Monster Munch is a corn snack available in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and France which is produced by Walkers.

Although the snack is largely aimed at children, the snack is enjoyed widely by people of all ages. Walkers Pickled Onion Monster Munch is the company's 9th best-selling snack.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] History

Monster Munch was launched in Britain in 1977, originally produced by Smiths. Advertised as 'The Biggest Snack Pennies Can Buy' (referring to the then-relatively-large size of the crisps), Monster Munch was originally available throughout the Smith's ownership in Roast Beef, Pickled Onion, Saucy Tomato, Bacon, Cheese & Onion, King Prawn, and Salt & Vinegar flavours.^{[citation needed]} Each pack featured a different monster on the front of the packet. There was even a "Monster Munch Club" available at some point during the period where Smiths owned the snack food. Members of the club received a "monster munch munchers" membership pack, which included a membership card, pen, several story books, and a story tape which included six "tall stories" and accompanying songs.

There was an original sextet of monsters who would advertise the snack: Pink Monster (a tall, gangly creature who put in his main appearance on Roast Beef), Red Monster (a tall, one eye bigger than the other), Orange Monster, Blue Monster, (a behatted, floppy eared creature with four arms) Yellow Monster (a one-eyed, red-nosed creature) and Green Monster.

The original Monster Munch used two different snack shapes: these related to two of the Monsters used in the advertisements. The shape known as a 'monster paw' that is still used today is based on the eye of the cycloptic yellow monster, with the 'fingers' representing the eyelashes. There was also another shape representing the gangly, long-tongued pink monster: this was circular with two bumps on the top for eyes, protrusions on either side and a tongue dangling down. For a limited time in the early 90's, there were also spider shaped Monster Munch in a smokey bacon flavour.

A short-lived range of Monster Munch themed drinks - Monster Fizz - was available in the 1980s. The small range of flavours included orangeade. ^[1]

Monster Munch brand was taken over by Walkers in 1995. The monster characters were completely redesigned, and the size of the crisp was reduced after a few years.

Walkers relaunched the brand with the flavours 'Pickled Onion', 'Flamin' Hot', 'Spaghetti Sauce' and 'Beef Burger'. Since then the range of flavours has changed several times, once including 'Cheesy'. The range currently consists of 'Pickled Onion', 'Roast Beef', and 'Flamin' Hot.'

Pickled Onion has remained in the selection throughout the years, with Roast Beef appearing in almost every combination. A controversial 'Vanilla Ice Cream' flavour of Monster Munch was launched in 2004 as a limited edition, and was received with mixed reaction. This type of Monster Munch was non-savoury, and contained no salt. In February 2007 Monster Munch were re-launched in new packaging (along with other Walkers brands such as Wotsits and Quavers) to coincide with the new usage of SunSeed oil in their ingredients.

Walkers have now introduced a Mega Monster Munch range. The packs show the old monsters from the Smiths days. The range is: Pickled Onion, Roast Beef & Flamin' Hot. The pack boasts these are "Old! Bigger like they used to be". The back of the pack reveals this is as in 1977. A new Mega Monster Munch website has been launched with interviews with the monsters trying to find out where they have been^[2]. The Pickled Onion Flavor has the yellow Monster with a green face, The Flamin' Hot is marketed with Blue Monster, and Roast Beef's mascot is the famous Pink Monster.

[edit] Ingredients

The baked corn snack contains a source of phenylalanine, meaning it is not suitable for phenylketonurics - people with the genetic disorder phenylketonuria, which entails an inability to metabolise phenylalanine.

Monster Munch is suitable for those of a vegetarian diet.

Monster Munch's pickled onion flavour was invented by Sharon Waterford, a food technician of the late 1980s. Waterford is also notable for being the creator of a new Strawberry flavouring for Bird's Angel Delight^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] References