I now understand how socialists are being elected so easily

from campus to election booth, on their way to offset your vote

I saw a reference to something this morning that was so implausible, I looked for confirmation: 42% of Americans polled on the topic aren’t aware that potato chips are made from potatoes. The answer below is from Google’s AI, but it links to a variety of sources, including Fortune Magazine. That, and the fact that Lays obviously believed in the poll’s accuracy, and voluntarily incurred what must have been the huge expense of redesigning its packaging and promotional campaigns in response, is sufficient evidence, for me, to accept it as true.

God help the nation; its people can’t.

These are results for “was there really a poll showing that 42% of americans didn't know that potato chips are made from potatoes?”

AI Overview

Yes, Lay's cited a survey, believed to be from 2021, that reported 42% of consumers did not realize their potato chips were made from real potatoes

. The company released this statistic in October 2025 to explain its largest brand re-design in nearly a century, which now features images of potatoes and the phrase "Made with real potatoes" prominently on its packaging. 

• The survey's origin: The 42% figure comes from a survey conducted by the parent company, PepsiCo, in 2021.

• The reason for the re-design: Lay's is revamping its packaging to make the "farm-to-bag" journey and the product's main ingredient, potatoes, more clear to consumers.

• New packaging: The updated designs feature real potatoes, rustic imagery, and phrases like "Made with real potatoes" to address the survey results.