pringles reduce from 200g to 170g, page-9

Neither, it's 'fleeceivation'.

Pringles aren't even chips/crisps according to a London court and therefore not required to pay VAT in the UK.

Court rules Pringles are not chips
From correspondents in London
Reuters
July 04, 2008 10:20pm

FANS of Pringles are savouring a court ruling that the snack is not a potato crisp.
Today's judgement is likely to save manufacturer Procter & Gamble Co (P&G) millions of pounds and ensure its customers will not have to pay more for the distinctive tasting snack in a tube.

P&G had gone to the High Court in London to appeal a VAT and Duties Tribunal decision in May that the snack was subject to VAT as it was a potato crisp product, unlike most foodstuffs that are exempt from the tax.

With global sales of $US1 billion ($1.04 billion), P&G had argued Pringles were not similar to potato crisps, due to their texture, "mouth melt" taste, uniform colour and regular shape which "is not found in nature".

P&G also maintained crisps do not contain non-potato flours, and are not packaged in tubes, while Pringles are more like a cake or a biscuit as the snack is manufactured from dough.

"This appeal is allowed because Pringles are not, on the facts found, products 'made from the potato, or from potato flour or from potato starch'," said Judge Justice Warren in his judgment.

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For mine, it's hard to go past a Smiths original crinkle cut, served with a crisp dry beer, or for something a little more exotic try the thinly cut Thai sweet chilli with your favourite Gewürztraminer.