Frito-Lay Launches Low Sodium Versions of its Top Selling Snack Chips

Pinch of Salt Line Meets Number One Consumer Request

PLANO, Texas, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America
business unit announced today the launch of Pinch of Salt, a low-sodium
version of some of its most popular brands -- Lay's potato chips, Tostitos
tortilla chips, Fritos corn chips and Ruffles potato chips. While Frito-Lay
snack chips are generally moderate in sodium to begin with -- for instance
Lay's Classic potato chips contain 180 mg of sodium per one ounce serving --
the Pinch of Salt product line provides individuals with a low-sodium snack
chip that contains 75 mg of sodium per one ounce serving. Pinch of Salt
products began to roll out nationally in mid-March.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080410/NYTH077 )
"The number one request from our consumers is for low sodium versions of
the products they love most," said Jaya Kumar, chief marketing officer,
Frito-Lay North America. "While consumers request low sodium versions of their
favorite products, they aren't willing to compromise on taste. The Pinch of
Salt line still gives consumers great-tasting snack chips they want, but with
less sodium than their original counterparts."
Depending on the Pinch of Salt product, sodium is 30 to 50 percent less
than the original products. The Pinch of Salt product line fits strategically
within Frito-Lay's health and wellness portfolio, which provides consumers a
variety of options that fit into a healthier lifestyle.
"While Pinch of Salt products meet the consumer need for low-sodium
options, many people would be surprised to learn that most of Frito-Lay's core
portfolio of snack chips have much less sodium than they think," said Rocco
Papalia, senior vice president, research & development, Frito-Lay North
America. "Since the salt is on the chip's surface, the salt flavor is
prominent compared to foods where the salt is cooked within."
"It's important for consumers to manage their sodium intake," said Georgia
Kostas, a registered dietitian and author of The Cooper Clinic Solution to the
Diet Revolution. "However the best way to do this is not to rely on 'taste,'
because sodium is present in a lot of products in which you wouldn't
necessarily taste the salt. Consumers need to turn to the Nutrition Facts
Panel to determine how a product fits into their sodium goals."
Pinch of Salt products are available nationally in grocery, retail and
mass merchandise. The entire line will be sold for $2.29 for 6 1/4 to 8
ounces packages, depending on the product.
Frito-Lay has a long-standing commitment to health and wellness. In the
mid 80s, the company launched Reduced Fat Ruffles potato chips. In the early
90s, the great tasting Baked! Lay's potato crisps and Baked! Tostitos tortilla
chips were first introduced. Frito-Lay led the industry with its response to
trans fats. In 2003, Frito-Lay eliminated trans fats from its entire snack
chip portfolio by converting Cheetos, Doritos, and Tostitos to corn oil. In
addition, the company listed trans fat on the nutritional panel of its snack
chips more than two years in advance of the 2006 Food & Drug Administration
mandate. Frito-Lay's core snack chip portfolio uses healthier oils that have
lower amounts of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fats and higher amounts of
the "good" monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
Frito-Lay North America is the $11 billion convenient foods business unit
of PepsiCo, which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. In addition to Frito-Lay,
PepsiCo business units include Pepsi-Cola, Quaker Foods, Gatorade and
Tropicana.
SOURCE Frito-Lay

Aurora Gonzalez of Frito-Lay North America, +1-972-334-3821