Temple nurse wins potato chip contest

What began as a Deptford woman's "why not?" entry to a national potato chip contest has proved to be a moment of record in the annals of American snack history.

Meneko Spigner McBeth's Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger chip proposal also has brought her national attention, $1 million, and possibly a new Audi. And there's the five-pound weight gain she jokes about.

McBeth, 35, a Temple University Hospital medical-surgical nurse, was named the winner of the Frito-Lay "Do Us a Flavor" contest during a dinner in New York City on Monday evening.

The announcement ended a months-long promotion to select the company's next chip flavor.

"I don't know if I could even put it into words," McBeth, a mother of three, said Tuesday. "It was amazing."

McBeth's submission beat three other flavors: Cheddar Bacon Mac and Cheese, Wavy Mango Salsa, and Cappuccino. The four finalists were selected this year from more than 14 million submissions.

Entrants chose up to three "ingredients" and sent a note about their inspiration. Voting for the finalists began in late July as the flavors hit shelves and ended Saturday. A spokeswoman representing Frito-Lay said the company would not release the number of votes each finalist received.

On hand at the dinner Monday were McBeth's husband, oldest daughter, and brother, and her grandmother Sayoko Wilson.

McBeth credits Wilson, 81, a native of Japan, with introducing her to sushi and traditional Japanese cuisine at an early age - and ultimately influencing the chip idea.

"So excited," Wilson, of Pemberton, said Tuesday, adding that she still could "not believe it."

McBeth will receive $1 million or 1 percent of the flavor's net sales through July 1, 2015, whichever is larger.

Runners-up - from Ohio, California, and Nevada - will each receive $50,000. The company said in a statement that it may bring one or more of the other flavors back to stores for "limited-time appearances" in the future.

McBeth said the money will be used to help finance costs, including eventual college and wedding expenses, for her three daughters - Ingenue, 8, Ilania, 4, and Ileigh, 2.

"We're a family of faith and we believe God looked out for us," said her husband, Christopher, 35, a financial-management analyst for the Navy. He said the money provides the family a "security blanket" for the children. "I did shed some tears," he added.

Meneko McBeth is also eyeing a new car, possibly an Audi. She currently drives a minivan.

"I think I'm going to treat myself to something with two doors and no car seats," McBeth said.

The promotion put McBeth in the national spotlight, taking her across the country, from Frito-Lay headquarters in Plano, Texas, to Good Morning America studios in New York City.

But, McBeth said, she truly understood the magnitude of the competition while shopping in a local ShopRite.

"Seeing a product with my name on it, I couldn't wrap my head around it," she said, recalling buying multiple bags.

McBeth could not quantify how many bags she has consumed in the last several months, but said with a laugh that she has put on five pounds.

"I was eating these chips daily, almost," McBeth said. "I would start a bag of chips and before I knew it, I was looking at the crumbs at the bottom of the bag."

Carrie Murawski, McBeth's nurse manager at Temple, said her victory is "the talk throughout the hospital."

Early on, coworkers purchased all the finalist flavors and placed them in a conference room for a taste test, she said. Some doctors were unaware of McBeth's role.

"Everyone kept picking Meneko's bag," Murawski said. "We knew she had it."

McBeth said she enjoyed all the other flavors, though Ilania took a particular liking to Cheddar Bacon Mac and Cheese.

Last year's winning chip flavor was Cheesy Garlic Bread. Frito-Lay's top four flavors are Original, Barbecue, Cheddar and Sour Cream, and Sour Cream and Onion.

Ram Krishnan, Frito-Lay chief marketing officer, said the selection by voters this year shows that Americans are craving more ethnic flavors.

"We're kind of getting into a new flavor territory," Krishnan said.

McBeth said that was likely a factor. But, she said, perhaps it's also something simpler.

"Whether it was an ethnic flavor or not," she said, "I think it was just a really good chip."