Brands
Go Raw Achieves Non-UPF Snack Certification Milestone
Go Raw earned Non-UPF Verified certification for its Organic Sea Salt Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds, becoming one of the first snack products recognized under the program. The brand already carries USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified credentials. Refreshed packaging featuring the seal rolls out in November. Go Raw, founded in 2004, sells three seed-based lines: Sprouted Seeds, Snacking Granolas and Snacking Crisps.
Companies
Pladis Adapts Snacks To Address Weight-Loss Drugs Spread
McVitie's owner Pladis says it is adjusting its snack portfolio as more consumers turn to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and shift toward smaller portions and healthier choices. It’s reformulating recipes to reduce sugar and salt while aiming to double by 2030 how many products meet what it calls "offering a better nutritional balance," from a 2023 baseline.
Holie's Challenges Rival Cereal Brands On Sugar
Dutch challenger brand Holie's, the second-largest cereal maker in the Netherlands and Belgium, launched a campaign called "Wake Up, Big Cereal" urging major manufacturers to strip out added sugar across their ranges. Holie's says its own portfolio has zero added sugar, no sweeteners and high protein. Research cited by the brand found adults in nine European nations take in 55g of added sugar daily, 20kg a year.
Five UK Manufacturers Pledge Healthy Food Sales Reporting
Five UK food and drink manufacturers, Carlsberg Britvic, Danone, KP Snacks, Nomad Foods and Premier Foods, committed to publishing healthy food sales data next year. Manufacturers urged government to work with industry on a mandatory reporting requirement covering the sector within this parliamentary term, which would make the UK the first country to require such reporting economy-wide. Food and Drink Federation chief executive Karen Betts said reporting would “incentivise companies to double down on progress, and give government a valuable tool to measure the impact of health policies.”
Mavericks Snacks Grows Family-Friendly Cookie, Cracker Line
Mavericks Snacks, launched in 2020, makes cookies and crackers aimed at both children and parents. Brand activation manager Melissa Ader said the aim was reinventing nostalgic classics without a tradeoff between fun and ingredients. Products exclude artificial colors as well as added sweeteners. They rely on non-GMO components and include plant-based, lightning-bolt-shaped Bolt Cookies in three flavors, carrying 40% less sugar than the category's leading option, two varieties of whole grain sandwich crackers, and a newly launched lemon crème sandwich cookie. A 20-count Natural Born Snackers Party Kit targets birthdays and classroom events.
Good Crisp Chips Earn Seed Oil Certification
Good Crisp Company's entire Crinkle Cut Chips range now has Seed Oil Free Certified® status. Crinkle Cut Chips are cooked in Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, meeting Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil standards, and are free of gluten, GMO ingredients and artificial colors across the brand's products.
WK Kellogg To Remove Artificial Colors From Cereals At Accelerated Pace
WK Kellogg is speeding up plans to remove artificial colors and the preservative BHT from its entire cereal portfolio, with reformulated products expected late this year. Popular brands affected include Froot Loops and Apple Jacks. Natural colors from fruit and vegetable juices along with other plant sources will replace artificial versions, following investment in manufacturing capacity and extensive consumer testing. WK Kellogg already removed artificial colors from school foods and paused new product launches containing them since January 2026.
Zenko Launches Roasted Edamame As New High-Protein Snack
Zenko’s roasted edamame come in four flavors: Himalayan pink salt, seaweed, sriracha and wasabi. They are positioned as a natural alternative to more processed protein options, delivering 40g of protein per 100g of product. Alongside an existing retail presence in Europe, the near-term focus is on Asia Pacific, including Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Southeast Asia, with the Middle East to follow once market conditions improve.
Consumers
Young Chinese Dieters Turn To Tough, Chewy Snacks
Growing numbers of young dieters across China are swapping low-calorie foods for snacks, valued mainly for toughness and chewiness. Favorites shared on social media include frozen buns, baby teething biscuits, and beef jerky, alongside dangshen root, a traditional Chinese medicine ingredient favored by one dieter from Guangxi for its mild sweetness. Others have revived hard-to-chew regional foods, including Zhoushan hard cake, Guangdong fried rice cookies and Shandong pancakes. Practitioners say the habit keeps mouths occupied, curbs overeating, and, according to traditional Chinese medicine principles, supports digestion and metabolism.
Research & Insights
UC Davis Study Questions Avocado Oil Snack Labels
A University of California, Davis analysis found that 48 of the 54 processed foods claiming avocado oil as their only oil component did not pass authenticity checks. Items purchased during 2025 and 2026 included chips, mayonnaise and dressings. Most tested chips showed oil profiles inconsistent with pure avocado oil. Brands identified as failing included Boulder Canyon and Siete kettle chips. Misbranded foods can trigger federal warning letters or recalls.
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