Sebastian Emig
- We are surrounded by accessible delicious food 24/7. Are human beings biologically programmed to snack in preference to having regular meals, and if so, what implications does this pose for the nutritional composition via social responsibility?
“Looking at human evolution, we first were hunters and gatherers; we grazed the savannah, and only later turned to cattle and farming. It is in the very nature of human beings to consume food the moment the urge arises; this is very well seen.
“For example, in the civilisations on the eastern part of the world, where a small snack (piece of boiled rice or a handful of tofu) is never farther away than an arm’s reach. With the traditional three meals a day, the western civilisations were structuring the day of the population in order to better segment the working day; otherwise, for example, factory workers would have eaten whenever they felt like it, and the production output would have been unpredictable.
“Hence, I would say, with the snackification of our food consumption, we are moving back in the natural state of a human being, and take a sip or a bite when we want and need it.”
- Dried Fruit snacks are popular, but suffer from high sugar. Do you think sugar content will affect sales of dried fruit snacks, especially to kids?
“I hardly think that it will affect sales in general, as usually dried fruit and snacks from dried fruits are a low contributor when looking at the entire sugar consumption. Additionally, related products benefit from a high fibre content, which is beneficial for a diet.”
- Does the panel see a difference between sustainable snacking trends in retail markets and travel markets?
“Frankly, I wouldn’t say so.”
- What is the best bit of advice you would give to a UK snack manufacturer of dried fruit and nuts?
“Secure your supply chain in sight of Brexit.”
- Regarding global and European trends, I would like to know to what extend genetically modified organism (GMO)-free snacks are increasing over time?
“With regards to Europe, we have clear regulation on GMOs; hence not a question for our continent. Concerning globally, it really depends on the continent you are researching.”