# Things you Didn't Know about Doritos.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 15, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609 "2015-06-15T20:39:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/1 "2015-06-15T20:39:56Z")
I always think of the [Jay Leno Doritos commercials](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS10fWbIsnM) in the early 80’s. Very cleverly done.
btw this isn’t a click bait site. No slideshow. You can read everything by scrolling down.
Is this claim about Doritos accurate? [Fritos came out in the 1930’s and are made from masa.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritos) The company is named after them. Why would they claim Doritos were a trailblazer?
I wonder if the inventor of the tortilla chip sued? Or is that a generic food item that no one can claim ownership? A lot of Latin American families make their own tortilla chips and tamales from [masa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masa).
> **[5 Things You Didn't Know About Doritos](https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/5-things-you-didn-t-know-about-doritos/)**
>
> Doritos are an insanely popular chip, but they didn't always look like they do today. Here are 5 facts about this magic chip.
> [@](#):
>
> They Were Invented at Disneyland
> Food company Frito-Lay owned a restaurant called Casa de Fritos at Disneyland, and one day in 1964 employees decided to cut up excess tortillas, fry them, and cover them in basic seasonings like cumin. They were such a success that Frito-Lay refined the recipe and released them nationally in 1966.
>
> They Were a Trailblazer
> When Doritos were released in 1966, they were the very first tortilla chip to be given a national release.
> [@](#):
>
> Fritos hail from San Antonio, Texas, where C. E. Doolin, who apparently had an obsession with making a snack based on corn that would not go stale too quickly, found a local man who had deep-fried corn snacks made from an extrusion of masa. Doolin bought the man’s patent and recipe, and with the help of his mother perfected the recipe in his own kitchen (in much the same way that he later invented Cheetos).[1] He began selling Fritos in 1932 under the moniker of the Frito Corporation.
---
### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/2 "2015-06-15T20:48:27Z")
Cheetos are actually my favorite chip. 😉 Invented by the same guy that created Fritos. My wife buys Tostitos because they have less salt. Yet another Frito-Lay product.
> **[Cheetos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheetos)**
>
> Cheetos (formerly styled as Chee-tos until 1998) is a crunchy corn-cheese puff snack brand made by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. Fritos creator Charles Elmer Doolin invented Cheetos in 1948, and began national distribution in the United States. The initial success of Cheetos was a contributing factor to the merger between The Frito Company and H.W. Lay & Company in 1961 to form Frito-Lay. In 1965 Frito-Lay became a subsidiary of The Pepsi-Cola Company, forming PepsiCo, the current owner ...
> [@](#):
>
> Fritos creator Charles Elmer Doolin invented Cheetos in 1948, and began national distribution in the U.S. The initial success of Cheetos was a contributing factor to the merger between The Frito Company and H.W. Lay & Company in 1961 to form Frito-Lay. In 1965 Frito-Lay became a subsidiary of The Pepsi-Cola Company, forming PepsiCo, the current owner of the Cheetos brand.
---
### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/3 "2015-06-15T21:33:09Z")
I wonder why Fritos taste noticeably different from tortilla chips, which all taste pretty similar, if they’re all made from nixtamalized corn masa?
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### Author:  [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/4 "2015-06-15T23:12:01Z")
I read on some food site BARBEQUE flavored chips, potato or corn, are tossed in big drums full of the barbeque seasoning, and that stuff attracts flies more than any other, and the drums have maggots in them. I have no source, no cite, just one of those ‘anonymous worker in the factory’ confessions.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/5 "2015-06-15T23:14:08Z")
> [@bump](#):
>
> I wonder why Fritos taste noticeably different from tortilla chips, which all taste pretty similar, if they’re all made from nixtamalized corn masa?
Fritos are seasoned with things other than salt.
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### Author:  [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2015, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/6 "2015-06-15T23:27:44Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Fritos are seasoned with things other than salt.
So are Doritos. Could it be that the masa itself is more spiced in Fritos?
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/7 "2015-06-15T23:39:45Z")
Fritos seem spicier to me. I have to restrict how many that I eat. Or pay the price of bad, miserable indigestion for a couple days. I’ll make a Frito pie once or twice a month. I give the rest of the bag to one of my daughters. So I’m not tempted to snack on them.
I haven’t bought a bag of Doritos in ages. We buy the less salty, original Tostitos.
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### Author:  [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/8 "2015-06-15T23:41:31Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Fritos are seasoned with things other than salt.
The regular flavor ones are not. The ingredients list only corn, corn oil, and salt.
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### Author:  [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/9 "2015-06-16T00:04:56Z")
> [@](#):
>
> … Frito-Lay refined the recipe …
Well, “refined” isn’t what I would call it. Covered it with muck is more like it. Comparing Doritos to tortilla chips should be actionable.
But I might have known this originated at Disney, who are almost single-handedly responsible for the crap-ification of American popular culture.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/10 "2015-06-16T00:27:11Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> Cheetos are actually my favorite chip.
Get thee to a nunnery.
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### Author:  [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/11 "2015-06-16T00:32:09Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#):
>
> Well, “refined” isn’t what I would call it. Covered it with muck is more like it. Comparing Doritos to tortilla chips should be actionable.
>
> But I might have known this originated at Disney, who are almost single-handedly responsible for the crap-ification of American popular culture.
Finding a use for stale tortillas that were otherwise going in the trash is somehow bad?
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/12 "2015-06-16T00:58:32Z")
> [@salinqmind](#):
>
> I read on some food site BARBEQUE flavored chips, potato or corn, are tossed in big drums full of the barbeque seasoning, and that stuff attracts flies more than any other, and the drums have maggots in them. I have no source, no cite, just one of those ‘anonymous worker in the factory’ confessions.
