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The Lord Justice Hath Ruled: Pringles Are Potato Chips

MacNut

MacNut

macrumors Core
Original poster
Jan 4, 2002
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9,981
CT
Britain’s Supreme Court of Judicature has answered a question that has long puzzled late-night dorm-room snackers: What, exactly, is a Pringle? With citations ranging from Baroness Hale of Richmond to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Lord Justice Robin Jacob concluded that, legally, it is a potato chip.

The decision is bad news for Procter & Gamble U.K., which now owes $160 million in taxes. It is good news for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs — and for fans of no-nonsense legal opinions. It is also a reminder, as conservatives begin attacking Judge Sonia Sotomayor for not being a “strict constructionist,” of the pointlessness of labels like that.

In Britain, most foods are exempt from the value-added tax, but potato chips — known as crisps — and “similar products made from the potato, or from potato flour,” are taxable. Procter & Gamble, in what could be considered a plea for strict construction, argued that Pringles — which are about 40 percent potato flour, but also contain corn, rice and wheat — should not be considered potato chips or “similar products.” Rather, they are “savory snacks.”

The VAT and Duties Tribunal disagreed, ruling that Pringles — which have been marketed in the United States as “potato chips” — are taxable. “There are other ingredients,” the tribunal said, but a Pringle is “made from potato flour in the sense that one cannot say that it is not made from potato flour, and the proportion of potato flour is significant being over 40 percent.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/opinion/01mon4.html?ref=opinion
 
Now I can sleep at night! ;)

Really I guess the issue was over uncollected and future taxes on Pringles; $160 Million sounds like a lot, but I bet it's nothing considering the future tax revenues to be collected.

I wonder how long it took for the arguments to be heard and ruled on in this case. Imagine the lawyers arguing the merits of 'potato chip' vs. 'savory snack' definition... :D
 
there are no real winners here, except:

_38042095_alistair_darling.jpg


Bastard.
 
Jaffa Cake said:
I think there's a lesson there for us all.
Click to expand...


Which is to stock up before VAT goes on them. Sticking mostly to the plain ones and the paprika ones when I see them, am I alone in being able to polish off an entire tube of them in one sitting? :eek:

Despite this ruling, I still don't see them as a crisp though. More in the realm of Hula Hoops and the like, I guess.
 
Blue Velvet said:
Which is to stock up before VAT goes on them. Sticking mostly to the plain ones and the paprika ones when I see them, am I alone in being able to polish off an entire tube of them in one sitting? :eek:
.
Click to expand...

I am jealous, we don't have the Paprika ones in the US (not that I have found anyway) and they are one of my favorite flavors. :(
 
I think they are officially labeled "Potato Crisps" in the US rather than "chips." Frito-lay filed a lawsuit back in the 60s or 70s to make that distinction after they were initially called "Potato chips" on the packaging.
Silly and trivial, as are most corporate cases.
 
So they're potato chips just like
9905_05_31---Chips-with-salt-and-vinegar_web.jpg


Or what? I'm all confused. They're not crisps now?
 
I think Pringles' initial intention was to make tennis balls. But on the day that the rubber was supposed to show up, a big truckload of potatoes arrived. But Pringles was a laid-back company. They said "F**k it. Cut 'em up."
 
I never knew that there was a debate over the definition of whether or not Pringles (yum) were potato chips and it is certainly finessing to dispute this. Anyway, as other posters have pointed out, whatever they are, they are most certainly rather addictive; I have been known to empty whole tubes in one sitting (washed down with suitable alcoholic accompanyments) ....

Sounds to me a bit like the fountain pen company (Cross) which argued that what they produced were not pens, but, wait for it, were "writing instruments" instead.

Cheers and good luck
 
There was definitely a huge legal battle on Pringles being called chips in the US. I can't for the life of me find a link on it. But I think one of the other posters already pointed out, it was Frito-Lay that sued. I remember seeing it on How It's Made Snack Food or something....gotta love discovery channel.
 
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