RFK Jr. releases new dietary guidelines
Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced new dietary guidelines and said his message was clear: “Eat real food.”
What’s the newest way to add protein to your diet? Apparently, Doritos.
Protein is everywhere these days, so why not Doritos? New Doritos Protein Snacks are hitting stores this March in two flavors: Nacho Cheese and Sweet & Tangy BBQ. One ounce of Doritos Protein contains 10 grams of protein. In comparison, traditional Nacho Cheese Doritos contain 2 grams of protein per serving.
Doritos Protein Chips are made using milk protein (casein) as the protein source and without artificial colors or flavors.
“Today’s consumers want more from their snacks. They don’t want to choose between good taste and functional benefits,” Hernan Tantardini, chief marketing officer at PepsiCo Foods USA, told USA TODAY. “Protein has become an important part of how people think about their daily diet, and we saw a real opportunity to bring its benefits to one of the most iconic brands in our portfolio.”
Doritos protein nutritional information
Comparing Doritos Protein Chips to traditional Nacho Cheese Doritos, the calorie and fat levels are similar, but the new chips contain less sodium and, of course, more protein. According to PepsiCo, the serving size is:
- doritos protein (1 serving, 10 chips): 150 calories, protein (10 grams), total fat (8 grams), cholesterol (less than 5 milligrams), sodium (150 milligrams), total carbohydrates (8 grams), dietary fiber (1 gram), total carbohydrates (0 grams).
- nacho cheese doritos (1 serving, 11 chips): 150 calories, protein (2 g), total fat (8 g), cholesterol (0 mg), sodium (170 mg), total carbohydrates (17 g), dietary fiber (1 g), total carbohydrates (less than 1 g).
Doritos Protein Nacho Cheese Chips may be made differently, but when compared to traditional Nacho Cheese Doritos, Doritos Protein “has a similar look, taste and texture to what Doritos Nacho Cheese fans know and love,” Tantardini said. “From the shape to the texture to the bold, cheesy flavor, the experience is unmistakably Doritos,” he added.
When will Doritos Protein Chips be available?
Doritos Protein Chips will be available in select markets and retailers in March in two sizes: 7-ounce packages ($4.89) and 12.75-ounce packages ($7.39). The product will be available to more markets and retailers later this year.
Additional sizes are planned later this year to provide consumers with even more snacking options, including a single-serve size option with 17 grams of protein per bag.
This is just the latest dietary strategy move by PepsiCo. PepsiCo recently announced that it is cutting the prices of many popular snacks by up to nearly 15%, including Doritos, Lay’s potato chips, and Cheetos. The snack giant acquired prebiotic soda brand Poppi in March 2025 and subsequently launched its own Pepsi Prebiotic Cola in Original Cola and Cherry Vanilla flavors in fall 2025.
These days, protein is the driving force behind new foods and menus. Starbucks began offering Protein Lattes in September 2025 and Protein Cold Foam as a drink upgrade, while Target expanded its protein product portfolio in January by offering Butcher Box 100% Grass-Fed Beef and more protein snacks as part of its wellness strategy.
Recently, Chipotle eliminated its high-protein menu, Dunkin’ added protein milk as a drink customization option, and Subway enhanced its menu with protein pockets.
“Consumers say they want protein, and they want more protein in the foods they already enjoy, including salty snacks,” Tantardini said, citing an online survey of 1,000 nationally representative Americans conducted last month by Repdata for Pepsi. “With 86% of Americans actively adding protein to their diets and 70% wanting their salty snacks to contain protein, this is not a passing trend, but a fundamental shift in expectations.”
In taking this “strategic step into the growing protein snack space,” food manufacturers had to “ensure that the protein never sacrifices taste or texture,” he said. “We have very high standards when it comes to flavor and texture at Doritos, and we weren’t willing to compromise on either. … We’re simply giving our fans another option that fits the way they snack today, one that offers the same great flavor and texture with the added benefit of protein.”
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
