A union has claimed that workers have experienced difficulty breathing and skin irritation because of the "Flamin' hot" seasoning used for Doritos chips. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas | Doritos workers allegedly left with ‘skin irritation’ over spicy seasoning

Munching on a packet of nachos has become a norm for online gamers all around the world. But the sound of loud crunch can be utterly annoying and distracting for other gamers online. So what’s the solution? An AI app, launched earlier this month, removes the sound of chewing and crunching from voice chats, Zoom or any call that uses headphones.

The AI-developed crunch-cancellation software, Doritos Silent, has been especially made for professional gamers, as snacking and gaming go hand-in-hand. But it can of course be used by non-gamers as well to save them from the annoyance of the crispy crunch while talking to someone who loves to eat chips.

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<h2>Doritos Silent: Groundbreaking crunch-cancellation software</h2>

“It works on anything that accepts a microphone,” said Dylan Fashbaugh, lead developer at Brooklyn-based Smooth Technology which worked with Doritos to create the free app. It can be used on any PC, and the company says it will eventually be expanded to other devices.

Flashbaugh has been a gamer himself, for about 20 years and is familiar with the annoyance of fellow gamers chewing loudly on chips.&nbsp;

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“Crunch is one of the most distracting features that could throw someone off their game,” said Mustafa Shamseldin, chief marketing officer of international foods at PepsiCo, which owns Doritos.

The project was not based on the observation of two gaming enthusiasts, instead, Doritos surveyed more than 3,000 people before developing the software. The survey included people from China, India, Portugal, Britain and the United States, and found that gamers like to snack while playing, but they also think the sounds of other people snacking are distracting.

<h2>Why not make Doritos less crunchy instead?</h2>

Well, the same research showed crunch is the best part, and that is why people prefer eating Doritos.&nbsp;

“There is something about the crunch that has to do with it funnily enough,” said Fernando Kahane, the head of global marketing for the chip brand.

Many people crave crunchy foods because they are more stimulating to eat than soft foods, which is why chips are a go-to snack. “That’s one of the reasons Doritos is so popular with gamers,” Kahane said.

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“Instead of having to launch new Doritos, we could actually solve that pain point with a technology,” said Kahane.&nbsp;

The idea of making Doritos less crispy surfaced several years ago and was not welcomed by many. Therefore, to tackle the crunch issue, Doritos turned to AI. The AI software made for Doritos actually works on other food products as well, like chips, crackers and even raw vegetables, said Kahane.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Munching on a packet of nachos has become a norm for online gamers all around the world. But the sound of loud crunch can be utterly annoying and distracting for other gamers online.

Munching on a packet of nachos has become a norm for online gamers all around the world. But the sound of loud crunch can be utterly annoying and distracting for other gamers online. So what’s the solution? An AI app, launched earlier this month, removes the sound of chewing and crunching from voice chats, Zoom or any call that uses headphones. The AI-developed crunch-cancellation software, Doritos Silent, has been especially made for professional gamers, as snacking and gaming go hand-in-hand. But it can of course be used by non-gamers as well to save them from the annoyance of the crispy crunch while talking to someone who loves to eat chips. Also Read | Installing solar panels more eco-friendly than planting trees: Study Doritos Silent: Groundbreaking crunch-cancellation software “It works on anything that accepts a microphone,” said Dylan Fashbaugh, lead developer at Brooklyn-based Smooth Technology which worked with Doritos to create the free app. It can be used on any PC, and the company says it will eventually be expanded to other devices. Flashbaugh has been a gamer himself, for about 20 years and is familiar with the annoyance of fellow gamers chewing loudly on chips. Also Read | Indian pharma manufacturers gain momentum as alternatives to Chinese partners “Crunch is one of the most distracting features that could throw someone off their game,” said Mustafa Shamseldin, chief marketing officer of international foods at PepsiCo, which owns Doritos. The project was not based on the observation of two gaming enthusiasts, instead, Doritos surveyed more than 3,000 people before developing the software. The survey included people from China, India, Portugal, Britain and the United States, and found that gamers like to snack while playing, but they also think the sounds of other people snacking are distracting. Why not make Doritos less crunchy instead? Well, the same research showed crunch is the best part, and that is why people prefer eating Doritos. “There is something about the crunch that has to do with it funnily enough,” said Fernando Kahane, the head of global marketing for the chip brand. Many people crave crunchy foods because they are more stimulating to eat than soft foods, which is why chips are a go-to snack. “That’s one of the reasons Doritos is so popular with gamers,” Kahane said. Also Read | This para-astronaut's prosthetic leg might poison the space station “Instead of having to launch new Doritos, we could actually solve that pain point with a technology,” said Kahane. The idea of making Doritos less crispy surfaced several years ago and was not welcomed by many. Therefore, to tackle the crunch issue, Doritos turned to AI. The AI software made for Doritos actually works on other food products as well, like chips, crackers and even raw vegetables, said Kahane. (With inputs from agencies)

The crunch of nachos will no longer annoy PC gamers, thanks to this AI app

PepsiCo Inc reported slightly better-than-expected quarterly revenue, helped by strong demand for Frito-Lay snacks and new beverages in North America. 
 
New drinks such as Propel flavoured water and Naked Cold Pressed juice, and snacks under its &quot;Simply&quot; brand helped drive sales, the company said. 
 
Net income attributable to PepsiCo rose to $2.01 billion, or $1.38 per share, in the second quarter which ended on June 11, from $1.98 billion, or $1.33 per share, a year earlier. 
 
Net revenue fell 3.3 per cent to $15.395 billion, slightly beating the average analyst estimate of $15.37 billion, according to Thomson Reuters Institutional Brokers&#39; Estimate System. 
 
Net revenue in the North America Beverages unit, the company&#39;s biggest business, rose one per cent &ndash; the slowest growth since the company started breaking out beverage sales from the region a year ago. 
 
Revenue from the Frito-Lay business, which includes Doritos, Lay&#39;s and the Simply line of snacks, rose three per cent. New snacks launched under the Simply brand included Simply Tostitos black bean chips and Simply Tostitos organic chunky medium salsa. 
 
(Reuters)

New drinks such as Propel flavoured water, Naked Cold Pressed juice, and snacks by the brand 'Simply', helped drive sales

PepsiCo Inc reported slightly better-than-expected quarterly revenue, helped by strong demand for Frito-Lay snacks and new beverages in North America. New drinks such as Propel flavoured water and Naked Cold Pressed juice, and snacks under its "Simply" brand helped drive sales, the company said. Net income attributable to PepsiCo rose to $2.01 billion, or $1.38 per share, in the second quarter which ended on June 11, from $1.98 billion, or $1.33 per share, a year earlier. Net revenue fell 3.3 per cent to $15.395 billion, slightly beating the average analyst estimate of $15.37 billion, according to Thomson Reuters Institutional Brokers' Estimate System. Net revenue in the North America Beverages unit, the company's biggest business, rose one per cent – the slowest growth since the company started breaking out beverage sales from the region a year ago. Revenue from the Frito-Lay business, which includes Doritos, Lay's and the Simply line of snacks, rose three per cent. New snacks launched under the Simply brand included Simply Tostitos black bean chips and Simply Tostitos organic chunky medium salsa. (Reuters)

Thanks to new products, PepsiCo crosses revenue targets

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