Salty history

Despite these glimmers of hope, the year has not been without its heartbreaks. What is now being referred to in certain circles as "The Rollitos Fiasco" was a soul-crushing disappointment for any ardent chipper and a depressing underestimation of the snack-buying public's capacity to distinguish between a new product and a fucking Dorito rolled into a tube.

The ubiquitous presence of Humpty Dumpty brand chips continues to defy all logic. Consider, if you will, H.D.'s deceptively titled "Party Mix": the acrid chemical burn on the palate, the grease-trap texture and the inexplicable onion flavour emanating from a chip clearly marked Nacho Cheese... mind-boggling.

Amidst a spate of anti-trans fat propaganda, Frito Lay announced in February that it would no longer be cooking its chips in hydrogenated oils. Then, in mid-November Jack Layton and his cronies introduced legislation that would make Canada only the second country after Denmark to ban trans fats. While it has been unequivocally proven that trans fats can contribute to killing you, the fact that they are delicious has been completely ignored by the liberal media. Only granola-smokers who hate money are opposed to trans fats.

Clearly, it was "Year of the Guacamole Dorito." Not only was this little green darling exciting for the obvious, delectable reasons - it also hinted at signs of weakness in Quebec's tacit chip embargo, which has heretofore prevented Montrealers from experiencing such delicate fried potato masterpieces as Black Pepper Jack Doritos and Guacamole Lay's. The future for the Quebec snacker certainly looks bright... mmmghrblm, salty and bright. In conclusion: Chips!








 
 

