Saturday, May 21, 2011

Tater crisps

I have been thinking of blogging for a while, but today is a good enough day to start.

I like potato chips. Why not, they are tasty, crunchy, fairly cheap, and completely unhealthy by most standards. That being said, I particularly enjoy potato crisps from our friends across the pond, the British. In what for Britain is a truly surprising feat, they have surpassed US in potato chips, specifically but not exclusively,  the Walker brand smoky bacon potato crisp. Some genius or saint, thought, what could possibly make a potato chip better? Make it taste like bacon was the answer.

Now I have been enjoying bacon crisps (crisp is the English English word for potato chip) for years, although it has been a challenge to find any as only British import stores seem to carry them, and when they do, the all get snapped up. Now, in recent times we are now faced with another menace to culinary perfection. The FDA. That is right, the FDA bans my precious Bacon crisps because they may contain "meat" products from a meat processing facility which does not participate in whatever FDA policy that must followed that allows the FDA to import meats from foreign nations (something about a crazy cow). Normally I would understand, but we are talking about is bacon flavoured. But that is the Feds for you. I can understand their concern I suppose because a mad cow did become speaker of the house once, it it devastated the country economically.

Now my next point is one time eating some Tayto brand smoky crisps (just like Walkers, though most consider them second to Walkers) I noticed it said suitable for vegetarians. What? Okay I can handle if it is artificial flavouring, because it taste darn good. Now, it concerns me on why in the world would some one who for whatever reason, swears off bacon, and other fine meats, would want to touch a chip that tastes like bacon? If they are vegetarians because they don't want to harm little piggies, why eat something that taste like murder? If it is religious, why risk blasphemy? If you can't eat meat do to some rare but terrible medical condition, why risk it? If the idea of eating meat turns your stomach, why go near it? (I have a similar opinion of vegi burgers too). I won't even go into those who eat greens only because it is "healthy".

Some idiot in a marketing office in probably London, was paid way to much to try and market something that should be repulsive to a specific group. Now in Tatyo's and Walker's defense, they put it on all flavourings I have seen thus far, including cheese and onion. Also I figure that Briton has more and more vegans running about not buying potato chips and they need to boost profits. But I have a brilliant idea that will make them millions, set up a crisp factory here in the US of A and sell those bacon crisps to millions of bacon fans here. (and by pass the FDA that way).

Last point, if it is suitable for vegetarians, does that mean that there is no bacon? If so, will the FDA kindly stop blocking import of it?

Well, hope it's a first good post.

Madhat signing off

3 comments:

  1. Exactly, where is the beef, and why is it not wrapped in bacon? Although they do allow prawn cocktail flavour, which is nice (Walkers is better than Tayto there) and I will say the Britts know how to do a really good cheese and onion flavour.

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