‘Weight managers’ want great tasting, everyday satiety foods, says research

European consumers who watch their weight would prefer to eat satiety-enhanced versions of everyday foods that they already buy regularly, according to research conducted by soy ingredients supplier Solae.

The company surveyed ‘weight managers’ in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Turkey and found that bread products, yogurt, soups and breakfast cereals ranked highest as categories where added satiety benefits would be of interest to them. In addition, the survey revealed that for weight managers good taste was the most important attribute such products should offer.

Asked which ingredients they believed could help with weight management, 85 percent of the consumers polled said they agreed that foods high in protein could help delay the onset of hunger and 83 percent agreed they had a satiating effect.

"Consumers are increasingly looking for ways to easily manage their weight through convenient foods and beverages," said Reinhart Schmitt, managing director of Solae Europe. "As Solae continues to invest in future ingredient innovation, this research helps us identify and better understand the opportunities for protein-enhanced foods targeting weight management.

"Our data indicates that today’s consumer understands the important role protein plays in helping them manage hunger. As a high-quality plant-based protein, soya protein can play an important role in helping food manufacturers develop great-tasting, satisfying food products targeting this growing segment."