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What I miss...     When I worked in a Provi-Soir years ago- any time a new flavour of chip came out- we'd pop open a bag- and lay it out in a bowl for customers to try ( and most chip companies would re-imburse us for this- if we returned the bag - as damaged--or stale - yes, it's one of the loopholes stores use ). Most of the time, this practice created sales - and yes- I still greatly miss the late and departed Bocadito chips ( R.I.P ) - a chip you'd honestly taste for days. What stands out- is that we once put out a new flavour by MAPLE LEAF- Bacon & Maple Syrup - which must have sounded like an interesting flavour in theory- but in practicality - made goats throw up. We couldn't even give that stuff away.
Rob Postuma		January 10th, 2005
New/Improved and 60% more     I always get a kick out of Potato Chip/Crisps Manufacturers that advertize their products as being new and improved and more in the bag. I notice that the larger the bag, the more air is in the bag. I remember as a kid when I opened a bag of chips, the bag was full to the top. DO we know how much tax we are paying on the increased bag of chips and subsequently more air that the bag contains? The formula: 355 g= 60% chips (1.5 potato) plus 40% air = maximum profit. I also noticed that Double Bubble, the nice pink gum that used to be a solid piece of gum has now been scraped down the middle removing a solid 25% of the gum and charging the same price as before. CONSUMERS: Wake up, your gum is not the same as it was before. As far as chip flavors go, why not some political party flavors?: LIBERAL LIME, WHINE AND VINEGAR CONSERVATIVE KETCHUP CUTS NDP TABASCO TNT (THEY EXPLODE) REFORM RUM RUNNER AND CHEESE THE RHINO RELISH AND ONION THE BLOQ POUTINE AND SEPARATE THE DEMOCRAT DILL, BILL AND SAUERKRAUT THE REPUBLICAN EXTRA SOUR CREAM AND ONION
Steve Landry	{5 votes}	January 6th, 2005
Lay's...only in Canada     Lay's are known as Walkers in England and I believe are far more adventurous with their flavours...Worcestershire sauce, blue-packaged cheese and onion (green is ALWAYS reserved for salt & vinegar in the UK), prawn cocktail - sounds gross but don't mock it till you've tried it, Greek Kebab, Pickled Onion (my favourite), Thai Sweet Chili... and the list could go on and on. Sorry to piss on your fire there but the fact that in the snow-bound North we're still wetting our pants over the next version of homogenized potato-flake-cum-chip aka Pringles/Lay's Stax or slathering over Black Pepper & Lime by Miss Vickie's (which ARE good), just goes to show that there has to be a chip revolution!! First off, start calling them crisps cos everyone knows they are crispy. Second, rename/brand Lay's....to lay someone does mean (in some slang) to bed them, and I don't mean sleeping. Always gives me a chuckle :) Merry Crispmas!
Ellen Reid	{29 votes}	December 16th, 2004
Chips Ahoy...? No, not quite...     Chips... chips... the more we eat... the fatter we get. Well, most of us do anyway. And no matter how they are cooked, the result will be the same. But can we do without this delicious little snack? hmmm... it's tough. I mean, chips and beer... now that's great in front of a good game on TV. Or chips and a cola even... not so bad. Chips and coffee? ughhh, no way, José. There are so many varities and brands to choose from... it makes our decision that much more difficult. But you failed to mention good ole' Pringles. Maybe they are just "too dull", just to "uniform": with their pefectly cut shape, their uniform taste through and through. Just too uniform maybe... but seemingly not as greasy on the fingers and a lot less fat, according to some chip experts I know. But in the long run, do snack eaters really care? Nope.... not at all.
Shaun King	{23 votes}	December 16th, 2004
Miss Vickie's Chips v's Walkers Crisps     I have only just learned that Miss Vickie's of Canada are made by the same company (Lays) that have taken over Walkers in the UK. Now in my humble opinion, there is no comparison betwenn these two brands. Walkers are the most popular chip in the UK; however, they are utterly over-rated and very artificial tasting (and I am originally from the city where they were first produced, Leicester). Miss Vickies are far superior and their Lime and Black Pepper flavour is the best thing in the universe. For UK chips, I would take Marks and Spencers brand any day over Walkers. Gak! Greetings from Alberta, Canada (the original home of Miss Vickies).
Tim Airey		June 6th, 2005
Too many to choose from as it is!     Wow! They call it stagnant times for the chips!! I have enough trouble choosing between the 5 types in the vending machine at work. I could not imagine them adding a few new ones!! I get so perplexed at deciding which ones my taste buds with feel satisfied with that I just take the plain ones!! You can't beat the plain chip no matter what flavour is out there and you know you can always dress it up yourself - if you have the cooking skills and can make your own favorite dips! Now to choose which company makes the best plain chips... ??? Hmmmm....
Andrea Silva	{1 vote}	December 26th, 2004
Carb-o-holic     As a confirmed and "outted" Carb-o-Holic, I must confess that I do enjoy the odd chip, and that the damn slogans are true, you really just can't have one...seriously, I dare you, TRY IT. You will FAIL. We are a little lacking in flavours, but in all seriousness, my favourite is still classic Canadiana, Salf & Vinegar. As for new and adventurous flavours... how about...: -Spinach dip flavour -Fish Sauce flavour -Peanut Butter Sauce Flavour -Sweet 'n' Sour Shrimp Flavour (?) -Salt and Butter (hey, if it works for Pop Corn!?) -ok, I run out of ideas.....but I could come up with more... Think about it....SPINACH DIP FLAVOUR....Mmmmm, you're drooling right now aren't you? AREN'T YOU!? (now go try and eat just ONE chip, and let me know how long it took you to cave in and have another..)
