The US potato industry brings in US$240 million annually, and demand for taters in all their wonderful processed shapes and sizes is year-round. As such, a certain amount of stock in season is sent to cold storage to supply the demand. However, thanks to a normal biological function in the root vegetable, low temperatures trigger a mechanism that converts starches to sugars. When processed, these tubers that have experienced cold-induced sweetening (CIS) appear darker when cooked.
Unfortunately, it’s more than potato-skin deep, as this darkened chip is a crispy red flag – it indicates elevated levels of acrylamide, a chemical that has been associated with increased cancer risk due to its carcinogenic properties.
TBH it’s mostly stuff that you know you shouldn’t be having. Food additives, fried or blackened foods, heavily processed foods, etc. Generally stuff you’d consider unhealthy for other reasons too.
These days most people understand a healthy diet is a Mediterranean style one lean meats, fruits and veggies, some healthy fat like olive oil or avocados. They just don’t want to do that.