Yeah, like health inspectors wouldn’t pick up on this. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/13 "2015-06-16T01:04:35Z")
Since we’re kinda on the subject of Fritos history, did anyone besides me ever purchase a bag of Fritos at Disneyland from the [Frito Kid](http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2010/6/26/frito-kid-and-deeee-licious-fritos.html) ?
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/14 "2015-06-16T01:23:36Z")
> [@salinqmind](#):
>
> I read on some food site BARBEQUE flavored chips, potato or corn, are tossed in big drums full of the barbeque seasoning, and that stuff attracts flies more than any other, and the drums have maggots in them. I have no source, no cite, just one of those ‘anonymous worker in the factory’ confessions.
I’m amazed at how these stupid food rumors spread. Like Leaffan said, the inspectors likely would have picked up on it, even if they didn’t I’m sure they’re own inspectors would have. In most cases, factories, especially ones that use a HAACP plan, do internal inspections that _far_ exceed anything the local guy does. Hell, even in my little store, we’re on top of things more then the local inspectors. There’s only so much they can do in a 10 minute, once a year walk around (not just food, but electrical and building as well). Frito-Lay, really doesn’t want flies going out with the product.
Similarly, I was once talking to a customer, taking an order over the phone and she asked what brand of water we used. I told her it was Nestle Pure Life. Her response was “I heard they use water for cooling the machines and I can taste chocolate in it, I’ll pick up my own drinks”. After I unrolled my eyes, I explained to her that I’m sure they do use water for cooling the machines, but it would be put right back into the drain as ‘grey water’, not reused. Even if it was reused, it wouldn’t taste like chocolate since it wouldn’t make contact with the chocolate since it would just be used to cool pumps/motors/molds/etc and besides, water ruins chocolate if it comes in contact with it (it causes it to seize). She wasn’t having it, that’s what she heard, and now she can taste it.
Oh well, means my employee doesn’t have to lug 30 bottles of water/soda up 3 flights of stairs.
But seriously, I hear all kinds of weird stuff about food, some of which may be true, a lot of which probably isn’t.
BTW, your favorite restaurant, while probably clean, sanitary and safe to eat at, probably has a filthy (looking) kitchen, trust me, I’ve seen it, you don’t want to watch your food being made or see how it’s stored.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/15 "2015-06-16T01:46:28Z")
> [@blondebear](#):
>
> Since we’re kinda on the subject of Fritos history, did anyone besides me ever purchase a bag of Fritos at Disneyland from the [Frito Kid](http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2010/6/26/frito-kid-and-deeee-licious-fritos.html) ?
I wish that I had. Wonderful article. I didn’t know much about the Frito Kid. Looks like it would have been a fun attraction at Disneyland.
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### Author:  [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/16 "2015-06-16T02:49:30Z")
Fritos seem oilier than other chips. Could that be part of the deal? The oil helps convey flavors more directly to the tongue and palate?
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/17 "2015-06-16T03:59:13Z")
> [@garygnu](#):
>
> The regular flavor ones are not. The ingredients list only corn, corn oil, and salt.
It’s disturbing that you know this. Then I would have to go with the oil they’re using, combined with whatever sort of corn it is. Frito-Lay tends to heavily salt their products, as well.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/18 "2015-06-16T04:05:02Z")
> [@bump](#):
>
> I wonder why Fritos taste noticeably different from tortilla chips, which all taste pretty similar, if they’re all made from nixtamalized corn masa?
I’m surprised myself, too. I would have thought that Fritos were not nixtamilzed corn by their taste. Interesting.
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### Author:  [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/19 "2015-06-16T04:07:07Z")
> [@salinqmind](#):
>
> I read on some food site BARBEQUE flavored chips, potato or corn, are tossed in big drums full of the barbeque seasoning, and that stuff attracts flies more than any other, and the drums have maggots in them. I have no source, no cite, just one of those ‘anonymous worker in the factory’ confessions.
A friend of mine managed a Frito plant and we got to tour it. It was cleaner than most personal kitchens and ALL of the commercial kitchens that I have ever been in. Hair nets and gloves were required on everyone, even us, and we didn’t touch anything.
Fresh, hot Cheetos are divine.
---
### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2015, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-didnt-know-about-doritos/722609/20 "2015-06-16T04:40:36Z")
> [@chacoguy](#):
>
> A friend of mine managed a Frito plant and we got to tour it. It was cleaner than most personal kitchens and ALL of the commercial kitchens that I have ever been in. Hair nets and gloves were required on everyone, even us, and we didn’t touch anything.
>
> Fresh, hot Cheetos are divine.
Most big factories are like that. Watch any of the Food Network shows that take you inside plants that make nationally distributed foods and you’ll see exceptionally clean equipment and hair/beard nets on everyone. You can be sure even the camera/crew members are wearing them as well. And all that cleanliness isn’t an accident. One of the shows I was watching, on Jenny-O maybe, showed them shutting down the plant every single night to scrub and sanitize all the equipment, Walter White style.
A friend of mine distributes produce, as he moved from just being a local distributor to selling to people like Reinhart and Sysco he had to get more certifications. Some of these required him to keep his plants incredibly clean, hairnets for everyone, logging who came in and out, visitor badges etc. Again, this goes above and beyond the local health inspector taking a 10 minute walkaround. He has to deal with the Sysco/Reinhart people taking a much closer look or whoever gives him the certifications inspecting his plant.
Some of these big places won’t even let us inside, it’s just easier. We have a pickup, we let them know we’re there and they bring the stuff to the dock.
When you’re not in the food industry you don’t see a lot of what goes on in the background. There’s a reason you don’t find a random hair in your Cheetos and when there’s a (rare) Salmonella outbreak they can track it back to it’s source somewhat quickly.
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