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Caffeinated potato chips, such as NRG Chips and Engobi, have been marketed heavily towards teenagers and gamers, but have not seen widespread success. Health experts warn against the high fat and calorie content, but the chips may be worth trying for those who want a caffeine boost in their snack.
Caffeine chips are a 21st century snack meant to give you a caffeine boost from snacking. The products have not yet met with widespread success, despite heavy marketing campaigns targeting teenagers and video gamers. Health experts warn that combining the high fat and calorie content of french fries with the added buzz of caffeine is hardly the healthiest choice for your body, but this innovative snack might be worth a try.
For those who don’t like getting the caffeine from their coffee or tea, a range of products has emerged in recent years. It seems that everything from oatmeal to bottled water is now available in a version with added caffeine. Caffeinated French fries were perhaps an inevitable extension of this growing market. In 2007, Golden Flake Snack Foods Inc. released NRG Chips in two flavors, Phoenix Fury and Overload.
NRG chips contain several ingredients to boost energy. In addition to caffeine, caffeine-containing chips contain B vitamins and taurine, an organic acid popular in energy drinks due to its reputation as a muscle fatigue reducer. The company won’t release exactly how much caffeine the potato chips contain, saying it’s roughly equivalent to 3.5 cups of coffee. This reference is quite vague, as it does not specify the size of the “cups”.
In April, Rudolph Foods Company, Inc. launched a competing brand of caffeinated potato chips marketed as Engobi, short for “Energy Go Bites,” the chips are available in Cinnamon Surge and Lemon Lift flavors. One reviewer compared the taste to similarly flavored cereals. These caffeinated potato chips contain 140 mg of caffeine per snack bag.
Engobi caffeine chips were marketed in the United States as a tie-in to the popular video game Guitar Hero. The company sponsored big-city video game contests in order to win Guitar Hero gear and rig under the Engobi label. Promotional tours of the city also bring several young female models, to add to the appeal.
The caffeine-infused potato chips are enough to make many health experts roll their eyes. In the United States, where obesity has become a major problem, caffeinated potato chips hardly serve as a beacon of hope for a more food-sensitive generation. Caffeinated potato chips are almost no calorie saver, containing between 140-250 calories and 11-16 grams of fat per packet. While a moderate amount of caffeine hasn’t been shown to cause any adverse effects in healthy adults, some evidence suggests it may be harmful to children or those with diabetes. In a snack market full of caffeinated beverages, you might be wondering if these jitter-inducing chips are really a necessary addition.
However, caffeinated potato chips might be worth it, if only so you can say you’ve tried them. Engobi chips are available nationwide, while NRG Chips are currently available only in the Southeastern United States. They might go as crystal clear buds or colorful ketchups, but for chip aficionados, they might be worth an indulgence.
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