Larissa Dutil	{5 votes}	December 24th, 2004
What about Cool Ranch?     Anyone remeber Cool Ranch? They were that flavour of Doritos that was very unique and delicious. You can fin them everywhere but in quebec. A few years ago I and a friend called the Frito Lay company everyday to complain and you know what happened?...Cool Ranch returned to quebec, if only for a little while. They are gone now in quebec. Arguably the best chip out there and nearly impossible to find. Chips are still my favorite treat now. I currenetly enjoy the Doritos Guacaomolli flavor and miss vickies lime adn black pepper. Very taste.
M Sook	{4 votes}	December 21st, 2004
Best. Snack. Ever.     I am a long time lover of the treat known as the potato chip, and sometimes, for what you get in a bag, I feel a bit ripped off. The vending machine at my work has those tiny, halloween treat-sized bags of Lays for a buck. You know, the kind where you blink, and you've no more chips, either due to the pathetic size of the bag, or your co-workers eating them all. But if you go to the dep, you have to spend $1.29, plus tax for a bag, that really isn't that big either. It's just a lose-lose situation. However, I'd like to throw my vote in for the new Lays Sea Salt and Pepper chips...good stuff!
Justin Leduc	{5 votes}	December 19th, 2004
What's new about chips in 2004?     --besides the fact that a few more people are recognizing that they are really bad for you than before. But then, a heck of a lot of people still don't care. Okay, the occassional chip won't kill you.... but then even their own advertising would have us beleive the occassional chip is unlikely. "Once you pop you can't stop" and "you can't eat just one". Personally, if I'm going to intentionally subject my body to this kind of abuse, let it be cake, or pie, or chocolate, or even ice cream, despite the 20-below weather. Yes, chips can be yummy, but given a choice betweeen hard bits of starch dripping in oil or a moist piece of angel's food cake covered in cream? I'll take the latter. The fact that it's probably the healthier choice is just... hard to believe, really.
Karen Sollazzo	{7 votes}	December 19th, 2004
The year in chips 2004     Wow, more people posted on this chips article than I thought they would. Yes, granted that it's 10 easy points but still. I'm not a big chips eater myself. I guess I kinda grew out of it and found better foods to snack on than what passes for junk food in North America. I still occasionally eat some but I'm hardly an aficionado on them. I kinda like Miss Vickie's and those black corn chips they have in health food stores but not much more than that. Now, if this article were about chocolate, hard liquor or microbrewed beer, then you'd have me hooked but chips? Nah, I'll just have to pass.
Pedro Eggers	{11 votes}	December 18th, 2004
Baked Potato Healthier Than Potato Chips     Even trans fat free potato chips are loaded with fat and have too much salt and other preservatives the names of which only chemists can pronounce. They encourage the eating of other junk funds which are also severely lacking in many nutrients. This is especially critical for teenagers who are still growing and need to be eating the best food. You can buy 15 pounds of potatoes on sale for only 99 cents which is a terrific deal for families on a tight food budget. In the mid 1800s the Irish subsisted mainly on the humble potato and it was only when disease wiped out the crop that they came to North America. A baked potato has many fewer calories and more nutrients such as a good dose of vitamin C. A baked sweet potato is even tastier and also chock full of vitamins and minerals. They go perfectly well with any main course. We should eat potatoes more often!
Stephen Talko	{10 votes}	December 18th, 2004
How I stopped Worrying About Trans Fats and Learned To Love the Chips     This has got to be, if not one of the most misguidedly hilarious pieces of legislation, at least a close contender for the title. At a time when we are opening ourselves to the possibility of easing a ban on yet another definitively dangerous mechanism for delivering our highs (the smoke particles and content in marijuana cigarettes) the Government has to go get all subversive on us and ban trans fats. Words fail me. Since when the heck did the government obtain the right to act like China, controlling every single aspect of our lives right down to how we chose to kill ourselves softly? Child molesters are running around free without fear of any minimum sentencing requirements and the NDP is worried about trans fats in our foods? Please. Get a clue. I admit, this argument is inept; however in this particular case I believe it to be called for. I want the f*ing right to stuff myself full of monster thick burgers and trans fats until my heart explodes from the sheer exertion of thinking on where my next carbo fix is coming from. Dammit. If people are too stupid to read/follow health guidance warnings then evolution is probably telling us we don't need them around. And what better way to aid evolution than to legalize it?(tm) Bob Marleys of trans fats please step up to the plate - a new anthem is needed for the age of fatties. The prospect of having to go to some seedy neighbourhood to meet some even seedier dealer to get my imported CHIPS does not appeal to me at all. Come on y'all now - LEGALIZE IT. peace.
Robert Bichage	{10 votes}	December 18th, 2004
