Monster Munch

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Two packets of Flamin' Hot flavour Monster Munch.
Two packets of Flamin' Hot flavour Monster Munch.

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

The individual crisps come in the shape of a monster's paw, with four fingers and a hole in the hand (although this is not the origin of the shape - see below). 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 19th best-selling snack.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Smiths Monster Munch

Monster Munch was launched in Britain in 1977, originally produced by Smiths, and advertised as 'The Biggest Snack Pennies Can Buy' (referring to the then-relatively-large size of the crisps) and has been available in Roast Beef, Bacon, Pickled Onion, Spicy, Flamin' Hot, Cheese & Onion, Prawn Cocktail and Salt & Vinegar flavours. Each pack contained 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.

[edit] Original monsters and crisp shape designs

There was an original quartet 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 who put in his main appearance on Flamin' Hot) Orange Monster (who assumed various duties over the years, including both Prickled Onion and Bacon flavour), Blue Monster (a behatted, floppy eared creature with four arms whose finest moment was his appearance on Salt and Vinegar) and Yellow Monster (a one-eyed, red-nosed creature found on Cheese and Cheese & Onion flavours). At some point there was also a Green Monster, although he may not have actually appeared on any packets. He is mentioned in the 'monster munch munchers' club pack, most notably for his appearance in the story of the 'monster's bounce', where he drank too much lemonade down the monster munch mine and had to be rescued by the other monsters.

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 almost, but not quite, reaching the monsters feet.

[edit] Walkers Monster Munch

Monster Munch brand was taken over by Walkers in 1995. The monster characters were completely redesigned, and the size of the crisp was reduced. Walkers relaunched the brand with the flavours 'Pickled Onion', 'Flamin' Hot', 'Spaghetti Sauce' and 'Hamburger'. Since then the range of flavours has changed several times. The range currently consists of 'Pickled Onion', 'Roast Beef', 'Chilli Dog' 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.

[edit] Consumption Suitability

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.

[edit] The Featured Monsters

The currently featured monsters on Monster munch bear little or no resemblance to the original monster quartet: it is not known whether any resemblance is intended past the 'monster' theme.

Packet Flavour Monster Name Height Weight Chest Occupation Favourite Food Favourite Drink
Cheddar Mustard Monster 2.3 Metres (crouched) 60 Stone 2 Metres Monster Red Sox Ice Cream Cheddar Dairy
Steak Brown Monster 3.5 Metres 90 Stone 1 Metre Monster Jelly con Carne Ginger Beer
Flamin' Hot Red Monster 4 Metres 120 Stone 2.8 Metres Monster Curry Jelly Worcester Milkshake

[edit] External links