Court rules Pringle is not a potato crisp
A Pringle is undoubtedly crisp - but it is not a potato crisp.
That was the conclusion reached by a High Court judge today after an exhaustive inquiry into the ingredients, manufacturer and packaging of the top-selling snack.
The result of Mr Justice Warren's ruling is that regular Pringles, in their various flavours, are free from VAT.
The judge allowed an appeal by manufacturers Proctor & Gamble against a VAT Tribunal decision that Pringles should be standard-rated at 17.5% as falling within the definition "potato crisps, potato sticks, potato puffs and similar products made from the potato, or from potato flour, or from potato starch".
Proctor & Gamble stands to save millions of pounds on UK sales of Pringles. Worldwide sales of the snack, in its distinctive tube packaging, are reckoned to reach £500 billion.
Most foodstuffs are zero-rated for VAT, but Revenue and Customs argued that Pringles fell within the "potato crisp" exception.
Procter & Gamble pointed out that, unlike potato crisps, Pringles had a regular shape "not found in nature" as well as a uniform colouring and texture and a "mouth melt" taste.
Crisps did not contain non-potato flours like Pringles and were not normally packaged in tubes.
And customers did not regard Pringles as potato crisps.
Mr Justice Warren ruled that Pringles were not "made from the potato" within the definition laid down by the 1994 VAT Act.
To fall within the exception, a product "must be wholly, or substantially wholly, made from the potato".
Pringles, he said, were made from potato flour, corn flour, wheat starch and rice flour together with fat and emulsifier, salt and seasoning, with a potato content of around 42%.
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Posted by: mica, Fife on 1:11pm Fri 4 Jul 08
when is a crisp not a crisp? when its a pringle it seems.... lol
when is a crisp not a crisp? when its a pringle it seems.... lol
Posted by: Rab The Ranter, Ayrshire on 1:35pm Fri 4 Jul 08
I thought a Pringle was a jumper :o(
I thought a Pringle was a jumper :o(
Posted by: haud me back, glasgow on 1:55pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Is there nothing this money grubbing government will try to get money from.
Is there nothing this money grubbing government will try to get money from.
Posted by: Rab Jones, Glasgow on 1:56pm Fri 4 Jul 08
A pringle is not a crisp, because when you a buy a packet of pringles, they're full to the top.
When you buy crisps, they're only half full and the half is air.
A pringle is not a crisp, because when you a buy a packet of pringles, they're full to the top.
When you buy crisps, they're only half full and the half is air.
Posted by: cliftonperkins, Clifton on 2:37pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Shades of P.G. Wodehouse ...
Mr Justice Warren ruled that Pringles were not "made from the potato"
... could they be eaten with "the juice of an orange"?
Shades of P.G. Wodehouse ...
Mr Justice Warren ruled that Pringles were not "made from the potato"
... could they be eaten with "the juice of an orange"?
Posted by: sam, greenock on 2:53pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Rab Jones[/bold] wrote:
A pringle is not a crisp, because when you a buy a packet of pringles, they're full to the top. When you buy crisps, they're only half full and the half is air. [/quote] They're sold by weight dimwit DOH!
Rab Jones wrote:
A pringle is not a crisp, because when you a buy a packet of pringles, they're full to the top. When you buy crisps, they're only half full and the half is air.
They're sold by weight dimwit DOH!
Posted by: George Laird, Glasgow on 2:57pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Rab Jones[/bold] wrote:
A pringle is not a crisp, because when you a buy a packet of pringles, they're full to the top. When you buy crisps, they're only half full and the half is air. [/quote] Dear Rab Jones
I hope you get well soon.
The packet of crisps wisdom is a new low even for you.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Rab Jones wrote:
A pringle is not a crisp, because when you a buy a packet of pringles, they're full to the top. When you buy crisps, they're only half full and the half is air.
Dear Rab Jones
I hope you get well soon.
