Québec chips and salsas: the guide to choosing well

April 14, 2026 · Lysanne Bourret

Want to snack better, eat local and discover products that actually taste great? We put together an honest guide to help you choose the best Québec chips and salsas, and understand why not all products are equal.

What to look for on the label

The first thing to do when choosing a salsa or chips is to flip the jar and read the ingredient list. A good rule of thumb: if you don't recognize an ingredient, it's probably not a good sign.

For a quality salsa, the first ingredients should be fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers and garlic. Not canned tomato paste, not high-fructose corn syrup, not xanthan gum.

For quality chips, look for a short list: corn flour, oil, salt. That's all you need.

Fresh vs processed: what difference does it really make?

A salsa made with fresh tomatoes vs one made with canned tomatoes tastes completely different. Canned tomatoes are already cooked, already salted, already processed before they even go into the recipe. The end result often tastes like tomato paste rather than real fresh vegetables.

At Pretty Ugly, we start with 100% fresh tomatoes rescued from food waste, but perfectly good. You can really taste the difference.

Why choose Québec products?

Buying local isn't just a slogan. In practice, it means fewer kilometres between production and your plate, fresher ingredients because they didn't cross a continent, a direct impact on the local economy, and often recipes developed by real people who know local tastes.

Where to buy Québec chips and salsas?

Good news: local products are more and more accessible. You can find Québec chips and salsas in most major grocery stores like IGA, Metro, Avril, Whole Foods and Super C. Many brands also sell directly online, handy for getting your favourite products delivered to your door.

Pretty Ugly products are available in more than 700 stores across Québec and Ontario, as well as online on our website and on Voilà.ca, Metro.ca and Well.ca.