Monster Munch

File:Monstermunchyass.jpg

Two packets of Flamin' Hot flavour Monster Munch.

Monster Munch is a corn snack available in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland 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. In fact, Walkers Pickled Onion Monster Munch is the company's 9th best-selling snack.

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 themselves) and has been available in Roast Beef, Bacon, Pickled Onion, 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" availiable at some point during the period where Smiths owned the snack food.

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), Orange Monster (who assumed various duties over the years, including both Pickled 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).

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 actually 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.

Walkers Monster Munch

Monster Munch was taken over by Walkers in 1995. The monster characters were completely redesigned, although the size of the actual crisps remained unchanged. 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' 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.

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.

It is suitable for those of a vegetarian diet.

The Featured Monsters

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

Packet Flavour: Flaming Hot
Monster: Red Monster
Height: 4 Metres
Weight: 120 Stone
Chest: 2.8 Metres
Occupation: Monster
Favourite Food: Curry Jelly
Favourite Drink: Chilli Milkshake

Packet Flavour: Pickled Onion
Monster Name: Orange Monster
Height: 2.3 Metres (crouched)
Weight: 60 Stone
Chest: 2 Metres
Occupation: Monster
Favourite Food: Broccoli Ice Cream
Favourite Drink: Onion Juice

Packet Flavour:Roast Beef
Monster Name: Purple Monster
Height: 3.5 Metres
Weight: 90 Stone
Chest: 1 Metre
Occupation: Monster
Favourite Food: Jelly con Carne
Favourite Drink: Ginger Beer

External links

• http://walkers.corpex.com/cr15p5/index.htm
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1MZkdfropM - 1977 Monster Munch advertisement featuring the original monster cast
• http://www.geocities.com/monstermunchers/ Monster Munch Fan Site
• http://www.petitiononline.com/monsterb/petition.html Petition to bring back Roast Beef Monster Munch