The packet of crisps wisdom is a new low even for you.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Posted by: Rab Jones, Glasgow on 3:25pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]George Laird[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Rab Jones[/bold] wrote: A pringle is not a crisp, because when you a buy a packet of pringles, they're full to the top. When you buy crisps, they're only half full and the half is air. [/quote] Dear Rab Jones I hope you get well soon. The packet of crisps wisdom is a new low even for you. Yours sincerely George Laird The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University[/quote] Cheers George.
Tell ya missus I was asking for her.
Muchos besos.
xxx
George Laird wrote:
Rab Jones wrote: A pringle is not a crisp, because when you a buy a packet of pringles, they're full to the top. When you buy crisps, they're only half full and the half is air.
Dear Rab Jones I hope you get well soon. The packet of crisps wisdom is a new low even for you. Yours sincerely George Laird The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Cheers George.
Tell ya missus I was asking for her.
Muchos besos.
xxx
Posted by: Strathdee, West Lothian on 3:51pm Fri 4 Jul 08
42% seems pretty substantial to me - especially if that 42% is more than any other individual ingredient.
42% seems pretty substantial to me - especially if that 42% is more than any other individual ingredient.
Posted by: Rab The Ranter, Ayrshire on 5:00pm Fri 4 Jul 08
What aboot Pringles, they urnae crisps, they are Jumpers.
Loads of big girlie gowfers wear them when they hit their balls roon a gowf field.
What aboot Pringles, they urnae crisps, they are Jumpers.
Loads of big girlie gowfers wear them when they hit their balls roon a gowf field.
Posted by: Allan, Londonistan on 5:29pm Fri 4 Jul 08
I have just opened a bottle of wine in the office and could do with some pringles to give me and my colleagues something to munch on.
I have just opened a bottle of wine in the office and could do with some pringles to give me and my colleagues something to munch on.
Posted by: BM, Glasgow on 6:50pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Rab The Ranter[/bold] wrote:
I thought a Pringle was a jumper :o([/quote] Yes but only in the sense that they have jumped the country. They have kicked their workforce who made them successful in the teeth by sacking them and transferring production to the Third World. I hope every Scotsman realises that and never buys Pringle clothes again. And I hope Christine Graham is successful i forcing them to remove the lie of the Lion Rampant from a product no longer made in Scotland.
Rab The Ranter wrote:
I thought a Pringle was a jumper :o(
Yes but only in the sense that they have jumped the country. They have kicked their workforce who made them successful in the teeth by sacking them and transferring production to the Third World. I hope every Scotsman realises that and never buys Pringle clothes again. And I hope Christine Graham is successful i forcing them to remove the lie of the Lion Rampant from a product no longer made in Scotland.
Posted by: sam, greenock on 7:56pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Rab Jones[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]George Laird[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Rab Jones[/bold] wrote: A pringle is not a crisp, because when you a buy a packet of pringles, they're full to the top. When you buy crisps, they're only half full and the half is air. [/quote] Dear Rab Jones I hope you get well soon. The packet of crisps wisdom is a new low even for you. Yours sincerely George Laird The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University[/quote] Cheers George. Tell ya missus I was asking for her. Muchos besos. xxx [/quote] [quote]Tell ya missus I was asking for her.[/quote]
Is she one of your psychiatrists, have you been missing sessions again.
If that is the case that explains your imbeclic rants recently.
Wass she the one that got you to stop ranting about the coming civil war?
Rab Jones wrote:
George Laird wrote: Rab Jones wrote: A pringle is not a crisp, because when you a buy a packet of pringles, they're full to the top. When you buy crisps, they're only half full and the half is air.
Dear Rab Jones I hope you get well soon. The packet of crisps wisdom is a new low even for you. Yours sincerely George Laird The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Cheers George. Tell ya missus I was asking for her. Muchos besos. xxx
Tell ya missus I was asking for her.
Is she one of your psychiatrists, have you been missing sessions again.
If that is the case that explains your imbeclic rants recently.
