Lay's Says Blue Chip in Bag is Factory Test Sample

Lay’s has told a Chinese consumer that a blue chip found in a bag of original-flavor potato chips was a dyed test chip used in factory quality checks, resolving a complaint that had drawn attention online.

The consumer posted on July 16 that she had received a written explanation from Lay’s after returning part of the product for inspection. According to the statement, the blue item was a coloring verification chip used by the factory to confirm the stability of its equipment and production process.

Lay’s said the coloring agent used in the test chip complied with GB2760, China’s national food safety standard for food additives, and did not affect the safety or quality of the product.

The consumer said Lay’s also provided a foreign-object analysis report supporting the company’s explanation, though she would not release the document because it contained other product information. Lay’s also invited her to visit its factory.

The incident began on July 12, when the consumer posted that she had found a regular-shaped blue foreign object inside a bag of Lay’s original potato chips. The post quickly spread online, with many users questioning how the item had entered a sealed snack product.

Lay’s first responded on the evening of July 13, saying it took the matter seriously and had contacted the consumer in hopes of retrieving the product for internal checks.

After negotiations, the consumer kept half of the normal chips and half of the blue chip, and sent the remaining portions back to Lay’s for testing. She rejected an initial customer-service offer of one replacement box of chips, saying she wanted a clear explanation of what the blue item was, what it contained and whether it was safe to eat. She also asked for a refund for the bag.

The consumer said both requests had now been met. She received the company’s written explanation and analysis report, and the purchase price was refunded.