Lay’s Announces Winner Of Flavor Contest: Wasabi Ginger

Image via Facebook/Lay's

During this year’s “Do Us a Flavor” contest, Lay’s laid four somewhat gross flavors on the table. America was asked to vote in favor of either Cappuccino, Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese, Wavy Mango Salsa and Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger. The verdict? Apparently America likes wasabi-flavored potato chips.

The contest began in July when the four new flavors temporarily hit stores and assaulted taste buds across the country for approximately three months; the contest wrapped up last weekend. According to the Associated Press, about a million votes were cast on Twitter and Facebook, making Wasabi Ginger the newest permanent Lay’s flavor. (There’s no word on how many people spoke out in disgust against the cappuccino chips, but we assume that number is well above a million.)

Winner Meneko Spigner McBeth, a registered nurse from New Jersey, will win either $1 million or, according to BuzzFeed, 1 percent of the sale of the chips over the next year — whichever is larger. The three other finalists will each get $50,000 for coming up with flavors that made it to stores.

Past years have seen flavors like Sriracha enter the playing field; this year, Canada’s competition was between Bacon Poutine, Cinnamon Bun, Jalapeño Mac & Cheese and Tzatziki. One of the contenders in the U.K. one year was Cajun Squirrel. So what flavors will next year bring? It seems the possibilities are limitless… and squirrel-flavored.