Wass she the one that got you to stop ranting about the coming civil war?
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 8:33pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote]Pringles, he said, were made from potato flour, corn flour, wheat starch and rice flour [quote]together with fat and emulsifier, salt[/quote] and seasoning, with a potato content of around 42%[/quote]
So in other words it's calorific rubbish, will make you fat, raise the blood pressure, and help to kill you.
Try a banana instead.
Pringles, he said, were made from potato flour, corn flour, wheat starch and rice flour together with fat and emulsifier, salt
and seasoning, with a potato content of around 42%
So in other words it's calorific rubbish, will make you fat, raise the blood pressure, and help to kill you.
Try a banana instead.
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 8:36pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote]Is she one of your psychiatrists, have you been missing sessions again.
If that is the case that explains your imbeclic rants recently.
Wass she the one that got you to stop ranting about the coming civil war[/quote]
Sam - Rab has told us he has a house with three floors. He hasn't told us what rooms they are in. Take pity on him he must be tired from balancing on beams and joists.
Is she one of your psychiatrists, have you been missing sessions again.
If that is the case that explains your imbeclic rants recently.
Wass she the one that got you to stop ranting about the coming civil war
Sam - Rab has told us he has a house with three floors. He hasn't told us what rooms they are in. Take pity on him he must be tired from balancing on beams and joists.
Posted by: bob mckay, glasgow on 9:12pm Fri 4 Jul 08
2 for 1 in tesco at the moment, just munching some with a long cool bud on a hot summers night.
But they are definately a crisp; a potato crisp at that. Somebody check the judges bank balance or new holiday home
2 for 1 in tesco at the moment, just munching some with a long cool bud on a hot summers night.
But they are definately a crisp; a potato crisp at that. Somebody check the judges bank balance or new holiday home
Posted by: Jwil, Lanarkshire on 10:01pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Defining a Pringle as "not a crisp" may seem clever at the moment, but it could come back to haunt them in the future I suspect.
Should we now expect Pringles to be cheaper or will the company add on the value of VAT to the price?
Defining a Pringle as "not a crisp" may seem clever at the moment, but it could come back to haunt them in the future I suspect.
Should we now expect Pringles to be cheaper or will the company add on the value of VAT to the price?
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 10:59pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]bob mckay[/bold] wrote:
2 for 1 in tesco at the moment, just munching some with a long cool bud on a hot summers night. But they are definately a crisp; a potato crisp at that. Somebody check the judges bank balance or new holiday home[/quote] A crisp is thinly sliced potato deep fried in oil. Tossed with rock salt and vinegar. You can make them at home if you have a mind. None of the cr@p you buy in the supermarket are crisps. But I admit I am a foodie.
bob mckay wrote:
2 for 1 in tesco at the moment, just munching some with a long cool bud on a hot summers night. But they are definately a crisp; a potato crisp at that. Somebody check the judges bank balance or new holiday home
A crisp is thinly sliced potato deep fried in oil. Tossed with rock salt and vinegar. You can make them at home if you have a mind. None of the cr@p you buy in the supermarket are crisps. But I admit I am a foodie.
Posted by: gavin48, Glasgow on 11:44pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote]2 for 1 in tesco at the moment, just munching some with a long cool bud [bold]on a hot summers night.[/bold]
But they are definately a crisp; a potato crisp at that. Somebody check the judges bank balance or new holiday home
[/quote]
Hot summer night??? what part of Glasgow are you in???
2 for 1 in tesco at the moment, just munching some with a long cool bud on a hot summers night.
But they are definately a crisp; a potato crisp at that. Somebody check the judges bank balance or new holiday home
Hot summer night??? what part of Glasgow are you in???
Posted by: celtic4, United States on 10:34pm Sat 5 Jul 08
Tomorrow night is supposed to be 70 degrees Farenheit for the long hot summer night. Does that suit ya?
Tomorrow night is supposed to be 70 degrees Farenheit for the long hot summer night. Does that suit ya?
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