Lay's Changing Basic Shape of Salt Crystals for Healthier Potato Chips (2024)

In fourth grade science class, we learned that sodium chloride always, always forms simple cube-shaped crystals. That was before a gang of mad potato chip scientists got their hands on it.

In response to the Food and Drug Administration’s imminent consideration of regulating the amount of sodium food manufacturers can include in consumer goods, Pepsico, whose Frito-Lay division makes Lay’s potato chips, is redesigning the good old salt molecule to make it healthier.

Lay's Changing Basic Shape of Salt Crystals for Healthier Potato Chips (1)

Salt Crystals

The salt crystals on potato chips only dissolve about 20 percent of the way on the tongue, while the center of each tiny cube-shaped crystal remains intact until after it’s swallowed. Thus, most of the salt you’re eating on your chips is not contributing to the taste of the chip, but it is dissolving further down your digestive tract and causing whatever the FDA alleges that increased dietary sodium intake causes.

The redesigned salt crystal, with more surface area, should dissolve completely on the tongue, thus theoretically allowing each chip to taste just as salty with only 20 percent as much salt.

“There was an opportunity for our scientists,” Pepsico’s chief scientific officer Mehmood Khan said. “If we could figure out a way of getting the salt crystals to dissolve faster, then we could decrease the amount of salt we put on a snack with no compromise on taste.”

Lay's Changing Basic Shape of Salt Crystals for Healthier Potato Chips (2024)

FAQs

Why it took Lays 2 years to redesign a bag of potato chips? ›

The redesign, which took two years to complete, is an attempt to keep the brand relevant in the era of social media and content regeneration, according to Guerra. “We wanted to convey with color photography and a logo refresh that Lay's is a joyful and flavorful brand,” Guerra said.

What kind of salt is used in Lays potato chips? ›

Made with three simple ingredients—potatoes, sunflower oil, and sea salt—these delectable chips are sure to make you smile. Not a significant source of added sugars.

What are the positive points of Lays chips? ›

Lay's Classic Potato Chips have no preservatives or additives. A 1 oz serving of these chips has no cholesterol, 1g fiber, 9 percent potassium and 10 percent vitamin C. They also have healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, only 6 percent saturated fat and no trans fat.

What is the shape of a salt crystal? ›

Sodium chloride crystals are cubic in form. Table salt consists of tiny cubes tightly bound together through ionic bonding of the sodium and chloride ions.

What is the recall on Lays potato chips? ›

Company Announcement. PLANO, Texas – May 4, 2023 – Frito-Lay today issued a voluntary recall of a limited number – 146 bags – of 13 oz. and 15 5/8 oz. of Lay's Classic Potato Chips that may contain undeclared milk ingredients from sour cream and onion potato chips.

Why can't potato chip bags be recycled? ›

The crinkly shiny lining inside chip and snack bags is made out of mixed material, including aluminum and plastic. These materials cannot be separated to be recycled and must go in the trash.

Is it OK to eat Lays chips everyday? ›

Similarly, eating chips everyday will increase your risk of experiencing negative health effects (not as much as smoking mind you), but doesn't guarantee you will experience any negative consequences. Another problem – yes, there are more problems – with nutrition is we don't eat in isolation.

Can I eat Lays chips daily? ›

One serving is 1 ounce or 18 chips. But even eating one serving of potato chips a day is a lot. Alexis Parcells, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Parcells Plastic Surgery says that you should really be limiting your potato chip consumption to no more than the palm of your hand.

Are potato chips healthier? ›

Potato chips lack any significant nutritional value, therefore are empty calories, period. They're also are high in fat, and low in fiber and protein.

Why are salt crystals different shapes? ›

This is because a crystal is formed by repeating the same small shape many times and in the same pattern. Different crystals are made up of different repeating shapes in different patterns. This is why salt, Epsom salt, and MSG look different.

What is the difference between salt and salt crystals? ›

What's the difference? Salt crystals are smaller and irregularly shaped because they are made by evaporating salt water in shallow outdoor ponds, leaving a layer of natural salt crystals. Salt pellets are larger and made by compacting the salt granules to form larger pellets or tablets.

What is the best salt for chips? ›

1. Salt type – I like using table salt as the grains are finer than cooking salt/kosher salt so it sticks better to things like fries. However, you can really use any salt type you want.

Are Lay's salted chips healthy? ›

Lay's chips are not very healthy due to their processed vegetable oil, moderate to high salt content, and low fiber content. Some flavors also have added sugar and other processed ingredients. The healthiest Lay's chips are probably Baked Lay's Original, as they have 65% less fat.

