56% of people report replacing traditional meals with snacks as consumers begin to demand healthy, nutritional snack options without compromising on taste  

Consumer food habits are changing. With a faster pace of life, fewer people rely on three daily meals to serve their food intake, and instead, they look to convenient, on-the-go snacks. A 2024 International Food Information Council survey found that 56 percent of people reported replacing traditional meals with snacks or smaller meals, with 73 percent stating they snack at least once a day.* 

With this evolution in consumer habits, people are looking for healthier, more nutritionally balanced snacks to keep them going for longer rather than traditional ‘sweet treats’. The 2024 Food Manufacture Trend Report highlighted an increased awareness of healthier food choices, finding that 97 percent of the UK population adheres to specific dietary habits, driven predominantly by the belief that such choices are ‘healthier’**.

In light of this, food manufacturers are under pressure to adapt to the changing consumer landscape and the move towards more health-conscious products. Whilst consumers still want snack options with the typical long shelf life and satisfying taste, manufacturers now must ensure that the snacks they produce include nutritionally balanced ingredients. 

Daria Pashkova, Product and Marketing Manager at Ohly, who are experts in taste improvement solutions, explains how food manufacturers can address the ‘snackification’ of meals. She shares how yeast extracts can help retain flavour and satisfaction in snacks whilst adapting to the health-centric demand to keep sodium and sugar levels low.

Nutritional optimisation and clean label formulas

Health-conscious consumers demand more from their snacks (fewer additives, lower sodium, more natural ingredients), but taste needs to remain uncompromised. Nutrient-dense snacks are only effective if people want to eat them; this is where yeast extracts can help food manufacturers by offering taste solutions for better-for-you snack formulations.

With its natural savoury character and flavour modulation capabilities, yeast extract can reduce the need for salt while maintaining, or even improving, the sensory appeal of a product. It allows brands to develop nutritious snacks with layers of complexity and taste that still feel satisfying while keeping nutrition at the forefront.

The 2024 UK Consumer Snacking Report found that 45 percent of people are willing to pay more for snacks with healthier ingredients.*** This reflects a broader shift in attitudes towards snacking, as snacks are no longer seen as fillers between meals but as purposeful, nutrient-rich food choices. In response, food manufacturers are under increasing pressure to reformulate their products with recognisable, nutritionally-balanced ingredients that align with evolving consumer priorities. 

Transparency with ingredients is essential as consumers opt for cleaner labels with less salt and sugar. Yeast extracts support flavourful, clean-label formulations without compromising on taste.

Yeast extract applications

Vegan snacks

In meat-free protein snacks such as jerky or falafel, yeast extracts add meaty notes with a savoury richness that brings out the flavour while masking any potential earthy off-notes from plant-based protein sources. Yeast-based ingredients help to elevate the overall taste, making these snacks more appealing to a wide variety of palates, while supporting the flavour profile. 

Crisps and chips

For traditional snacks like chips and crisps, yeast extract stimulates the taste receptors to elevate savoury flavours and bring out spicy notes. The natural umami flavour can also help to mask off-notes from functional ingredients, whilst helping with sodium reduction efforts. This allows manufacturers to develop bold, irresistible flavours while maintaining cleaner ingredient labels and meeting sodium-reduction targets.

Meal replacement products

Meal replacement products such as soups, broths, and savoury protein shakes can benefit from yeast extracts as savoury building blocks to create a well-rounded overall flavour, which could otherwise be lacking in heavily fortified formulas. 

Healthier snacks without compromising on flavour

As food manufacturers seek to combine health benefits and indulgence in their snacks, they are looking for new ways to provide great taste, and yeast extracts offer the ideal combination of savoury depth and mouthwatering umami to create healthy and tasty food. The natural umami taste of yeast extract highlights the flavour of existing ingredients and creates a richer, more satisfying taste experience without the need to add more salt. When incorporated into snacks, yeast extracts not only elevate the flavour profile but also contribute to an enjoyable eating experience.

As a natural ingredient, yeast extract is perfect for clean labels and delivering upfront salinity perception while keeping actual sodium levels low.

For food manufacturers, yeast extracts offer a solution that supports the development of healthier snacks whilst still delivering their signature, satisfying taste.

Daria Pashkova, Product and Marketing Manager at Ohly, says:

“The ‘snackification’ of meals, where snacks are increasingly seen as ‘mini-meals’ rather than just fillers throughout the day, has completely reshaped consumer expectations.

“As snacking habits evolve, manufacturers are under growing pressure to balance taste with health. Consumers want snacks that align with their wellness goals without compromising flavour or satisfaction. That means rethinking product formulations to align with modern dietary demands but still retaining their familiar taste.

“Yeast extract is a great option for food manufacturers as it allows them to maintain their products’ bold, savoury flavour profiles while keeping sodium levels low, to create clean-label snacks that are health-conscious but still irresistible.”

*https://foodinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-IFIC-Food-Health-Survey.pdf 

**https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2024/01/08/food-and-drink-trends-2024/ 

***https://store.mintel.com/report/uk-consumer-snacking-market-report 

About Ohly

Ohly is a world-leading provider of specialty yeast-based ingredients for the food, health, animal health, and bionutrients industries. Ohly develops natural ingredients that deliver flavour for maximum food taste experiences, offering in-depth application knowledge and data to support customers’ recipe or process development.