Snacks, potato chips, made from dried potatoes, fat-free, made with olestra
Whole food · Snacks
Photo: Wikipedia
These are ultra-light, airy chips crafted from dehydrated potato flakes, engineered to deliver a satisfying crunch with virtually zero fat. The texture is distinctly crisp and almost melt-in-your-mouth, lacking the greasy residue of traditional chips. Nutritionally, they are a high-fiber, low-fat snack, though they are made with the synthetic fat substitute olestra.
Calorie split: 8% protein · 89% carbs · 3% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love them for the ability to eat a large volume of crunchy, savory snacks without the guilt of high fat or calorie intake. They satisfy the craving for a salty, potato-based treat while fitting into strict low-fat dietary plans.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The use of olestra can cause gastrointestinal side effects like cramping or loose stools in some individuals, and it can also block the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). To counteract this, consume these chips in moderation and ensure you eat a balanced meal with healthy fats and vitamins later in the day to maintain nutrient absorption.
Key benefits
- Zero fat content per serving
- High in dietary fiber (7.3g per 100g)
- Significantly lower calorie density than regular chips
- Provides a satisfying crunch without oil
- Contains some protein (5g per 100g)
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Olestra was originally developed in the 1960s as a fat substitute for heart patients, but it wasn't approved for snack foods until 1996, and it famously required a mandatory warning label about gastrointestinal effects until 2003.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 2.6 g |
| Energy | 253 kcal |
| Energy | 1057 kj |
| Protein | 5.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.93 g |
| Ash | 2.8 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 56.0 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 7.3 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.59 g |
| Sucrose | 0.24 g |
| Glucose | 0.13 g |
| Fructose | 0.14 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.07 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 46.1 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 20.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.1 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 48.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 132 mg |
| Potassium, K | 931 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 429 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.78 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.17 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.39 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 2.9 ug |
| Fluoride, F | 106 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 109 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.18 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.02 mg |
| Niacin | 3.4 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.96 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.53 mg |
| Folate, total | 67.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 67.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 67.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 38.8 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 329 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.35 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.16 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.06 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.30 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.30 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.19 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.16 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Snacks, corn-based, extruded, chips, plain — USDA does not publish this profile for Snacks.
| Tryptophan | 0.05 g |
| Threonine | 0.25 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.23 g |
| Leucine | 0.80 g |
| Lysine | 0.18 g |
| Methionine | 0.14 g |
| Cystine | 0.12 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.32 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.27 g |
| Valine | 0.33 g |
| Arginine | 0.33 g |
| Histidine | 0.20 g |
| Alanine | 0.49 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.46 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.2 g |
| Glycine | 0.27 g |
| Proline | 0.57 g |
| Serine | 0.31 g |
FAQ
Are these chips actually fat-free?
Yes, they are labeled fat-free because olestra is a fat substitute that passes through the digestive system without being absorbed or metabolized as fat.
What is olestra and why is it used?
Olestra is a synthetic fat substitute made from sucrose and fatty acids that provides the taste and texture of fat without the calories, but it can cause digestive issues in some people.
Are these chips healthy?
They are lower in fat and calories than regular chips, but they are still a processed snack; they are best enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 2.53 kcal/g · 8% calories from protein · 7.3 g fiber · 0.6 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.46 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.