Absurd But True
Are Pringles Crisps? The UK Court Case Explained
- Absurd But True
- 23 Oct 2026
- Short
Short answer: for UK tax purposes, yes. In 2009 the Court of Appeal held that Pringles are similar to potato crisps and made from potato, so VAT applies.
What happened
Britain charges VAT on potato crisps and similar products made from the potato, but not on most food. Procter & Gamble, which makes Pringles, argued its product fell outside that rule. As reported, its argument rested on Pringles containing only about 42% potato.
The tax authority (HMRC) disagreed. Its lawyers reportedly put up to £100 million in tax at stake.
The rulings
- 2008, High Court: ruled for Procter & Gamble.
- May 2009, Court of Appeal: disagreed, finding Pringles similar to potato crisps and made from potato. Tax applies.
This is a legal holding about a tax category, not a statement about food. The joke is in the question, and the court answered it seriously.
Watch the 45-second version
[Embedded video: A UK court decided if Pringles count as crisps]
Sources
- Procter & Gamble v. HMRC [2008] EWHC 1558 (Ch): https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/ch/2008/1558
- Revenue and Customs v. Procter & Gamble [2009] EWCA Civ 407: https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewca/civ/2009/407
- Monckton Chambers summary: https://www.monckton.com/pringles-similar-crisps/
- CMS legal update: https://cms.law/en/gbr/legal-updates/are-pringles-crisps-the-court-of-appeal-decides
- TaxationWeb report: https://www.taxationweb.co.uk/tax-news/business-tax/pringles-lose-at-appeal-court.html
Not legal or tax advice. Not affiliated with Pringles or Procter & Gamble. Narration is an AI voice.
Transcript
A British court of appeal had to decide whether Pringles count as potato crisps, for tax. This is real. Procter & Gamble v. the tax authority, 2009. Britain puts VAT on potato crisps and similar snacks, but not on most food. Pringles' maker said theirs weren't. Pringles, it argued, are only about 42% potato. The tax authority's lawyers said up to £100 million in tax was riding on it. In 2008, the High Court ruled for Pringles. In May 2009, the Court of Appeal disagreed. Its verdict: similar to potato crisps, and made from potato. Tax applies. To the taxman, a Pringle is a crisp. Absurd. But true.
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