How much potato makes a potato chip?

"I'm having a mistaken identity crisis."

America was founded on the bases we shouldn't have to pay British taxes. Bostonians famously turned the Boston Harbor into a giant cup of tea in protest of having to pay British taxes. This is the reason why there's a Starbucks on nearly every street corner in this country and not a tea stand.

That act of protest was one of the creative ways Americans have tried to avoid paying taxes, even before we were Americans. However, it wouldn't be the last attempt, which includes Pringles latest, and failed, attempt to avoid having to give the Queen of England more money.

In response to a tax on potatoes-based products in England, Pringles officials took an unusual approach to avoid paying the tax and demonstrated their ability to think outside the box. Or the tube in their case.

It's a potato tax? Well, Pringles don't count as potatoes. That's right, they played the "Our potato crisp don't count as real potatoes" card. Most companies spend a ton of money trying to get people to believe their products are authentic. Not Pringles. They went the other way, stating they were fake potato chips.

The Value Added Tax Tribunal called out Proctor and Gamble on this, stating the chips met the definition of "potato crisps, potato sticks, potato puffs and similar products made from the potato, or from potato flour, or from potato starch."

But, "Pringles don't look like a chip, don't feel like a chip, and don't taste like a chip," a lawyer argued to a judge who agreed since the potato chips are only 42 percent potatoes, they shouldn't count as potato chips. He no doubt bought the argument that potato chips "give a sharply crunchy sensation under the tooth and have to be broken down into jagged pieces when chewed. It is totally different with a Pringle, indeed a Pringle is designed to melt down on the tongue."

Court of Appeal judges today struck down that court's ruling, saying the chips had "more than enough potato content."

So if you've ever wondered how much potato makes a potato chip, the answer appears to be 42 percent.

It's no surprise that it's hard to find how these chips are made while the company is in the middle of an our-potato-chips-aren't-potatoes legal battle, but I found this paragraph on another site that claims it was on Pringles' site at some point (and this label):

How are Pringles made?

We're glad you noticed that Pringles are shaped differently and taste different. While Pringles contain the same basic ingredients found in other chip products, we take a totally radical approach to the way we mix our ingredients. We buy potatoes in the form of potato flakes and then add just enough water and other wholesome ingredients to make a smooth potato dough. The dough is cut in uniform shapes and these cut-outs are placed on pre-formed and Pringles-shaped carriers. The crisps are quick-fried and seasoned just right. Finally, they go to the stack-packer and then on to your favorite store.

Apparently, "contain the same basic ingredients found in other chip products," only applies when those products aren't being taxed. You have to give Pringles credit for trying and at least they were smart about it. They've been paying the tax anyways to avoid having to pay a huge back payment in the even the case was eventually overturned, which it was. But if you're paying a tax you're fighting in court after one court said you didn't have to pay it because your potato crisp are only 42 percent potato, that should probably be a sign you have a weak argument.

I can't wait for the court's decision on whether or not the white stuff in the middle of an Oreo is cream or not.