Wait, What? Pringles Can’t Officially Be Called Potato ‘Chips’—Here’s Why

We often casually call every crispy snack ‘chips,’ but did you know there are actual rules around what can officially be labelled as chips? Well, at least in the US. It turns out that the famous stackable snack, Pringles, cannot officially be called chips, and the reason behind it is pretty interesting. Scroll on to find out why!

Did You Know That Pringles Can’t Be Called Potato ‘Chips’?

Pringles are stackable, slim, and undeniably delicious. Their iconic sturdy can ensures minimal breakage while keeping every crisp perfectly uniform. But did you know that according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pringles cannot officially be labelled as “chips,” which is why they are marketed as “crisps” instead?

Unlike traditional potato chips, which are made by slicing whole potatoes and then frying or baking them, Pringles are made using “dehydrated processed potato” along with ingredients like corn, rice, and wheat. Since they aren’t made from simple potato slices like conventional chips, they don’t meet the criteria to be officially classified as potato chips, and that’s why, despite being crispy, savoury, and addictive, they are sold as crisps.

This actually dates back to 1975, when the FDA stated that the makers of Pringles could only label the product as ‘chips’ if they clearly mentioned that it was made using dried potato ingredients. Instead, the company chose to market the snack as crisps, and the term has stuck ever since.

Also Read: CT Review: I Tried The Viral Pringles & Chocolate Block So You Don’t Have To! It Tastes…

The British Court Weighs In Too…

According to Taste of Home, when Pringles entered the UK market, the company reportedly tried to avoid a tax imposed on snack foods like crisps by arguing in court that Pringles were neither chips nor crisps, even claiming that their unique shape “wasn’t found in nature.” For context, in Britain, what Americans call potato chips are referred to as ‘crisps,’ while ‘chips’ typically means fries.

However, the British court ultimately ruled that since Pringles contain potato-based ingredients, they qualified as crisps despite their unusual shape.

Also Read: Did You Know Lay’s Has A Potato-Themed Restaurant In China?

Did you know about this? Let us know in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: LinkedIn/Nikki Evans Henriques & Canva Pro/Ahmed Benzerguine