Pringles Aren’t Potato Chips

Did Pringles (and manufacturer Procter and Gamble) win in a lawsuit in a British court actually hurt them in the minds of myself and other shoppers? The court case was over whether or not Pringles could be considered a “potato snack.”

In Britain, potato snacks – along with “potato crisps, potato sticks, potato puffs, and similar products made from the potato, or from potato flour, or from potato starch” – are subject to a 17.5% tax. Britain’s high court ruled that Pringles were not considered a potato snack and thus are not subject to the tax.

The reason – it turns out that Pringles are made from only 42% potato. I’m not sure how great Pringles sell in the UK, but I’m sure they’ve avoided paying quite a bit in taxes. However, I’m also not sure how many people – like myself – will think twice before buying Pringles in the future. If a Pringle chip (I guess I can’t call it a “potato chip”) is only 42% potato, it makes you wonder what’s in the other 58%.