Potato Chips

Guide Note

Deep-fried, thinly sliced potatoes are one of the most prominent features of American snack food. They can be made from scratch, but most potato chip consumption is of the pre-bagged variety. Most chips are heavily salted andare high in calories and sodium.

The most popular variety of potato chip are "salt & vinegar," "sour cream & onion" and "barbecue". Most brands of potato chips use artificial flavoring and the chips will contain very little of the denoted product.

Internationally, flavors such as "bacon," "ketchup" and even "wasabi" are added by major brands.

Potato chips are one of the most popular snack foods in much of the industrialized world. They earn an estimated $16-$20 billion worldwide every year. Frito-Lay is the largest producer of potato chips in America. Their monopoly is less absolute around the world due to increased competition.

Fast Facts

1. Invented in 1853
2. Originally called Saratoga chips
3. Created in an attempt to make thin, crispy french fries
4. March 14: National Potato Chip Day
5. U.S. yearly sales: over $6 billion