Pom-Bear Original Snacks, 12 x 13g

Pom-Bear are teddy shaped potato snacks from KP Snacks, and Original is the plain, ready salted one. The full product name on the pack is ready salted teddy shaped potato snack. This is the big multipack of twelve 13g bags, 156g in all, and the pack gives figures for each bag.

The ingredients

According to the published pack listing, the bears are made from dried potato, sunflower oil, potato starch, maize starch, maize dextrin, sugar, salt, potato protein, yeast extract, an emulsifier (mono and diglycerides of fatty acids), potassium chloride and paprika powder.

Potato bears

The dough is made from dried potato with potato and maize starches, shaped into little teddy bears. The bears are airy and crisp, and they soften quickly in the mouth rather than giving a hard crunch.

Ready salted

The seasoning is simple: salt and potassium chloride, with yeast extract for a gentle savoury depth and a little sugar. The taste is mild and potatoey.

Potato protein and maize dextrin

Potato protein and maize dextrin, made from the protein of potatoes and the starch of maize, are part of the dough with the starches.

The emulsifier

Mono and diglycerides of fatty acids are an emulsifier that helps the dough mix evenly. The pack's vegan statement covers them.

Potassium chloride and the salt figure

Potassium chloride sits beside the salt. It tastes salty but contains no sodium, and the salt figure on a UK label is worked out from sodium. The label gives 1.3g of salt per 100g and 0.17g in a bag.

Yeast extract

Yeast extract gives a gentle savoury depth. It is naturally rich in glutamates, worth knowing for anyone who avoids them altogether; there is no added MSG on the list.

Numbers for one bag

The pack gives 66 kcal (274 kJ), 3.4g of fat, 0.3g of saturates, 7.9g of carbohydrate, 0.5g of sugars, 0.7g of fibre, 0.5g of protein and 0.17g of salt for each 13g bag. That is about 3% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 5% of the fat and 3% of the salt.

Numbers per 100g

Per 100g the label gives 505 kcal (2109 kJ), 26g of fat, 2.6g of saturates, 61g of carbohydrate, 2g of sugars, 5.6g of fibre, 3.7g of protein and 1.3g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 26g is red. Saturates at 2.6g are amber. Sugars at 2g are green. Salt at 1.3g is amber.

Small bags

At 13g, each bag is small, 66 kcal, sized for a child's lunchbox or a snack between meals. The listing counts the twelve bags as twelve servings.

Twelve bags

Twelve bags cover more than two school weeks of lunchboxes, or a children's party. The six bag pack has the same bags and the same figures.

Maize starch

Maize starch, from corn, sits in the dough with the potato starch, and maize dextrin, made from it, follows.

Carbohydrate and sugars

The label gives 61g of carbohydrate per 100g, of which 2g are sugars, green on the front of pack scale. Sugar is on the list, and there is 0.5g of sugars in a bag.

Fibre and protein

The label gives 5.6g of fibre and 3.7g of protein per 100g, and 0.7g of fibre in a 13g bag.

Sharing out

Small bags make it easy to give each child the same amount at a party, a picnic or a playdate, with no bowl to share.

Allergens and diet

No allergen from the UK list of 14 is named in the published ingredients, but the listing we work from carries no allergy advice and no may contain statement. The pack says the bears are gluten free and suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

No artificial colours or flavours

The pack says there are no artificial colours or flavours. The colour comes from paprika powder, the last ingredient.

Sunflower oil

Sunflower oil is the only oil on the list, and the label gives 2.6g of saturates per 100g.

Actual size

The listing notes that the image on the pack is not representative of actual size.

The pack

The red bag carries the Pom-Bear name, a green original banner, the Pom-Bear mascot, a yellow bear in a crown and neckerchief giving a thumbs up, a few teddy shaped snacks, three ticks for gluten free, no artificial colours and no artificial flavours, and a large 12 pack mark.

Who it suits

A mild, plain potato snack in a small bag suits children and anyone who likes a soft crunch, and the vegan and gluten free statements suit many tables.

At a party

Tip a few bags into a bowl for a children's party, beside sandwiches, fruit and a bowl of Pom-Bear Cheese.

Distributor

As well as the freepost address for KP Snacks, the listing names Tayto Snacks, of Ashbourne in County Meath, Ireland, as a distributor.

Storage and packaging

The listing advises a cool, dry place away from bright light. The published recycling guidance says the whole packaging can be recycled with carrier bags at large supermarkets and should not go in home recycling.

Other Pom-Bear

We also stock Pom-Bear Original in a six bag multipack and Pom-Bear Cheese in a six bag multipack.

Sizes of Pom-Bear Original Snacks 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.