Product Extension     The article is a classic case of what is called brand extension. Taking a brand name and creating new products in hopes of gaining a new customer base with new flavours. That being said I have to agree that the new flavours and product diversities are terribly wrong although Lay's did get one new chip flavour right in creating a Lay's Quebec Four Cheese. I mean this is perfect for proud Quebecers and homegrown (sorta) product lovers. What 's next - Montreal Smoked Meat - flavoured chips? Yummy! I know that I am still a big fan of Humpty Dumpty BACON CHIPS. Ah la nostalgie....
Ronny Pangia	{7 votes}	December 17th, 2004
Chips rule     Chips are a great snack food. What I loved about a bag of chips, is it takes a good 10 minutes or so to eat them. That's a very enjoyable ten minutes! A Mars bar is more expensive, and is gone in a minute or so... So we know where you get the most bang for your buck... Of course you can buy Skittles, or M and M's, or even some Nibs. But none of these go together with a Pepsi as great as some chips! I think the problem is the bags of chips have gotten bigger and bigger! They don't sell small bags anymore. 1st the price jumped to .99$, but you got more chips. That was cool, but sometimes I don't want all those chips... I just feel like a pig. Now the price has jumped to $1.29, with yet again too many chips.... I guess it's a symptom of a "Supersize" society... but I miss my $.75 chips...
Eric Wilson	{2 votes}	December 17th, 2004
WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN....     Let's face it, most of us induldge quite frequently in a bag of chips. I have spent many an evening in front of the television dipping into the bag and without even realizing it, the whole bag is gone by the second commercial. I think it's pretty cool that Canada is the second country to ban trans fats. Now if we could only ban smoking in all public places. Incidently, my vote for the absolute best chips are Baked Lays!
Heath Abram	{2 votes}	December 16th, 2004
Flavours galore     Boy this year really is the year for different flavour chips. One that I tasted just recently, are Miss Vickie's Lime and Black Pepper, boy they were good. I'm especially a Dorito fan myself, but he's right the Rollitos were just down right yuck. But there should be some control, because to much of anything is no good, right?, munch munch...
Rita Reale	{4 votes}	December 16th, 2004
What ever happened to?     What ever happened to Dorito's "Texas Tang"???????? Seriously, they were the best chips ever! The taste was to die over...but then again so was your breath after eating a bag...or two :) If/when are they going to bring those back and WHY did they stop making them in the first place?
Pamela Nickerson		June 20th, 2006
They make you fat     Chips, we can't live without them, they are so addicting. When you eat one chip you can't stop eating them till you finish the bag. Seriously, they are just not good for our health. They will make you fat and Canada is the 2nd rank fat people in the world.
Jhun-Brian Dungo		December 20th, 2004
The Year Of The Chips     Chips are the most popular junk food in the planet and every way you go everybody is eating chips and they can never get enough of it. Chips comes in different sizes and flavours that anyone can enjoy. The only problem with chips are that they're to fating and they need to be more healthier. It comes to a shock to me that Canada has banned trans fats chips that is ruining our weight. Whatever they do to chips I will always by them because you need that snack to watch TV.
Carmela Sicurella	{1 vote}	December 19th, 2004
Chips and chips...for the same chips     Chips and more chips. They invent anything to sell more and more and the same product, chips! Chip red, blue, green with that or this, for me it's the same, same things. Yes, I like chip. I do not complicate in my choice of chips, for me; chips natural, normal ordinary . It is ordinary as choice . the only good thing with this news it is that to eliminate the trans fat. Bravo! Canada, we are the second but second in the world!!!
Monica Meza-Giron		December 17th, 2004
Chips! Chips!! Alore!!!!     This is one of my most favorite snacks but unforunately it is not healty to eat them everday. You can eat them just as snacks but only once or twice a week. Wehave to remember the health chart and think of our daily diet and try to eat healthy every week. So, it is important to make good food choices. Although, we must not try abuse foods such chips , chocolate bars, candy or alcohol . We have to decide to choose a balance diet and help others to make the same choices, because what goes in our bodies is important to us and our families.Vote for health , Say no to chips except once a week!!!!!
Renée Drouin	{1 vote}	December 17th, 2004
The writer of this article is pretty spicy too!     I don't think it was necessary to swear while writting this article. I believe we are not even suppose to use that language on Hour.But then what do I know of what we are allowed or not allowed to do! As for the chips , well it is true they taste good and will end up killing you if you can't control yourself. I believe the key to everything is the self control. Anything you abuse will end up hurting you at some point. Because we have such a big problem with health issues attached to the abuse of certains foods , cigarettes and alcohol , there should be some help now to deal with it. If we have made mistakes , now we should try to find the right solution to the problem. Perhaps we should get the gouvernment to implement new rules to control the quality of the products and its long term effects. After all there are big shots out there making millions while we are watching our relatives die from effects of there products. Lets not just blame the products for the harm it does to us , but blame ourselves for not making the right choices. If chips are bad for you then just stay away , case closed!
Maria Cecillia Silva	{4 votes}	December 16th, 2004

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