Lay's Wow chips explained

Lay's Wow Chips
Country:United States
Creator:Frito-Lay
Main Ingredient:Potatoes, Olestra

Lay's Wow Chips were fat-free potato chips produced by Frito-Lay containing Olestra. They were first introduced in 1998, and were marketed using the Lay's, Ruffles, Doritos, and Tostitos brands. Although initially popular, charting sales of $400 million in their first year, they subsequently dropped to $200 million by 2000, as Olestra caused "abdominal cramping, diarrhea, fecal incontinence ["anal leakage"], and other gastrointestinal symptoms" in some customers.[1] Warnings were required to be included on the packaging, with the WOW bag bearing a warning that read, "This Product Contains Olestra. Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools. Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Vitamins A, D, E, and K have been added."[2] Studies sponsored by Olestra's manufacturer, Procter & Gamble, contradicted many of the anecdotal reports of digestive symptoms, but did not increase public acceptance of products containing Olestra.[3]

Frito-Lay eventually rebranded the WOW Chips to "Light." However, the products were discontinued in 2016.

Notes and References

  1. Frito-Lay's Wow Chips Hit Hoosiers Hard. March 19, 1997. CSPInet.org. . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040621112728/http://www.cspinet.org/new/indy319.html. June 21, 2004.
  2. Web site: Pass The Chips. June 5, 2006. Poplicks.com. October 23, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060618120159/http://poplicks.com/2006/06/pass-chips.html . 2006-06-18.
  3. Web site: Maintenance Phase - Olestra . 2025-01-14 . Apple Podcasts . en-US.