UK court rules Pringles are potato-light From Wikinews, the free news source you can write! Saturday, July 5, 2008 Pringles snack Image: André Karwath. Pringles snack Image: André Karwath. A British High Court judge has ruled that Pringles are not a potato snack and therefore not subject to a 17.5% tax. The judge, Justice Nicholas Warren, overruled a Value Added Tax (VAT) Tribunal decision that imposed the 17.5% tax which is also applied on other potato products. Pringles' owner Procter and Gamble had claimed at a ruling in May that Pringles do not feel, look, or taste like a crisp. Justice Warren ruled that since Pringles are only 42% potato, it is exempt from VAT.