OK, that might be a stretch. But with the World Cup being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer, soccer mania is definitely sweeping the snacks aisles of our grocery stores.
We’ve already seen Chips Ahoy!, Ritz and Lay’s get in on the action, and now the family of snacks owned by Kellanova/Mars Snacking has stepped onto the pitch with a lineup that includes Cheez-It Original Flags & Stars, Cheez-It Chili Cheese Dog, Town House Star Spangled Original Crackers, Pringles Spicy Loaded Nachos, Rice Krispies Treats Red White & Blue Sprinkles and Pop-Tarts Star-Spangled Blueberry.
“The energy and passion of soccer fans is contagious, and we wanted to capture that excitement in a lineup of snacks that is just as dynamic,” Mars Snacking’s Maggie Hoy said in the company’s announcement. “This lineup is a banner for U.S. team spirit; from sweet to savory, we’ve created limited-edition flavors in partnership with the U.S. Soccer Federation meant to be the perfect co-star for every goal, every save and every moment of celebration this season.”
You’ve likely already noticed the common theme of the items included in this lineup. They’re either a twist on American food like chili cheese dogs and loaded nachos or they feature red, white and blue highlights or even the American flag. Not sure if putting the flag on Cheez-Its crackers is in line with flag code, though ...
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What they cost
I haven’t gotten official pricing for the items in this review, but they’re all variations of standards like Cheez-It crackers and Pringles, so you can probably expect normal pricing.
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These Cheez-It crackers are the classic cheddar flavor but with the patriotic spin of having flags and stars printed on each cracker. If you love the traditional Cheez-It, Flags & Stars are the same taste you expect from a box of the crackers.
Due to the designs, though, I think Cheez-It Original Flags & Stars are a bit crunchier than the traditional Cheez-It due to them being thinner in some spots.
There have been a ridiculous number of limited-edition flavors of Cheez-Its crackers this year. French Onion Dip was fantastic, and while I’m on the hunt for Cheesy Garlic Bread, I have a box of Black Pepper Cheddar waiting to be opened. Cheez-It Chili Cheese Dog is probably the most extreme of these one-off flavors, and I was happy to see that it was included in Kellanova’s soccer lineup.
Between taking the photos for this review and writing it up, I already finished my box of Chili Cheese Dog crackers. I loved these zesty Cheez-Its.
Reviewing Town House Star Spangled Original Crackers would be like trying to review oxygen. We all know what they taste like. (Although, these crackers are a bit more buttery than the air we breathe.) They’ve been in our lives since the moment we were born.
When it comes to new flavors of Pringles, I often find that they all kind of taste the same. There’s only so much you can do with these potato crisps that hasn’t already been done.
Pringles Spicy Loaded Nachos manages to deliver something that I don’t remember ever tasting in a Pringle. There’s the immediate sensation of biting into a jalapeño pepper as you pop one of these Pringles into your mouth, in addition to a really great touch of heat.
I don’t know when I last had a store-bought Rice Krispies Treat, but I had forgotten how special these snacks are. Sure, you can make your own at home, but there’s something about tearing open the wrapper and taking that bite that transported me back to having one as a kid.
My taste test of a Rice Krispies Treats Red White & Blue Sprinkles was the first time our daughter ever had a real Rice Krispies Treat. I think her asking “Why can’t I have a second one?” was a sign that they’re a big hit.
Before I knew that there was a soccer-themed snack lineup in the works, I saw pics of Pop-Tarts Star-Spangled Blueberry floating around on social media. (There’s a good chance my Instagram algorithm is very different from yours.) A bright red Pop-Tart? I needed to try that.
Despite its patriotic hues, Pop-Tarts Star-Spangled Blueberry is a traditional blueberry Pop-Tart. That’s a good thing! I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to chasing new flavors of Pop-Tarts that mimic sundaes, Eggo waffles or Girl Scout cookies. It’s easy to forget how great Pop-Tarts’s traditional fruit-filled lineup is. A blueberry Pop-Tart is right up there with the classic strawberry Pop-Tart. It’s never going to disappoint. Especially not when it’s covered in red, white and blue sprinkles.
Cheez-It Original Flags & Stars, Cheez-It Chili Cheese Dog, Town House Star Spangled Original Crackers, Pringles Spicy Loaded Nachos, Rice Krispies Treats Red White & Blue Sprinkles and Pop-Tarts Star-Spangled Blueberry were provided to Snackology for this independent review.
Snackology is a publication of The Omnicosm.
Issue No. 225
Snackology is written and produced by Bill Kuchman. Copyediting by Tim Kuchman.
The Omnicosm founder. Snackology, Popculturology and The Cold Open writer. A Rochester, N.Y., native now living in the Washington, D.C., area. Won’t pass up a Genny Cream Ale.
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