 | 0 | 8 |
| 11 | Crunchin cuts | 10 | 2.0 5.8 | 0 | 10 |
| 12 | Michael seasons | 6 | 2.0 4.6 | 0 | 6 |
| 13 | Schnuncks | 5 | 2.0 4.0 | 0 | 5 |
| 14 | Caulipower | 6 | 2.0 6.0 | 0 | 6 |
| 15 | El ranchero | 9 | 2.0 7.3 | 0 | 9 |
How We Score Products
Every product is evaluated using two independent scores. The Processing Score (lower is better) measures the degree of industrial processing based on ingredient analysis, including the presence of artificial additives, preservatives, and highly modified ingredients. The Nutrition Score (higher is better) rates overall nutritional quality, rewarding protein and fiber while penalizing excess sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat.
Products are assigned to one of four processing levels: Minimal (score ≤ 2.5), Processed (2.6 – 5.0), Highly Processed (5.1 – 8.0), and Ultra-Processed (above 8.0). Brand averages are calculated across all products in the category to produce the rankings shown here.
Based on analysis of 1.98 million products in the USDA FoodData Central database. For a deeper look at the methodology, see our Processing Score guide and Two-Score System explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are flavored chips so much more processed?
Flavored chips add seasoning blends that contain maltodextrin, autolyzed yeast extract (MSG alternative), artificial colors, modified food starch, and multiple dairy derivatives. A "nacho cheese" chip can have 20+ ingredients vs 3 for plain.
Are baked chips less processed?
Baked chips use less oil but often add more starches, emulsifiers, and seasonings to achieve acceptable texture, making them similarly or more processed than regular fried chips.
What makes Pringles different from regular chips?
Pringles are not sliced from potatoes — they are formed from dried potato flakes, corn starch, and wheat starch, making them a reconstituted product rather than a simple fried potato slice.
Related Food Guides
Learn more about how individual foods are classified.
Disclaimer: All tools and data visualizations are provided for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended as health, medical, or dietary advice. Product formulations change frequently — always check the actual label for current ingredients and nutrition facts before making purchasing decisions. Consult healthcare professionals for personalized dietary guidance.