Remaking the biscuit: from Doritos to digestives, why the UK’s snacks are being ‘reformulated’
Healthy eating rules are forcing brands to recook their recipes. Are consumers noticing the difference? Bite into a Ritz cracker today and you’re eating 80% less saturated fat than you would have been just a few years ago. The biscuit looks and snaps the same, and tastes close enough that most buyers have no idea they’re eating a new recipe. One of the biggest changes was swapping palm oil for…
UK snack companies are reformulating their products in response to stricter government rules on saturated fat, sugar, and salt content. Consumers are often unable to tell the difference between the old and new versions of popular snacks like Doritos and digestives, as reformulation is a meticulous process carried out in labs. For instance, palm oil has been replaced with sunflower oil in some products.
However, the challenge lies in maintaining the original taste, texture, and nutritional balance while meeting new standards. The government's proposed Nutrient Profiling Model could make some reformulated products ineligible for advertising and promotion, potentially undoing years of effort. Companies like Mondelēz International have invested heavily in reformulation, with over 750 scientists and engineers working at their UK research and development hub. Nevertheless, uncertainty surrounding regulatory changes poses a significant risk to their work.
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