Consumers who eat four or more snacks are significantly more likely to be between the ages of 25 and 44 years old, potentially signalling a growing trend of younger consumers moving away from a diet based around main meals towards one anchored in snacking. The research, released by the newly-launched Yogurt Council, was conducted amongst 1,000 British consumers aged over 18 to understand the UK consumers’ attitudes and habits towards snacking.
The Yogurt Council research further revealed that, on average, three-in-four UK consumers (75%) are very likely to swap their regular snacks and treats for healthier options. In particular, 92% of 18 to 24 year olds and 70% of respondents over 45 years old were willing to swap for healthier snacks. These findings point to a growing health consciousness amongst younger consumers. Respondents highlighted taste as the most important quality to consider when changing their snacking habits (94%), followed by health (75%). In light of these preferences, UK consumers indicated that they would be willing to replace, on average, one of their daily snacks or treats with yogurt.
Among all the snack and treat foods included in the survey, yogurt was the only snack that was considered to be both delicious and healthy, ranking within the top four on both ratings of nutrition and taste. Considering taste was the predominant factor influencing consumers’ choice for healthier snacks, yogurt was the only food in the survey which would allow UK consumers to have a healthy snack which is also tasty. This was reflected by the fact that an overwhelming majority of 79% of consumers agreed that yogurt should be part of a balanced diet. The Yogurt Council believes that eating more yogurt could have a positive impact on the British diet given yogurt delivers a range of nutrients important in a balanced diet – protein, calcium and vitamin B2 – and is a convenient way to obtain these nutrients within a snacking context.
“Studies show that snacking may offer a number of health benefits, but it’s important that the snacks eaten are healthy and make a positive contribution to the diet,” said Fiona Hunter, an independent nutritionist. “Yogurt is an ideal snack for a number of reasons, from a dietary point of view it provides a number of important nutrients including protein, B vitamins and calcium, from a practical point of view it is widely available and easily portable and finally, as this survey shows, people enjoy eating it.”
The Yogurt Council is the first ever UK industry body dedicated to yogurt. One of its goals will be to encourage British consumers to eat nutritious snacks by inspiring them to replace one of their daily snacks with yogurt. The Yogurt Council is founded by five of the UK’s leading yogurt companies – Danone, Emmi, Lactalis Nestlé, Müller and Yoplait – with other companies in the UK welcome to join. The website loveyogurt.org will act as a hub for information on all things yogurt.
“The findings of our research show that yogurt is the only food that consumers feel allows them to have a healthy snack that is also delicious. We believe British consumers could begin to improve their diet while enjoying a tasty, nutritious and versatile snack if they switched just one of their snacks or treats every day to yogurt,” said Jo Sweetman, the director of the Yogurt Council and a registered nutritionist. “We hope that more consumers will reach for a yogurt when making their daily snack choices.”
“The industry recognised there has been no collective voice for yogurt’s benefits and the initial five members of the Yogurt Council very much hope membership will grow to represent other leading manufacturers over time,” said Richard Hall, chairman of the Yogurt Council.
Source: About the Yogurt Council
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