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Skips are a snack from the United Kingdom and Ireland; which were first launched in 1974 as prawn cocktail & Sweet and Sour which was later discontinued. The snacks are made by KP Snacks made under license from Meiji Seika Japan. In the United Kingdom they are made with tapioca starch and in Ireland with potato starch.
Skips are similar to Chinese prawn crackers, although they are smaller and have a finer texture that makes them fizz and 'melt' on the tongue. Today they are available with bacon, cheese and salt and vinegar flavours in addition to the traditional prawn cocktail. Other flavours, such as pickled onion, Caribbean Spice curry (teal blue bag), Hot from Rio chilli (orange bag), Chinese spare rib (purple bag), a Limited edition ReBoot Dots Doughnut (pink bag), and a Sweetcorn Relish (yellow bag) have been available in the past.
Since early 2006, Skips have seen a 30% reduction in saturated fat and a 10% reduction in sodium and are made with 100% sunflower oil. Skips contain no artificial colours or flavourings, and have fewer than 100 calories.
Packets of Skips often have jokes or tongue twisters written on the back, which are aimed at children.
Sponsorship and TV adverts
The children's theme has been extended in previous years with the sponsorship of Dragon's Fury, a popular attraction at Chessington World Of Adventures.
Ex-EastEnders actress Daniela Denby-Ashe, who played Sarah Hills in the show and currently plays Janey Harper in My Family, appeared in a Skips advert as a teenager. Also in the 1980s, wrestler Giant Haystacks appeared in a TV advert for Skips, with the closing line "Dainty aren't they?".
Action Biker, a mid-1980s budget computer game from Mastertronic featured the Clumsy Colin character from the then-current Skips adverts, as well as KP Skips branding on the case artwork.