Johnny Drops a Depth Charge on the Food Industrial Complex

The Depth Charge ^ | May 13, 2025 | Johnny Depth

[appeal2]

Before Doritos became dusted crack. Before Reese’s turned peanut butter into a dopamine drip. Before seed oils and soda trained your body to crave like a junkie…

There was one humble snack that changed everything: The Barbecue Potato Chip. This wasn’t just a flavor. It was a formula. A gateway drug to lifelong food addiction. And no one saw it coming—until now.

The Granddaddy of Biohacked Food

Let’s make a bold claim: The barbecue chip was the first truly biohacked food. And it set the blueprint for modern edible addiction...

[appeal2]

Remember life before the barbecued potato chip when obesity was exception, not the rule, like it is today?

[Ge0ffrey]

I never liked barbecue potato chips 🍟.

[mbrfl]

Remember when people were responsible for what they ate and knew how to eat responsibly rather blaming “big food” for forcing them to become fat?

[NorthMountain]

Doritos are gross.

[bigbob]

I could eat a whole bagful - probably have. Now I don’t let stuff like that come into the house.

[CatHerd]

McDonald’s formulated that sweet ketchup and targeted children because they knew taste buds are set by your fifth year. Loved Micky D’s and that sweet ketchup as a tot? Then you always will, was their reasoning. Hooked for life.

[wally_bert]

Every now and then I get some, mix with coleslaw.

[NorthMountain]

I expand:

BBQ potato chips are gross.
Salt and vinegar potato chips are gross.
Dill Pickle potato chips are even grosser.
Sour cream potato chips are gross.

[NorthMountain]

McDonald’s is gross.

A few years ago, they ruined the Egg McMuffin, the best thing on their menu. Bleh.

[Lizavetta]

Remember when people were responsible for what they ate and knew how to eat responsibly rather blaming “big food” for forcing them to become fat?

Get ready for lawsuits against food chemists who create flavors we apparently are too pathetic to resist.

What BS.

[Blueflag]

IMHO the best part of a bag of BBQ chips is the fresh odor when you open the bag. If it was a single serving bag, as a kid I’d stick my nose in and take a deep hit on it.

Loved the smell, but the taste didn’t measure up.

[Lizavetta]

Lay's potato chips and Cheez-its and Oreo cookies are delicious and wonderful.

But because I fight weight gain and *ahem* I am an ADULT that does not want to be fat I CHOOSE not to buy them.

I am as lazy and gluttonous as they come ... but if I can say no anyone can. Food addiction is yet another euphemism for catering to desires masquerading as a medical condition.

[CatHerd]

I once worked for their ad agency and spent millions of their dollars. I haven’t been able to look at anything they make since, let alone eat it. I do remember the Egg McMuffin as being their best offering. It’s a shame they ruined it.

[Fresh Wind]

I never understood why people like Pringles chips. They are nothing but salted cardboard.

[ConservativeMind]

What did they do to it?

[CatHerd]

I don’t know. Ask NorthMountain.

[Gman]

I’m a plain Frito Bandito kind of guy...

[EQAndyBuzz]

“ I never liked barbecue potato chips 🍟.”

Love them.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“ I never liked barbecue potato chips 🍟.”

Love them.

[mbrfl]

Exactly.