Do all chips have acrylamide? ›

“Acrylamide forms when foods like potatoes and cereals become crispy and brown. It even forms in roasted coffee beans.” That means acrylamide is in the crunch of potato chips, the crispy edges of French fries, and in toasted snacks and rich roasted coffees. But Stelwagen says it's not as much of a worry as it sounds.

What can I do with empty chip bags? ›

What to Do with Chip Bags (Ways to Reuse)
  1. Use as A Gift Bag. The good thing about chip bags is that you can always convert them to gift bags. ...
  2. Make Beautiful Decorations. You can use your chip bags to make beautiful decorations in your houses and offices. ...
  3. Use them As Covers.

What can I do with empty potato chip bags? ›

Chip bags are made of a mix of plastic/foil/paper that has been laminated together. These layers cannot be separated which is why chip bags belong in the garbage.

Why potato chip bags are always empty at the top? ›

More On: snacks

It turns out, that empty space in your chip bag isn't just air — it's Nitrogen gas, which is meant to stop the chips from breaking in the package as well as expel air, which actually turns the chips stale. There's even a name for the emptiness — “functional slack-fill.”

Are Doritos healthier than potato chips? ›

There really is not a tremendous difference nutritionally between standard potato chips and tortilla chips,” she explains. “Generally speaking, a one ounce serving contains about 130-150 calories, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 1-2 grams of fiber, and 6-10 grams of fat.

Why are french fries so unhealthy? ›

Fried foods are high in calories

Compared to other cooking methods, deep frying adds a lot of calories. Fried foods are typically coated in batter or flour before being fried. And when foods are fried in oil, they lose water and absorb fat, which further increases their calorie content ( 1 ).

Are chips healthier than fries? ›

Because chips are sliced so thin and fried so hot, they're even heavier in acrylamide than French fries (which, sadly, 7 out of 9 experts warn against).

Is Fritos good for you? ›

The fact is that chips are a source of empty calories—whether they are baked or fried. You're not likely to gain any health or nutritional benefits when you indulge in these snack foods. 2 These foods also tend to boost your daily sodium and starch intake.

How many Lays chips should I eat? ›

First, what do you consider to be "too many?" More than 1 serving a day is too much, shares Dr. Lehman. One serving is 1 ounce or 18 chips.

Can I eat Lays chips at night? ›

The deep fried potatoes might seem tempting to you, but they are not at all good for your sleep and health. Avoid french fries and potato chips at all cost during night time. The high-fat content in the food will make your body focus more on digestion than on sleep. This will also lead to heartburn or reflux.

Is popcorn good for you? ›

In addition to being high in fiber, popcorn also contains phenolic acids, a type of antioxidant. In addition, popcorn is a whole grain, an important food group that may reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension in humans. Whole grains are known to offer many health benefits to humans.

Are crackers better than chips? ›

As you can see, their nutritional profiles are fairly close, per serving. The choice is yours, but I would give the advantage to the crackers, because of its lower fat content and extra fiber, which is something kids often don't have enough of in their diets. In moderation, either can be part of a healthy diet.

Are tortilla chips or potato chips healthier? ›

Potato chips get a bad start with 15 more calories per serving than tortilla chips. Both chips have little to offer when it comes to protein and fiber—so that's a draw. But fats make things interesting: While tortilla chips have less saturated fat than potato chips, they also have almost 10 times the trans fat.

Is crystal salt and rock salt the same? ›

The primary difference between rock salt and ordinary table salt is the size and colour. Rock salt forms in very large, chunky crystals, as opposed to the small crystals seen in table salt. Like table salt, rock salt also has an assortment of trace minerals which can have an impact on how it behaves chemically.

Are crystals of salt really dry or not? ›

so as to answer your question, yes the crtystalls of salt are really dry.

Can salt change shape? ›

Salt, just like a liquid, takes the shape of the container it is stored in.

What was the conclusion of the salt crystal experiment? ›

Conclusions. This experiment concludes with the knowledge of crystal formation. After the salt dissolved in water, the molecules were able to reattach during the evaporation process. When the molecules reattached, they solidified again, but into the new form – a crystal.

How do you make the best salt crystals? ›

An easy way to make salt crystals is to dissolve table salt in water and leave the solution somewhere warm until the water evaporates, leaving behind sparkly salt crystals. We also made coloured salt by adding a little food colouring.

How does the salt crystal experiment work? ›

Dissolve the salt in the glass of water. Pour some of the salt water into a shallow glass bowl. Put the bowl in a warm place so the water evaporates quickly. Once all the water is gone, use a magnifying glass to look at the crystals.

