Corn chips' BNI

Perezgonzalez assessed the nutritional balance of corn chips⁶ in 2012³, as part of a research on the nutritional composition of snacks in New Zealand.

Corn chips had, on average, an extremely unbalanced nutritional composition⁷ (BNI 49.44f), being particularly biased towards excess of fat. They were also adequate in carbohydrate and low in sugar, high in saturated fat and sodium, and low in protein and fiber.

Illustration 1: Nutrition information (corn chips)

BNI	49.44f	0.00

Food, 100g	2012	Ideal
Protein	7.3	24.6
Carbohydrate	58.9	67.6
Sugar	2.5	< 12.3
Fat	25.2	13.7
Saturated fat	8.7	< 5.5
Fiber	3.7*	7.4
Sodium	0.590	< 0.492
Kcal	491.6	491.6
kJul	2056.9	2056.9
() Fiber content estimated from Doritos Burn.*

Illustration 2: Nutritional profile (corn chips)

55%
50%		*
45%		*	*
40%		*	*
35%		*	*
30%		*	*
25%		*	*
20%		*	*
15%		*	*
10%		*	*	*
5%	*	*	*	*
mid	p	c	f	fb
max		s	sf		na
5%			*		*
10%			*		*
15%			*		*
20%					*
25%					*
30%					*

ideal % = grey cells; actual % = asterisk (*)

International standards

Corn chips also appeared as extremely unbalanced⁷ according to international Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs).

Illustration 3: Nutritional balance across international RDIs

Corn chips	(dietIndex)	49.44	46.98	36.18	36.71	27.37

Product100g	Company	BNI	WHO	US/CAN	AUS/NZ	UK
Garden of Eatin' chilli & lime	Garden of Eatin'	29.99	28.13	21.12	22.89	18.88
Garden of Eatin' mini yellow rounds	Garden of Eatin'	29.99	28.13	21.12	22.89	18.88
Red Hot Blues	Garden of Eatin'	31.26	29.40	21.12	22.89	18.88
Doritos salted	Bluebird	38.25	35.78	31.95	32.49	21.14
Garden of Eatin' sesame blues	Garden of Eatin'	40.15	37.39	31.28	32.30	27.39
Doritos nacho cheese	Bluebird	40.69	38.22	31.23	31.76	20.42
Doritos salsa	Bluebird	40.75	38.28	30.99	31.52	20.18
GoNutz Corn Chips cheese	GoNutz	41.43	37.48	27.82	32.23	26.46
Doritos cheese supreme	Bluebird	43.87	41.40	32.76	33.29	21.95
GoNutz Corn Chips just salted	GoNutz	46.52	42.52	32.52	35.03	28.81
Doritos Thai sweet chilli	Bluebird	46.61	44.14	37.02	37.56	26.21
Doritos flamegrilled BBQ	Bluebird	50.09	47.63	39.75	40.28	28.94
Home Brand Corn Chips cheese flavored	Woolworths	52.21	52.21	41.23	44.70	44.70
Home Brand Corn Chips salted	Woolworths	55.14	55.14	45.14	45.48	45.48
Home Brand Corn Chips salsa flavored	Woolworths	55.83	55.83	44.67	44.69	44.69
Mexicano Corn Chips tasty cheese	Mexican Supplies	57.70	57.70	47.70	47.70	47.70
Mexicano Corn Chips jalapeno	Mexican Supplies	58.06	58.06	48.06	48.06	48.06
Doritos Burn	Bluebird	58.45	55.98	46.20	46.74	35.39
Mexicano Corn Chips cheese	Mexican Supplies	59.22	59.22	49.22	49.22	49.22
Mexicano Corn Chips natural	Mexican Supplies	60.83	60.83	50.83	50.83	50.83
Eta UpperCuts Corn Tapas feta & garlic	Griffin's	62.81	62.81	52.81	52.81	52.81
Eta Sancho salsa	Griffin's	63.39	63.39	51.32	51.32	51.32
Eta UpperCuts Corn Tapas sea salt	Griffin's	64.30	64.30	54.30	54.30	54.30
Eta UpperCuts Corn Tapas vintage cheddar	Griffin's	65.68	65.68	52.93	52.93	52.93
Eta Sancho nacho cheese	Griffin's	65.82	65.82	52.04	52.04	52.04
Signature Range Tortilla Chips tangy salsa	SR Brands	70.38	70.38	55.94	55.94	55.94
Signature Range Tortilla Chips double cheese	SR Brands	70.44	70.44	56.01	56.01	56.01
Pams Corn Chips cheese	Pams	71.24	71.24	56.50	56.50	56.50
Pams Corn Chips chilli & lime	Pams	71.42	71.42	56.59	56.59	56.59
Mexicano Corn Chips tasty salsa	Mexican Supplies	72.73	72.73	57.80	57.80	57.80
Pams Corn Chips double cheese	Pams	74.28	74.28	59.15	59.15	59.15
Eta Skof Corn Chips fiery ranch	Griffin's	74.62	74.62	59.40	59.40	59.40
Signature Range Tortilla Chips chilli & lime	SR Brands	75.76	75.76	60.54	60.54	60.54
Eta Sancho cheesy cheese	Griffin's	75.91	75.91	60.76	60.76	60.76
Pams Corn Chips BBQ	Pams	77.16	77.16	61.59	61.59	61.59
Pams Corn Chips salsa	Pams	77.32	77.32	61.75	61.75	61.75
Eta Skof Corn Chips tasty cheese	Griffin's	79.97	79.97	64.17	64.17	64.17
(Source: Perezgonzalez, 2012a²)

Author

Jose D PEREZGONZALEZ (2012). Massey University, Turitea Campus, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. (JDPerezgonzalez).

Want to know more?

BNI analysis of individual corn chip products: You can access either the BNI™ database or the 'BNI™ journal (2012, issue 6) - Corn utopia' for individual nutrition analyses of each food product in the sample.
Wiki of Science - Nutritional balance of corn chips (further knowledge): Two Wiki of Science pages provide further descriptive and inferential information about the nutritional balance of corn chips.
Wiki of Science - Nutritional balance of foods: This Wiki of Science page collates information about several foods on a single page and provides useful links to the appropriate files.