Doritos has taken one small step for man and one giant leap for munch-kind by launching a range of “zero gravity” crisps – for astronauts.
Its ‘Cool Ranch’ chips have a special oil-based topping to prevent the usual dust coating from floating away.
The crisps are also smaller than usual so that they can be eaten in a single bite, thereby reducing the number of flying crumbs in the cabin.
They will debut on SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on August 26th.
The flight will see private astronauts perform the first-ever commercial spacewalk and reach an altitude above Earth that hasn’t been achieved by human spaceflight in over 50 years.
It is not yet clear if the oil-based topping will lead to unpleasant blast-offs among the crew.
But Chris Bellinger, of Doritos’ parent company PepsiCo, said the crisps would “push the boundaries of what’s possible”, adding: “This mission is a testament to our commitment to delivering bold experiences and flavors, even in the most unexpected places.”
The Polaris Dawn mission will support the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Doritos is donating $500,000 to the hospital to help fund childhood cancer research and treatment.
Tina Mahal, senior vice president of marketing at PepsiCo Foods North America, added: “With every new Doritos innovation, we hope to encourage snackers to pave new paths.
“The Cool Ranch Zero Gravity chips embrace what it means to live life boldly by pioneering a creative way to raise awareness for such an important cause.”
ENDS
Images: Courtesy Frito-Lay North America
