Belgians snack too much, warn nutritionists

Snacks and candy manufacturers in Belgium made a turnover of €2.1 billion last year, a new record, reports Gazet van Antwerpen on the basis of figures from Studiecentrum Snacks en Zoetwaren (SSZ). The study revealed a sales increase of 2% on the previous year.

The largest sales increase was registered with chips and related products. At a time when most people are cutting down on spending, candy is one of the few categories where Belgian consumers do not make any concessions.

Nutritionists are quick to point out the danger of too much snacking, as it can lead to increased health problems resulting from excessive sugar and salt intake.

The study points out that snacking is not only a problem for young people, as increased consumption was also established among Belgian adults. The phenomenon can partially be attributed to increasingly busy lifestyles which lead to a lack of time, making the consumer more prone to compulsive snacking.

In the supermarkets, snacks and candy represent about 10% of total sales.