Siete vs Late July Tortilla Chips: Which Is Healthier?

The Short Answer

The verdict on Siete vs Late July depends entirely on what you are trying to avoid. If your primary goal is eliminating seed oils, Siete is the clear winner with its 100% avocado oil formulation. If you want to avoid heavy metals and prefer traditional whole grains, Late July's organic corn chips are the safer bet.

You cannot get a perfect chip from either brand. Siete was acquired by PepsiCo for $1.2 billion in early 2025, sparking fears of future ingredient changes, and its cassava base is notoriously prone to lead contamination. Late July keeps things simple with USDA Organic ingredients, but they still fry their chips in sunflower and safflower oils, which are high in omega-6 fatty acids.

Why This Matters

Most conventional tortilla chips are a toxic combination of GMO corn and inflammatory seed oils. Brands like Doritos and Tostitos use conventional corn heavily sprayed with glyphosate, then fry it in highly processed canola or soybean oil. Tortilla Vs Potato Chips

The healthy chip market forced a split in how we solve this problem. One approach is to upgrade the traditional ingredients, which is exactly what Late July did by using organic corn and expeller-pressed oils. The other approach is to reinvent the chip entirely, which is how Siete created the grain-free, avocado-oil snack category. Healthiest Chips

Choosing between them forces you to pick your poison. You either accept high omega-6 seed oils with Late July, or you accept the heavy metal risks associated with Siete's root vegetable ingredients. Oils In Chips

What's Actually In These Chips

• Cassava Flour (Siete) — A root vegetable used to make the chips grain-free. Because roots grow deep in the soil, cassava acts like a sponge for heavy metals like lead and cadmium. Is Siete Chips Clean
• Organic Whole Ground Corn (Late July) — A traditional, whole-grain base. Because it is USDA Organic, it is guaranteed non-GMO and grown without synthetic pesticides like glyphosate.
• Avocado Oil (Siete) — A premium, heart-healthy fat that is low in omega-6s and withstands high heat without oxidizing. Chips No Seed Oils
• Organic Sunflower & Safflower Oil (Late July) — High-heat seed oils. While organic and expeller-pressed (meaning no chemical solvents were used), they are still dense sources of inflammatory omega-6 linoleic acid. Is Late July Chips Clean

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• 100% Avocado or Coconut Oil — Premium cooking fats that don't drive systemic inflammation.
• USDA Organic Certification — Critical for corn products to ensure you are avoiding GMOs and toxic herbicide residues.
• Minimal Ingredients — Both brands excel here, sticking to 3-5 recognizable ingredients for their base sea salt flavors.

Red Flags:

• Cassava as a Daily Staple — Root flours frequently trigger California Prop 65 warnings due to high concentrations of soil-borne heavy metals.
• Conventional Seed Oils — Even organic sunflower oil can contribute to a highly unbalanced omega-3 to omega-6 ratio if consumed in high amounts.
• Corporate Acquisitions — Siete's 2025 sale to PepsiCo means consumers must diligently check labels for sudden formula downgrades.

The Best Options

If you eat chips rarely, either brand is an acceptable upgrade. If you eat them daily, you should reconsider your snacking habits or upgrade to a brand using zero seed oils and zero root vegetables. Are Chips Bad

The Bottom Line

1. Pick Siete if you are strictly seed-oil free. It is the most accessible avocado oil chip on the market, but treat it as an occasional snack rather than a daily staple to minimize lead exposure.

2. Pick Late July if you want traditional corn. It is a massive upgrade over conventional grocery store chips, provided you keep your overall dietary omega-6 intake low.

3. Watch Siete's ingredient labels closely. With PepsiCo officially taking the reins, corporate cost-cutting measures often lead to cheaper oil substitutions.

FAQ

Is Siete owned by Pepsi?

Yes, PepsiCo finalized its $1.2 billion acquisition of Siete Foods in January 2025. While the founders have promised the ingredients won't change, corporate buyouts of natural food brands frequently lead to formulation downgrades over time. Is Siete Chips Clean

Does Siete cassava flour have lead?

Cassava naturally absorbs heavy metals from the soil, including lead. While Siete requires their suppliers to pass third-party lab tests to comply with FDA and Prop 65 standards, independent testing of cassava products regularly reveals trace amounts of heavy metals. It is best not to make root-vegetable snacks a daily habit.

Are the seed oils in Late July chips bad for you?

Late July uses organic, expeller-pressed sunflower and safflower oils. This means they are extracted mechanically rather than with harsh chemical solvents like hexane. However, they are still highly concentrated sources of omega-6 fatty acids, which can drive chronic inflammation when consumed in excess. Is Late July Chips Clean

Which chip is better for blood sugar?

Neither chip is ideal for blood sugar control. While Siete is grain-free, cassava flour is still a highly refined, high-glycemic starch that will rapidly enter your bloodstream. Late July's whole ground corn is also carbohydrate-dense. Both will cause a glucose spike, though pairing them with a healthy fat or protein can slow the absorption.

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