Seabrook Maple Bacon Waffle Bites, 6 x 16g

Waffle Bites are small, waffle shaped corn snacks from Seabrook, and Maple Bacon is the sweet and smoky one, with no bacon at all. This is the multipack of six 16g bags, 96g in all, and the label gives figures for each bag. The full product name on the pack is maple bacon flavour baked maize and potato snacks, and the maker on the label is Calbee Group UK Ltd.

The ingredients

According to the published pack listing, the bites are made from maize (59%), vegetable oils (rapeseed and sunflower), a maple bacon flavour seasoning (14%: sugar, potato maltodextrin, yeast extract, salt, flavouring, onion powder, citric acid, paprika extract and smoked salt), potato granules, an emulsifier (mono and diglycerides of fatty acids) and a firming agent (calcium carbonate).

Maple bacon without bacon

There is no bacon and no maple syrup on the list. Sugar leads the seasoning for the maple sweetness, and smoked salt, yeast extract and the flavouring give the smoky, savoury bacon side. The pack says the bites are approved by the Vegetarian Society as vegan.

Waffle shaped

Each bite is a small square with a waffle grid on top, like a mini waffle. The grid gives more edges to crunch and more hollows for the seasoning to settle in.

Baked, not fried

The pack says baked not fried. The label gives 21.8g of fat per 100g, red on the front of pack scale, and 2g of saturates, amber.

Maize and potato

Maize makes up 59% of the bites, with potato granules for a potato note, which is why the full product name says maize and potato snacks.

Sweet and smoky

Sugar is the first ingredient in the seasoning, so the bites are sweet first: the label gives 6.3g of sugars per 100g, amber on the front of pack scale, and 1g in a bag.

Calcium carbonate

Calcium carbonate is listed as a firming agent. It helps the dough hold its waffle shape as it bakes.

Yeast extract

Yeast extract 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 label gives 74 kcal (306 kJ), 3.5g of fat, 0.3g of saturates, 9.4g of carbohydrate, 1g of sugars, 0.4g of fibre, 0.9g of protein and 0.29g of salt for each 16g bag. That is about 4% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 5% of the fat and 5% of the salt.

Numbers per 100g

Per 100g the label gives 460 kcal (1910 kJ), 21.8g of fat, 2g of saturates, 59g of carbohydrate, 6.3g of sugars, 2.6g of fibre, 5.9g of protein and 1.82g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 21.8g is red. Saturates at 2g are amber. Sugars at 6.3g are amber. Salt at 1.82g is red.

Salt

The label gives 1.82g of salt per 100g and 0.29g in a bag; the Extra Cheesy Waffle Bites carry 1.83g.

Gluten free

The pack says gluten free and carries the Crossed Grain symbol, licence number GB-181-072 by the listing. There is no wheat on the list: the bites are maize and potato.

Oils

The oils are rapeseed and sunflower, the second ingredient after the maize.

Potato maltodextrin

Potato maltodextrin, a carbohydrate made from potato starch, carries the seasoning so it spreads evenly.

Carbohydrate, fibre and protein

The label gives 59g of carbohydrate per 100g, of which 6.3g are sugars; the rest is starch from the maize and potato. Fibre is 2.6g and protein 5.9g per 100g.

Vegetarian Society approved vegan

The pack carries the Vegetarian Society's vegan approval, which checks the whole recipe.

Trade marks

The listing notes that Seabrook Crisps and the Seabrook logo are registered trade marks.

Onion and paprika

Onion powder and paprika extract round out the seasoning, and the paprika gives it a golden colour.

Allergens and diet

No allergens from the UK list of 14 are highlighted in the published ingredients. The allergy advice says the bites may contain milk. The pack says they are gluten free and approved by the Vegetarian Society as vegan. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

74 calories

The pack front says 74 kcal per bag, and the label gives 74 kcal (306 kJ) for each 16g bag, sized for a lunchbox or a snack between meals.

Six small bags

Six 16g bags make a school week of lunchboxes with one to spare.

The pack

The magenta outer bag carries the Seabrook roundel logo, the words waffle bites in large letters, maple bacon flavour, a single waffle bite, a 74 kcal per bag roundel, a 6 bags mark and a front of pack nutrition strip.

Who it suits

A sweet, smoky corn bite with no meat suits vegans and vegetarians who like a bacon flavour, and anyone avoiding gluten. Anyone avoiding milk should read the may contain advice.

In a lunchbox

A bag goes beside a sandwich, a yoghurt and a piece of fruit.

At a barbecue

A bowl of maple bacon bites goes well beside burgers and hot dogs, with a cheesy bowl for contrast.

Storage and packaging

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

At a party

Tip a few bags into a bowl for a children's party, beside the Extra Cheesy Waffle Bites.

Other Waffle Bites

We also stock Seabrook Waffle Bites Extra Cheesy in the same six bag multipack.

The tasting notes on this page are our own editorial assessment against the current pack format and the brand's published description.