Frito-Lay North America plans healthier snacks

Reuters ^ | 9/24/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Snack food maker Frito-Lay North America on Tuesday said it will eliminate trans fats from Doritos, Tostitos and Cheetos early next year and introduce reduced-fat versions of some of its snacks amid criticism from health officials over the nation's health problems.

The company, the largest unit of Purchase, New York-based PepsiCo Inc. PEP.N , said it will launch Lay's Reduced Fat chips and Cheetos Reduced Fat snacks in the near future.

Food makers and restaurants have come under fire in recent months over Americans' health problems. About 69 million Americans are overweight and 51 million are obese, according to the American Obesity Association. Some class-action attorneys are looking to take on food companies and restaurants as they did tobacco companies, seeking billions of dollars in damages for health problems and deaths.

The fast-food giant McDonald's Corp. MCD.N said in early September that it would cook its popular french fries in a new oil that cuts the type of fat linked to heart disease.

Frito-Lay said its Lay's and Ruffles potato chips have been prepared in trans fat-free oils for years.

Frito-Lay already has lighter products on the market, such as Baked Lay's potato crisps and Baked Tostitos tortilla chips.

[Hatteras]

For what it's worth, an old friend of mine worked for an exterminator shortly after getting out of school. One day he had to do a job at the local Frito-Lay plant.

To this day, he refuses to touch Fritos...

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Does he eat at McDonalds?

[Hatteras]

Not too sure but what I find interesting is that so many McDonald's employees eat there despite what they know and see.

[templar]

I thought that these lawsuits were just plain rediculous at forst. But now, after watching the companies change their products in response, I wonder. Seems like an admission of guilt to me.

[barker]

Seems like an admission of guilt to me.

Nope, just another way to make a buck.

[Freedom4US]

The fact is, "Baked" potato chips taste like doo-doo. Ever had "Fat-Free" peanut butter? Absolutely awful. "Diet" Ice Cream? Horrid.

Same thing with other "health" foods -- low salt, low fat, etc. America has to have some of the dumbest people around. Many pay premium prices for food with less caloric value, apart from their erzatz ingredients and cloying taste!

Ice Cream is a good example of the folly. Good quality products contain Cream, Sugar, Eggs and Vanilla. That's it. Ever look on a container of bargain basement stuff? Looks like a chemistry exam. Seaweed derivatives, corn oil, artificial colors and they whip air into it to fluff it up, since it sold by volume, not weight.

The food lawsuits are merely a shakedown of the food industry, and we, the consumer, will have to pay an additional premium for un-adulterated, full flavor and full food value (read fat and calories).

[newgeezer]

The fast-food giant McDonald's Corp. MCD.N said in early September that it would cook its popular french fries in a new oil that cuts the type of fat linked to heart disease.

Since this wasn't going to happen until (late?) October, I suspected the timing of the announcement was meant to sell more fries in the interim, before they "ruin" the taste.

[meowmeow]

This sux! Why do I have to be punished because fatties can't control themselves?

[mhking]

Don't forget that the last time they tried something "healthier," we we ended up with Olestra and chips that gave you the runs...

[mewzilla]

You, we, are already being punished. Who do you think is paying the health care tab for all those fat folks?

[newgeezer]

However, I think those Frito-Lay "WOW"-brand chips fried in the non-fat, synthetic stuff (I can't remember the name, now) are very tasty.

Supposedly, too much of that stuff would give people diarrhea but, I'd think one would have to be a total glutton to achieve that effect (I must be only a partial glutton).

[mewzilla]

Trust me, there were plenty of gluttons with the runs out there. Heaven forfend people exhibit some self-control.

[newgeezer]

Yeah, "Olestra," that's it. Great taste, no fat, and no ill effects whatsoever for me.

[newgeezer]

Trust me, there were plenty of gluttons with the runs out there. Heaven forfend people exhibit some self-control.

Due to the chips being fat-free, I can imagine people gorging themselves without guilt. Oh, and said gluttons could even justify the runs, if they really wanted to... (yeesh!).

[VOA]

Yeah, "Olestra," that's it. Great taste, no fat, and no ill effects whatsoever for me.

Same for me.
The people who had ill effects must have been chugging down a bag or two at a sitting.
Probably the same sort of experimental methodology used to show cyclamates were dangerous
(e.g., feed the equivalent of pounds to 'em)

[antidisestablishment]

I was stuck on a certain Aleutian Island once and our supply plane couldn't get in for months... Everything from our tiny PX was bought out. (Laundry soap and BO juice was worth it's weight in gold!)

All we had left for snacks were the "fat free" snack foods that they normally couldn't give away. I don't think anyone who was stationed there will ever eat another sawdust sandwich "healthful" snack during this lifetime.

I firmly believe any real foods (even fats and sugars) are better for you than any of the "healthy" fat-free mutant foods.

"All things in moderation."

[KateUTWS]

Hoo boy, my insurance charges an extra premium to cover
my obesity. Don't blame your exorbitant insurance cost
on those of us who PAY for our own excesses.

[SheLion]

[eno_]

It's the artificial stuff that will kill you. Cut down on the carbos, no pop or sugary drinks, and your body will balance itself. I started doing this two months ago and I'm down 10 pounds, and I ate a cheese omlette for breakfast this morning. I'm never really very hungry now, and staying away from bad foods is now easy for me.

Nuts are a good substitute for chips. There really isn't any way to make a chip that is good for you.