Which crystal salt is good for health? ›

Himalayan Crystal Salt is salt in its native form, with all its vibrational energy intact and it helps promote a healthy balance in your body. Promoting balanced electrolytes helps to keep your body in homeostasis — the balance of chemicals that is conducive to the body's function.

What salt is best for salt crystals? ›

Epsom salt grows into smaller, needle-like crystals and faster than table salt. You can buy it at a pharmacy. Alum salt grows quickly, sometimes making visible crystals within a few hours. Find it in the spice section of a grocery store.

Which is better white salt or rock salt? ›

Rock salt is mined naturally and therefore it is considered better for health. It is highly valued in Ayurveda in India. Many mineral substances dissolved in rock salt are also found in water. Today the practice of purifying water for drinking has increased, due to which we do not get the minerals found in the water.

Why are Lay's potato chips so small now? ›

Shifting consumer habits have potato chip companies making smaller bags, requiring smaller chips and therefore smaller potatoes.

Why was potato chips a mistake? ›

George Crum, who was a chef at the Moon's Lake House in New York, accidentally invented potato chips in 1853. After a guest at the restaurant kept returning potato fries, claiming that they weren't crisp enough, Crum sliced the potatoes thinly, fried them in hot oil and added salt.

Why are Lay's chips getting smaller? ›

It's called shrinkflation and it's the process by which brands reduce the amount of product they sell to you so as not to have to increase its price in the face of inflation (it should be clarified that sometimes they do it too, although there is no inflation, to increase their profit margins).

Did Lay's change their packaging? ›

Unlike previous redesigns, Lay's isn't undergoing a radical transformation. Instead, the refreshed logo and packaging are meant to make the brand feel more modern and contemporary, said Jon Guerra, senior director of design at Frito-Lay. The new logo is smaller and centralized with radiating rings.

Are potato chips getting thinner? ›

It's called shrinkflation. And, it's not just potato chips. All kinds of products are getting smaller. The size of the bag may be the same or the product package maybe has a change of shape.

Why are stores running out of chips? ›

Wet weather and fewer potato imports in 2022 resulted in empty frozen chip shelves in supermarkets across the country and trying times for fish and chips shops, but growers say the current potato harvest should quell the short-term demand.

Why can't you eat just one potato chip? ›

BANGALORE: Why people can't stop after eating one potato chip? You can blame it to a condition called hedonic hyperphagia” that plagues hundreds of millions of people around the world.

What is the oldest brand of potato chips? ›

In the 20th century, potato chips spread beyond chef-cooked restaurant fare and began to be mass-produced for home consumption. The Dayton, Ohio-based Mikesell's Potato Chip Company, founded in 1910, identifies as the "oldest potato chip company in the United States".

Why are chips worse than potatoes? ›

Because chips are sliced so thin and fried so hot, they're even heavier in acrylamide than French fries (which, sadly, 7 out of 9 experts warn against). Fries only have acrylamide in the golden crust, not the core, Palazoğlu says.

Why do Lay's classic chips taste different? ›

Grease and fat are interlinked, and it's the prominent descriptor people attribute to this classic potato chip. Once you understand this, you realize that Lay's aren't plain at all. They're actually fat flavored. Sometimes fat gets lost among the other flavors, but when it exists singularly, boy is it ever-present.

Are they putting less chips in the bag? ›

And confirmed cases of shrinking products at grocery stores have been popping up all over. For instance, if you buy a bag of Doritos, expect about five fewer chips. Frito-Lay reportedly confirmed that they dropped the weight of bags from 9.75 ounces to 9.25 ounces.

Why don t they fill the chip bags? ›

The Reason You're Looking at a Bag Half-Full

In the manufacturing industry, “slack fill” is empty space that's intentionally placed around a product. The idea is that the extra room can as a buffer to protect your Lays, Ruffles or Tostitos from damage.

Why are Lay's bags so empty? ›

In order to keep them fresh for as long as possible, manufacturers fill the bags with a small amount of nitrogen gas. This nitrogen gas acts as a barrier between the chips and the outside air, preventing oxygen from getting in and causing the chips to go stale.

Why are Lay's bags full of air? ›

The air in chip bags is actually nitrogen, and it's there for a reason. “The reason for the nitrogen and chip ratio is to keep the chips safe during transportation,” Aragon said. “These chips will get handled a lot. So it just ensures the chips aren't getting smashed, and it keeps them fresh longer.”

Why are hot Lay's discontinued? ›

Apparently, the brand changed the Lay's Flamin' Hot chip recipe year, which was not well received. In fact, 23,000 fans supported a petition to restore the chips to their original form. According to the Change.org petition, Lay's Flamin' Hot chips "gave its niche audience everything they were looking for.

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