Not everything pops with Pringles: Chip maker adds holiday flavors like pumpkin pie spice and chocolate peppermint...but tasters slam them as 'horrible abomination to humanity'



Those of us who have been wishing and hoping for a new kind of snack to celebrate the holidays may be in luck: the spud innovators at Pringles have recently unveiled plans for three distinctly festive flavors.

Beginning in November, the company will debut Pumpkin Pie Spice, White Chocolate Peppermint and Cinnamon & Sugar potato chips.

While Pumpkin Pie Spice Pringles will be sold exclusively at Walmart stores, snacks infused with the other two new flavors will be available throughout the country for the suggested retail price of $1.79.

Seasonal treats: Pringles will debut three holiday flavors in November, including Pumpkin Pie Spice, White Chocolate Peppermint and Cinnamon & Sugar

Pringles, which has been in the business of satisfying cravings for salty, savory and starchy treats since 1968, already has 10 flavors, including such classics as the original recipe, cheddar cheese, and ranch.

But with other retailers, among them Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, coming out with seasonal items each year, it appears that the chip maker decided to enter the fray in hopes of getting a piece of the growing holiday snack market.



However, Pringles and its new parent company, Kellogg Inc, may be in for a rude wake-up call with these three new flavors as early reviews of the holiday-themed crisps have been far from glowing.

People who sampled the salty-sweet offerings described them as ranging from not revolting to 'horrible abomination to humanity.'

It appears that the least offensive flavor of the bunch is the Pumpkin Pie Spice, which reminded chip aficionados at the Huffington Post of breath mints mixed in with potatoes, making for a tolerable gastronomic experience.

Crisp lineup: Besides the original flavor, Pringles offers chips that taste like sour cream and onion, cheese and onion, ranch and others

Of the three flavors, the one that made stomachs churn the most was the wintery White Chocolate Peppermint, which some reviewers describing it as the worst chip they've ever tasted, combining the flavor of spoiled mouthwash with spuds.

While Pringles, which has presence in more than 140 countries and annual sales of more than $1.4billion, may benefit from the novelty factor early on, the trio of questionable holiday flavors are not likely to become mainstays.



Pringles, which was developed by Proctor & Gamble more than 40 years ago, was bought by Kellogg's in May for $2.695billion, making the food giant the second-largest savory snack producer in the world behind PepsiCo.