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Snacks Unwrapped: Cheetos, by Henry W.
- JWMS Newspaper Club
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Snacks Unwrapped
#1 - Cheetos
INTRODUCTION
Cheetos Backstory
Cheetos were invented in 1948 by the creator of Fritos, Charles Elmer Doolin. He cooked testing batches in Fritos’ research and development kitchen in Dallas, Texas. Doolin ended up partnering with a potato chip businessman Herman W. Lay because of his lack of distribution capacity under a demand for the product. They released in 1948, and the release was a success. This prompted them to merge companies, forming Frito-Lay in 1961.
As of 2011, Cheetos are marketed and distributed under three PepsiCo operating divisions across the world. In 2010, Cheetos reportedly had a worldwide annual retail sales of approximately $4 billion.
The Company Itself
Cheetos is run by its parent company, PepsiCo. PepsiCo is owned by its shareholders as it is a publicly traded company under the ticker symbol “NASDAQ:PEP.” The majority of the company’s stock is owned by Vanguard Group, Blackrock, and State Street. The majority of these stock investors and the company itself are politically neutral or have invested in both sides.
CHEETOS UNWRAPPED
Next, we’ll be unwrapping the truth behind Cheetos, answering questions like “Are Cheetos bad for you?” or “Should I avoid eating Cheetos?”
Cheetos: Good, Bad, or Just a Treat?
Cheetos are a world-renowned snack known for their cheesy, crunchy corn snacks with a distinctive orange dust left on your fingers and their iconic mascot, Chester Cheetah. Even though they’re so good, should you be eating them?
Let’s start with what’s bad about Cheetos. Cheetos should not be considered healthy, nor should they be eaten frequently. They are high in sodium and very low in any beneficial nutritional value like fiber and protein. They’re also high in calories, contain artificial additives, and more. For instance, they contain Yellow Dye 6, which has been found to potentially cause cancer. eatthis.com rates Cheetos Puffs as the 4th unhealthiest snack on the planet, and Crunchy Cheetos as the 19th. Dietitians advise people to steer clear of the unhealthy snack. Additionally, Cheetos are essentially “ultra processed.” Cheetos contain ingredients that are highly processed, such as enriched cornmeal, synthetic flavorings, and flavor enhancers. This processing strips away the natural nutrients and fiber in what could have been a healthier snack without processing, which makes it even worse for you. The ingredients in Cheetos have been connected to digestive upset. Because of their bad ingredients and high fat content, they may cause stomach issues. Long term consumption may even lead to abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal issues, especially with the “Flamin’ Hot” varieties.
Are Regular Cheetos Better than Flamin’ Hot Cheetos?
Although they may be a tiny bit better because they have less harmful dyes than the “Flamin’ Hot” variety, this doesn’t mean they aren’t bad for you. Just because they have relatively fewer dyes doesn’t completely erase the fact that they still have harmful ingredients which can cause harmful effects short-term and long-term.
So yes, they may be slightly better, but there isn’t a huge difference and they are both bad for you.
The Key Takeaway
This article was intended to evaluate Cheetos and their unhealthy aspects. But this doesn’t mean you should just opt for a different popular chip like Takis or Doritos. I reviewed the popular snack, Takis, previously. Check out the article! I also plan to review Doritos in the near future, and there are definitely some things to look out for. Maybe just avoid these chips, and if you really want them, consider eating them in moderation.
Question:
Did this article change your mind about Cheetos?
The End
Thanks for Reading!
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