Walkers Monster Munch Giants Pickled Onion Snacks, 85g

Monster Munch are the claw shaped corn snacks from Walkers, and Giants are the supersized version. Pickled Onion is the sharp, tangy one. This is the 85g sharing bag, which the pack says holds two to three servings. The full product name on the pack is pickled onion flavour baked corn snacks, and the maker on the label is Walkers Snack Foods Ltd.

The ingredients

According to the printed pack, the snacks are made from maize, rapeseed oil and a pickled onion seasoning of flavourings, whey permeate (milk), onion powder, sugar, flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate and disodium 5' ribonucleotide), salt, potassium chloride, garlic powder, hydrolysed soya protein, citric acid and spices.

Giants

Each Giant is a big Monster Munch claw, much bigger than the classic one, and the back of the pack says the snack has been supersized.

Baked, not fried

The pack says baked not fried. The label gives 26g of fat per 100g, red on the front of pack scale, and 2.1g of saturates, amber.

Pickled onion without vinegar

No vinegar is named on the list. The sharp pickled onion taste comes from the flavourings, which lead the seasoning, with onion powder, garlic and citric acid.

Umami

Monosodium glutamate, disodium 5' ribonucleotide and hydrolysed soya protein give a deep, savoury taste under the tang. This bag does contain MSG.

Whey permeate

Whey permeate, from milk, carries the seasoning and softens it, and it is why milk is highlighted on a pickled onion snack.

Potassium chloride

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.

Numbers per serving

The pack gives 153 kcal (638 kJ), 7.8g of fat, 0.6g of saturates, 18.6g of carbohydrate, 1.3g of sugars, 0.6g of fibre, 1.8g of protein and 0.47g of salt for a 30g serving, which it puts at 8% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 11% of the fat and 8% of the salt.

Numbers per 100g

Per 100g the pack gives 509 kcal (2128 kJ), 26g of fat, 2.1g of saturates, 62g of carbohydrate, 4.4g of sugars, 2.1g of fibre, 6.1g of protein and 1.57g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 26g is red. Saturates at 2.1g are amber. Sugars at 4.4g are green. Salt at 1.57g is red.

Carbohydrate and fibre

The label gives 62g of carbohydrate per 100g, of which 4.4g are sugars; the rest is starch from the maize. Fibre is 2.1g and protein 6.1g per 100g.

Maize

Maize is the first ingredient, baked into the big claw shapes, light and crunchy.

Rapeseed oil

Rapeseed oil is the only oil on the list.

Sugar

A little sugar rounds the sharp seasoning: the label gives 4.4g of sugars per 100g, green on the front of pack scale.

Garlic and spices

Garlic powder and spices sit behind the onion, as in a jar of pickled onions.

Salt

The label gives 1.57g of salt per 100g and 0.47g in a serving, red on the front of pack scale.

Claws

Monster Munch are shaped like monster claws, and the Giants have the pickled onion flavour in a much bigger bite.

Allergens and diet

The printed ingredients highlight milk, in the whey permeate, and soya, in the hydrolysed soya protein. The allergy advice on the pack says the snacks may contain wheat, gluten, barley, celery and mustard. The pack says they are suitable for vegetarians; they are not vegan. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

Two to three servings

The pack says it holds two to three servings of 30g. Tip a serving into a bowl rather than eating from the bag.

Once opened

The listing advises a cool, dry place and says to eat the snacks within 3 days of opening, so fold the bag down and clip it shut.

The pack

The bag in our photograph is a Marvel Avengers: Doomsday promotional edition, with a Marvel character at the top and a line about the film. Below it are the Monster Munch Giants name in green and red letters, a purple label reading pickled onion, a giant claw and the 85g weight. Promotional designs change, so the bag you receive may look different.

Who it suits

A big, tangy, baked corn claw suits Monster Munch fans who want a bigger bite, and the vegetarian statement suits most tables. It is not suitable for anyone avoiding milk, soya or MSG.

At a party

Put a bowl out at a Halloween or birthday party.

With drinks

A pickled onion snack goes well with a cold lager or a pint of bitter.

Spooky snacks

The listing calls them spooky snacks, a fit for Halloween.

With a cheese sandwich

A pickled onion snack goes well beside a cheese sandwich, like a ploughman's.

At a film night

A bowl of Giants goes well with a cold drink at a film night.

In a lunchbox

Tip a few claws into a small pot for a lunchbox, and clip the bag shut.

Other Monster Munch

We also stock the classic Walkers Monster Munch Pickled Onion in a 40g bag and a six bag multipack, and Roast Beef.

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.