10-18 IAN Zebra Chips

 So you go into your bag of potato chips, you pull one out, and it looks like an Oreo. What in the world is going on  you ask? This potato chip has black and white stripes all over it.

A potato pest from points south has reached Idaho, University of Idaho Extension specialists with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences confirmed this week. It was reported last month in Oregon and Washington. There are no known health safety or nutritional problems associated with zebra chip.

Zebra chip is named for the dark bands that develop in potatoes infected by the bacteria that are carried by psyllids. The tiny cicada-like insects related to aphids are normally found in warmer regions than the Inland Northwest’s prime potato country.

A threat to potato quality for growers and processors, zebra chip can reduce the value of both fresh and processed potatoes. It particularly affects processed products such as French fries and potato chips by creating darker chips and fries. Here is U of I Extension lab Assistant Melissa Burtram: “It causes starch and sugars in the tubors  to change and leads to browning  in the tubor before it has been processed.” The dark coloration results from changes in stored sugars that caramelize when the potatoes are processed. Potato products showing signs of zebra chip are removed before packaging due to their appearance.