Pringles are made from harmful ingredients with a major portion not made from potatoes? Check the facts. 

Pringles is a popular potato-based snack known for its uniform shape and crispy texture. With a wide variety of flavors worldwide, Pringles has become a global favorite for snack lovers.

Recently, social media users were found to point out that a major portion of the Pringles do not contain real potatoes. Instead, it uses some kinds of flakes and emulsifiers to give it its iconic shape and flavor. The claim also suggests that it uses MSG, rapeseed oil and another harmful ingredient called disodium guanylate which leads to gut inflammation. 

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Fact Check- 

First, we found out how Pringles are made. The information on the FAQ page in Pringles website states that Pringles are made with real potatoes. The potatoes are formed into Pringle shaped potato dough which was fried and sprinkled with spices and then packed into their iconic can. These potato crisps are mostly made from potatoes, starches, flours, salt and seasonings.

Let’s check the safety of the ingredients mentioned in the post. 

MSG: MSG consists of sodium and L-glutamate, which enhance the umami flavor without altering salt perception. According to regulatory authorities like the U.S. FDA, MSG is classified as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS). The FDA recommends keeping MSG intake below 0.5 grams per meal, as larger amounts (over 3 grams) may cause mild, transient symptoms in some individuals, such as headaches or flushing. However, most foods with added MSG contain less than 0.5 grams per serving, making overconsumption unlikely. Similarly, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) affirm MSG’s safety within regulated limits. FDA recommendations can be referred here, and European Union guidance can be found here.

Rapeseed Oil: The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) regulation for Rapeseed oil states that Rapeseed oil with low erucic acid must be made from clean seeds and be clear, free from bad smell, dirt, water, added colours, flavours or mineral oil. Erucic acid must not exceed 2%. Further, Rapeseed oil obtained by solvent extraction shall be supplied for human consumption only if it is refined and it shall conform to the standard laid down under regulation. 

The FDA had also approved the use of Rapeseed oil as a food ingredient to improve texture and consistency of the products. Its use is allowed only under strict safety and purity standards, including limits on acidity and contaminants to ensure it remains safe for consumption.

Disodium Guanylate: Disodium Guanylate or Disodium 5′-Guanylate is recognized by the WHO/FAO expert panel as a flavour-enhancing food additive when used in certain limits. However, no Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) has been set but it has been evaluated as safe. FDA and Food Standard Agency UK had also approved its use in food as an ingredient. 

According to Healthline, Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) consider disodium glutamate safe adequate intake (AI) or dosage guidelines haven’t been established due to a lack of research. This ingredient adds to the overall sodium content of a food product but in a very small amount. 

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. All the ingredients used in Pringles are safe and have been approved to be used in foods by food safety agencies.