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01 June 2009

Overthinking a tin of crisps, or: the Aristotelian question of the essence of potato. Britain’s Supreme Court of Judicature has concluded that Pringles, despite being only about 40% potato content, should be treated as potato chips for tax purposes.
post by: exogenous at: 09:58 | 24 comments
I love this story. I'd love to see a painting of a Pringle that says 'This is not a crisp,' a la Magritte. Except it *is* a crisp. I'd like to see a detailed list of the ingredients.
posted by lukemeister 01 June | 10:14
I feel sad when I read the "40% potato content". All those words in there and only one proper noun.

It's like the old Far Side cartoon about "what you say vs. what dogs can hear." BLAH BLAH BLAH potato BLAH.
posted by Lipstick Thespian 01 June | 11:39
"made from potato flour in the sense that one cannot say that it is not made from potato flour"


This may be my new favorite phrase.
posted by notquitemaryann 01 June | 12:34
FUCK IT CUT 'EM UP
posted by mullacc 01 June | 13:43
I love Pringles. I don't care what they are made of.
posted by gaspode 01 June | 13:47
But is notquitemaryann maryann?
posted by lukemeister 01 June | 13:53
But is notquitemaryann maryann?
posted by lukemeister 01 June | 13:54
oops. *reaches for non-existent delete button*
posted by lukemeister 01 June | 13:58
They're more potato than anything else, so that's fine by me. If you had a baked casserole made up of 40% potato, 20% cream, 10% onion, and 10% oh, let's say flour, would you call it a potato casserole? I think yes.
posted by Specklet 01 June | 14:34
Unless the other 20% was, say, tuna, in which case you'd kind of have to acknowledge the tuna in the title.

But yes, I agree.
posted by Hugh Janus 01 June | 14:54
Ok, now someone needs to go get me some sour cream and onion ones so I can lick the powder off before crunching into the chip.
posted by rmless2 01 June | 15:18
By that definition, every soup is water soup.
posted by qvantamon 01 June | 16:53
Pringles. Still. Suck.
posted by jonmc 01 June | 18:15
Extreme Cheddar Pringles are oh so yummy!
posted by deborah 01 June | 19:57
Despite I have a reputation for eating virtually anything, I still draw the line at alleged foodstuffs that have the word 'Extreme' (or some mispelling thereof) in their name.
posted by Wolfdog 01 June | 20:02
My hand hovered indecisively over a tube of Pringles at the shop yesterday. The revelation that they are 40% potato* would not have influenced my pleasure at making duckfaces with the chips before eating them.

*From their effect on my tongue, I presume the remaining 60% is a particularly corrosive salt.
posted by Elsa 01 June | 20:31
Wolfdog, in this context Extreme = semi-spicy.
posted by deborah 02 June | 00:08
Yeah, actually I violated that rule when I bought a can of "Extreme Torchin' Tamale" Pringles, which experience is what led me to formulate that rule in the first place.
posted by Wolfdog 02 June | 08:55
That is one of the worst stories I have ever read in the New York Times. The ignorance of the British legal system is palpable.
posted by grouse 02 June | 14:44
By that, I mean the reporter's ignorance.
posted by grouse 02 June | 14:45
Unless the other 20% was, say, tuna, in which case you'd kind of have to acknowledge the tuna in the title.


By that definition, every soup is water soup.


I stand by my original statement. If the Pringles have another flavour in there, it says they're "Extreme Cheddar" or "Extreme Torchin' Tamale" (ew). So yes, if my potato casserole had another flavour in that wasn't just background ingredients, I would call it a potato & [other ingredient] casserole.

And the soup thing, well again, that's just about flavour. I wouldn't call it "water and leek and potato soup".

Now, anyone for Extreme Tuna Pringles?
posted by Specklet 02 June | 14:53
Shit, I don't give a damn about Pringles or casseroles -- I just saw that your percentages didn't add up to a hundred and I was pointing it out in what seemed to be a harmless way. Stand by your statement all you want, I said I agree. But don't stand by bad math. Potato and tuna casserole, whatever. I don't care.
posted by Hugh Janus 02 June | 18:17
Just what the crap kind of casserole is that, anyway?

4 c potatoes (diced)
2 c cream
1 c chopped onion
1 c flour

Make a thick paste with the cream and flour. Arrange potatoes in a conical mound. Apply a uniform layer of paste and dribble the onion bits over the top like glitter on a school art project. Bake at 350 degrees until the pizza guy arrives. Install finished casserole on the lawn of one of your less-beloved neighbors under cover of darkness.
posted by Wolfdog 02 June | 18:48
"Extreme Scorchin' Starch-ee Potato Pile"
posted by Wolfdog 02 June | 18:49
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