Lay's Potato Chips: Just 3 ingredients?

Question

We don't normally eat Lay's chips; I always found them too thin, salty and greasy.

But a friend bought some over, and I checked the ingredient list because I was curious about a recent discussion of glutamates in snack foods and how they increase cravings -- you know, "You can't have just one!" and all that. So I figured with that slogan, Lay's would be full of them.

The bag read:
"Ingredients: Potatoes, Sunflower Oil, Salt."

That's it.

Somehow, I find that extremely hard to believe -- especially since my son left the bag open for a day or two unbeknownst to me and they still tasted good, better than I remembered.

NO preservatives of any kind? No flavorings, or anything else? Seriously?

Am I just overly suspicious, or is Lay's Potato Chips really one of the most unprocessed foodstuffs in my kitchen?

Answer

yum...my fav...lays...just opened bag...big bag...first one out of the bag is the best...mmm

Answer

Yep... your old-fashioned plain potato chips generally only has potatoes and salt. It's once you get into the flavoured varieties that the ingredients list gets scary!

Answer

Yes, you're overly suspicious. Widespread flouting of USDA and FDA labeling requirements is frowned upon and hard to do. The reason the chips taste so good is that they have so few ingredients.

Answer

I never noticed this, but I'm glad that Lay's are my favorite chips now. :)

Answer

By the same token, Fritos have an ingredient list of of only corn, corn oil, water and salt. On their current ("retro") packaging they put actually these on the front of the bag. Typical (plain) tortilla chips are similar, but may use a different oil (I'd have to check this later, I'm at work now) and also have Lime as an ingredient, which is used to make Masa.

Answer

"I always found them too thin, salty and greasy."

Me too. That's why I love them!

Answer

I'm hoping that more food will actually have these kinds of ingredients (even if there is too much oil in Lay's for my taste) since it's obviously become a selling point.

Answer

The bag of Mission tortilla chips at my feet has this ingredient list: ground corn treated with lime, water, vegetable oil, salt.

Answer

well i admit, i started eating them once again after the ingredient update from no more monosodium glutamate. my best theory why their motto became "no one can eat just one". 

but reading your post just made me think...since when are the ingredients of the oil not included. usually with a big ingredient, they list subingredients in parentheses. Oils, from my recollection, used to be one of those. So why is their Sunflower Oil missing a breakdown. I bet the "magic" lies in the oil.

Answer

Has anyone had the Lay's in a can? They taste like Pringle's, and to me that is not a good thing.

Answer

Lays? Greasy? i've never found that to be true.
now Wise potato chips are greasy.

Answer

Lays seem greasy next to UTZ, which have the perfect lightness. And they're a Mad Men reference now (which is even more enhanced by they their seemingly ancient packaging).

Answer

FYI per FDA guidelines- things that are considered processing aid ingredients, used in quantities of 0.25% or less do not have to be declared on the label. I would guess a lot of what keeps the chip crunchy is the foil coated bag itself, as well as possibly the process they use to fry the chips. A lot of research goes on behind the scenes to get you your three ingredient potato chips. Simplicity is a fast emerging trend in consumer foods.

Answer

As someone who has seen the process first-hand I can say without a doubt that plain Lays are only potatoes, frying oil, and salt. Since oxygen is the scourge of freshness, FL, and all chip makers, inject nitrogen into the bag to force the oxygen out, thus keeping them fresher. BTW - they do the same thing with beer. A spritz of N2 on the top of the beer between the filler and capper.

Answer

Lays have ALWAYS been my favorite and now i know why! Well, as a kid i ate Laura Scudders but i rarely see those anymore. I love Lays BBQ even more than plain, tho those have other added flavorings. but i dont care.

Once, in Pennsylania, I tried steak potato chips - can't remember the brand - and they tasted EXACTLY like a steak, to the point i could taste marrow. so amazing.

Answer

Yahoo just published a poll of "America's favorite things" and lists Lay's as the favorite potato chip. Wavy Lay's came in second.

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110348/the-popularity-issue

Answer

All good.. no preservatives, no junk..only one problem..a regular size bag of Lays.. remember, you can't just eat one.. contains a GALLON of oil in each bag according to NPR radio... A GALLON???? Can anyone verify if this is true...I threw my bag of Lays out the window when I heard this on the radio and went into a fugue state.... sure hope it's not true...

Answer

Try the light blue bag, low-salt. That might help with the salty issue (I don't like too much salt either).

Answer

This thread makes me want potato chips.

Answer

Fritos also only contain three ingredients: corn, oil, salt.

Answer

Noo... their fricken chips their not gunna decompose for about 4-5 days due to the fact their fried in oil. Your just paranoid hun ;3

Answer

http://coveredbridgechips.com these however are hands down the best chips in the world 100% natural made from russet potatoes and no bleaching process is used(which is why these chips look darker than all others) I recommend looking for it ordering them; they have many awards and articles about them.

Answer

GMO's!!.... this case new and improved jelly fish, insecticide, little kangaroo, oh and coral infused with science! POTATOES! Well I really don't know but bet you thats what it is basically ha probably not far off... a potato thats self preserves! Ha and safe to eat!* 
* you be able to chew and swallow the product but will effect your body and mind in unseen ways and eventually or quickly kill you.

Answer

I've found I like plain potato chips better than anything else. Lays aren't my favorite, but plain chips are hard to find nowadays.

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Lay's Potato Chips: Just 3 ingredients?

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