Hula Hoops Salt and Vinegar Potato Rings, 6 x 24g

Salt and vinegar is the sharp Hula Hoop. This multipack holds six 24g bags of the potato rings, 144g in total, each bag a single serving. The full product name on the pack is salt and vinegar flavour potato rings, and the pack says the rings are cooked with 100% sunflower oil.

The ingredients

According to the published pack listing, the rings are made from potato (potato starch and dried potato), sunflower oil (24%), rice flour, a salt and vinegar flavour (natural flavouring, salt, citric acid, rice flour, dextrose, maltodextrin, sugar and dried yeast extract), maize flour, potassium chloride and salt.

Where the vinegar comes from

No vinegar is named on the list. The sharpness comes from citric acid, the acid of lemons, and the vinegar character from the natural flavouring. Rice flour and maltodextrin carry the powder, and a little dextrose and sugar take the edge off the acid.

Dextrose and sugar

A little dextrose and sugar sit in the seasoning to soften the acid, but the label gives only 0.5g of sugars in a bag, because the seasoning is a small part of each ring.

The ring

Hula Hoops are made from a dough of potato starch and dried potato, with rice and maize flour, rather than from sliced potato. The rings are light, even and crunchy, with none of the brittle snap of a thin crisp, and the hole in the middle gives each one two edges to hold the seasoning.

Sunflower oil

The label lists sunflower oil at 24% of the product, and the pack says the rings are cooked with 100% sunflower oil. The label gives 2.3g of saturates per 100g.

Potassium chloride and salt

Potassium chloride sits on the list beside ordinary salt. It tastes salty but contains no sodium, and because the salt figure on a UK label is worked out from sodium, it adds saltiness without adding to that figure. Even so, the label gives 2g of salt per 100g and 0.48g for each bag.

Numbers for one bag

The label gives 120 kcal (504 kJ), 6g of fat, 0.6g of saturates, 15g of carbohydrate, 0.5g of sugars, 0.6g of fibre, 0.7g of protein and 0.48g of salt for each 24g bag. That is about 6% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 9% of the fat and 8% of the salt. Per 100g it is 502 kcal (2101 kJ), 25g of fat, 2.3g of saturates, 64g of carbohydrate, 1g of sugars, 2.5g of fibre, 3.1g of protein and 2g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 25g is red and salt at 2g is red too, above the 1.5g line. Saturates at 2.3g are amber and sugars at 1g are green.

Salt across the range

Hula Hoops Salt and Vinegar has 2g of salt per 100g, more than Hula Hoops Original at 1.4g and Cheese and Onion at 1.8g, and less than BBQ Beef at 2.2g.

Allergens and diet

No allergens from the UK list of 14 are highlighted in the published ingredients. The allergy advice says the rings may contain cereals containing gluten and milk. The pack says they are suitable for vegetarians; there is no vegan claim and no gluten free claim. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

What the pack leaves out

The pack says there are no artificial flavours or colours and no MSG, and there is no colour on this list at all. Yeast extract, which is on the list, is naturally rich in glutamates, which is worth knowing for anyone who avoids glutamates altogether.

Who it suits

A sharp ring suits anyone who likes salt and vinegar but finds a thin crisp too brittle, and the 24g bag suits a child's lunchbox. The high salt figure makes a small bag the sensible portion.

Six bags for the week

Six bags cover a working or school week with one to spare. A sharp flavour goes well with a plain lunch, such as a cheese sandwich or a boiled egg.

Serving ideas

Salt and vinegar rings suit a party bowl, a picnic or a children's party, and they go with anything creamy, from egg mayonnaise to a cheese sandwich.

In the kitchen

Crushed, the rings make a sharp crumb for fish fingers or a topping for mushy peas. Use a little, since the seasoning is salty.

Storage

The pack advises a cool, dry place. Finish each bag once it is opened.

Other Hula Hoops

In the same six bag format we stock Hula Hoops Original, Cheese and Onion, BBQ Beef and Smoky Bacon. Salt and vinegar also appears in the six bag Hula Hoops Variety box, with two bags, and the twelve bag Variety box, with three.

Other 6 x 24g packs of Hula Hoops we stock

Figures as published on each pack's label.

The published listing gives the United Kingdom as the country of origin. The tasting notes on this page are our own editorial assessment against the current pack format and the brand's published description.