The Short Answer
Yes, Siete chips are clean. They are one of the best commercial chip options available because they solve the biggest problem in the snack aisle: the oil.
While 99% of chips are fried in inflammatory canola, sunflower, or soybean oil, Siete uses 100% avocado oil. Their flavorings come from real food ingredients like tomato powder and nutritional yeast rather than MSG or vague "natural flavors."
The only "watch out" is their recent acquisition by PepsiCo. While the ingredients haven't changed yet, corporate buyouts often lead to cost-cutting (like switching to "avocado oil blends") down the road. For now, they are excellent.
Why This Matters
Most "healthy" chips are a lie. They use organic corn or potatoes but fry them in processed seed oils like sunflower or canola oil, which are high in omega-6 fats and prone to oxidation (rancidity) during high-heat frying.
Siete bypasses this by using avocado oil, which is heat-stable and heart-healthy. They also use cassava flour instead of corn. While this doesn't make them low-carb, it does make them grain-free, which is easier on the gut for people with autoimmune issues or corn sensitivities.
What's Actually In Siete Chips
The ingredient lists are refreshingly short. Here is the breakdown for the popular Sea Salt Grain Free Tortilla Chips:
- Cassava Blend — A mix of cassava flour and starch. It's a root vegetable that mimics the crunch of corn without the gut irritation. Are Chips Bad
- Avocado Oil — The gold standard for frying. High smoke point and stable. Cooking Oils
- Coconut Flour — Adds fiber and structure.
- Chia Seed — Adds binding and a tiny nutrient boost (mostly structural here).
- Sea Salt — Simple seasoning.
Even the Nacho flavor remains clean, swapping artificial dyes and MSG for:
- Nutritional Yeast — Gives the "cheesy" umami flavor naturally.
- Tomato & Garlic Powder — Real spices.
- Serrano Powder — Real heat.
What to Look For
Green Flags:
- 100% Avocado Oil — Not a blend. This is the main reason to buy them.
- Whole Food Seasoning — Ingredients you recognize (e.g., "Jalapeño Powder" not "Spice Extract").
- Grain-Free — Great for avoiding corn and gluten.
Red Flags:
- Acrylamide — Like all fried starchy foods (even healthy ones), they contain acrylamide, a byproduct of high-heat cooking. Are Baked Chips Healthier
- Price — They are significantly more expensive than conventional chips.
- PepsiCo Ownership — Keep an eye on the label. If you see "Vegetable Oil (Avocado, Canola)" appear in the future, the quality has dropped.
The Best Options
Siete makes both tortilla chips (cassava-based) and potato chips. Both are fried in avocado oil.
| Product | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Salt Tortilla Chips | ✅ | The gold standard. Just 5 ingredients. |
| Lime Tortilla Chips | ✅ | Clean lime oil and citric acid. No weird additives. |
| Nacho Tortilla Chips | ✅ | Uses nutritional yeast for cheese flavor. No dairy or MSG. |
| Fuego Potato Chips | ⚠️ | Clean ingredients, but potato chips generally form more acrylamide than cassava. |
| Churro Strips | ⚠️ | Clean, but contains added sugar (coconut sugar/agave). Treat as dessert. |
The Bottom Line
1. Buy them. If you crave chips, these are the safest option on the shelf alongside Jackson's (sweet potato chips) and Boulder Canyon (avocado oil varieties).
2. Check the back. Specifically look at the oil line. As long as it says "Avocado Oil" and not "Vegetable Oil Blend," you are good.
3. Don't treat them as health food. They are cleaner chips, but they are still processed, fried carbs. Eat them because you want a snack, not because you need nutrients.
FAQ
Are Siete chips low carb?
No. They are grain-free, not low-carb. Cassava flour is a starch. A serving contains about 19g of carbohydrates, which is similar to corn chips.
Do Siete chips have seed oils?
No. They use 100% avocado oil. This is rare in the snack aisle, where even "healthy" brands often use sunflower or safflower oil. What Chips Have No Seed Oils
Are Siete chips fried or baked?
They are fried. The packaging says "oven-baked with joy and fried in avocado oil," which means they are fried. The "baked" part of their marketing usually refers to the initial tortilla formation or specific "baked" lines, but the standard chips are fried.
Did PepsiCo change the ingredients?
Not yet. PepsiCo acquired Siete in late 2024. As of early 2026, the ingredients remain clean. However, multinational acquisitions often lead to cost-cutting measures later, so always read the label.