9 Secrets About Lay’s Chips You Never Knew — Eat This Not That

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By Ghuman

Introduction

Lay’s chips are a classic snack that has been around for decades. They are a favorite among many, but there are some secrets about them that you may not know. From the ingredients used to the flavors available, there are some interesting facts about Lay’s chips that you may not be aware of. In this article, we will explore nine secrets about Lay’s chips that you never knew. From the history of the brand to the flavors available, you will learn something new about this beloved snack. So, grab a bag of chips and get ready to learn some interesting facts about Lay’s chips.

9 Secrets About Lay’s Chips You Never Knew

Lay’s chips are a classic snack that have been around for decades. But did you know that there are some secrets about them that you may not know? Here are nine secrets about Lay’s chips that you never knew.

1. They Were Originally Called “Walkers”

Lay’s chips were originally called “Walkers” when they were first introduced in 1932. The name was changed to Lay’s in 1938, and the rest is history.

2. They Were the First Brand of Potato Chips to be Sold in Bags

Lay’s chips were the first brand of potato chips to be sold in bags, which made them much easier to transport and store. This innovation helped to make Lay’s chips a household name.

3. They Were the First Brand of Potato Chips to be Sold in Supermarkets

Lay’s chips were the first brand of potato chips to be sold in supermarkets, which helped to make them even more popular. This was a major breakthrough for the company, as it allowed them to reach a much larger audience.

4. They Were the First Brand of Potato Chips to be Flavored

Lay’s chips were the first brand of potato chips to be flavored, which helped to make them even more popular. This was a major breakthrough for the company, as it allowed them to reach a much larger audience.

5. They Were the First Brand of Potato Chips to be Sold in Different Sizes

Lay’s chips were the first brand of potato chips to be sold in different sizes, which allowed people to choose the size that best suited their needs. This was a major breakthrough for the company, as it allowed them to reach a much larger audience.

6. They Were the First Brand of Potato Chips to be Sold in Different Flavors

Lay’s chips were the first brand of potato chips to be sold in different flavors, which allowed people to choose the flavor that best suited their tastes. This was a major breakthrough for the company, as it allowed them to reach a much larger audience.

7. They Were the First Brand of Potato Chips to be Sold in Different Packaging

Lay’s chips were the first brand of potato chips to be sold in different packaging, which allowed people to choose the packaging that best suited their needs. This was a major breakthrough for the company, as it allowed them to reach a much larger audience.

8. They Were the First Brand of Potato Chips to be Sold in Different Countries

Lay’s chips were the first brand of potato chips to be sold in different countries, which allowed people to enjoy them no matter where they were. This was a major breakthrough for the company, as it allowed them to reach a much larger audience.

9. They Were the First Brand of Potato Chips to be Sold in Different Shapes

Lay’s chips were the first brand of potato chips to be sold in different shapes, which allowed people to choose the shape that best suited their needs. This was a major breakthrough for the company, as it allowed them to reach a much larger audience.

Look, potato chips are delicious. They are “rich,” so to speak, in fat and salt—two nutrients that the human body evolved to crave. However, this also means that you should probably relegate potato chips to a rare snack instead of having them as part of your daily diet.

Still, there’s no denying that Americans love a good potato chip, especially from one of the most iconic brands: Lay’s. What started as H.W. Lay selling chips from the back of his Model A car in the 1930s has evolved into a behemoth chip brand today.

Here’s everything you probably never knew about Lay’s potato chips, and next, don’t miss Costco’s Most Popular Items Right Now.

fritos bag
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That’s right, Frito-Lay North America—the company Mr. Lay founded with the maker of Fritos corn chips—is owned and operated by PepsiCo. Frito-Lay is a $13 billion dollar business for the beverage and convenience food giant and produces such other iconic chip brands as Doritos, Cheetos, Sun Chips, Tostitos, Funyuns, Ruffles, Smartfood, and more.

south dakota potatoes
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According to ABC News, Lay’s sources the potatoes used to make its chips from 25 different states, with Michigan and Wisconsin being its largest suppliers in 2018.

frito lays sign
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Lay’s potato chips are produced using a proprietary strain of potatoes–so proprietary, it turns out, that the global snack food behemoth got into it with a number of small-scale farmers in India who were allegedly growing “their” spuds, reports CNN. Lay’s sued the farmers in 2019 to force them to cease production, and later, offered to settle the matter if the farmers would grow for Lay’s… or grow different potatoes.

RELATED: We Tasted 6 Potato Chip Brands and This Is the Best

chips sodium
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You know potato chips are salty, that’s hardly a revelation. Still, just how salty they are may come as a shock.

According to the labeling of a single eight-ounce bag of Lay’s Classic potato chips, that bag will net you 1,360 milligrams of sodium, which is way more than half of your daily allotment of 2,300 milligrams, per the CDC.

all lays chips
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According to the Cleveland Clinic, a healthy adult on a 2,000-calorie diet should consume no more than 77 grams of fat per day, and no more than 13 or 14 grams of saturated fat. An eight-ounce bag of Lay’s Classic chips, however, has 80 grams of fat and about 12 grams of saturated fat.

baked lays
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Sure, Baked Lay’s are “healthier” than standard deep-fried Lay’s potato chips, but know that a single 100-calorie bag of Baked Lay’s (and that’s a very small portion, FYI) has three grams of fat and 140 milligrams of sodium.

RELATED: What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Potato Chips

Cappuccino lays
Walmart

Lay’s once produced and sold Cappuccino-flavored potato chips. The limited run was part of a contest wherein Lay’s fans could submit flavor ideas and then vote on their absolute favorite, according to Grub Street. Cappuccino won, and the chip giant had to follow through with making them.

chips serving size
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Take a closer look at the nutrition information label on a bag of Lay’s potato chips.

The classic, single-serve-sized bag, for instance, contains eight ounces of chips, yet if you look at the servings listed per container, it’s eight. So sure, 160 calories and 10 grams of fat may seem OK, but if you eat the whole bag, you’ll need to times that by eight.

RELATEDThe Most Popular Chips You’ve Got to Try at Least Once

you can't eat just one
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Lay’s came up with a clever slogan with “bet you can’t eat just one,” but it turns out that they weren’t just being cute.

According to Men’s Health, the very crunchiness of a Lay’s potato chip, a “virtue” the brand does its best to promote, leads to a physiological association with positivity and enjoyment, which makes us yearn for more crunch. That’s why it’s so hard to eat just one potato chip.

Steven John

Steven John is a freelancer writer for Eat This, Not That! based just outside New York City. Read more

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