U.S.-grown sunflower oil helps food innovations keep pace with trends shaping when and what we eat – Latest Food News Update

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With constantly evolving consumer food tastes and preferences, ingredient sourcing can be an ongoing challenge for food manufacturers trying to deliver against expectations for quality, taste, texture and innovation.

As times and food formulations change, it’s good to know that ingredients like U.S.-grown sunflower oil can help manufacturers keep pace with the trends defining what consumers will be eating in 2025 and beyond.

Here are just three of the snacking-specific trends that appear to be here for the longer term and how sunflower oil can support food formulations tapping into each of them.

Snack trend #1 – Snacks as the “new meal”

The redefining of when we eat meals and what those meals look like really took hold during the pandemic with more people working at home who were seeking flexibility in what and when they ate while working. The Mattson 2025 Macro Movements report describes our more fluid approach to mealtime, and how the lines between traditional meals and snacks are becoming increasingly blurred.1

And while replacing a traditional lunch with snacks is much more common than just 10 years ago, this doesn’t just mean we’re grabbing just any snacks to satisfy our hunger. Consumers are seeking products that fit our new eating habits, while also delivering nutrition – especially protein – to power us through the day.

The growth of protein-fortified snacks is one outcome of the snacks as meals trend. According to Trax, which surveyed over 10,000 Americans to uncover how snacking habits have evolved, more than half (55%) say protein is the most important nutrient when selecting a snack.2 There has also been a steady growth of plant-based protein products with the U.S. market expected to enjoy a compound annual growth rate of over 7% from 2024 to 2030.3

Sunflower oil is an excellent choice for protein-rich snack foods, including plant-based protein product innovations, since it can help with the texture and mouthfeel of these types of products.

Snack trend #2 – Cravings meet better-for-you

Along with the growth of protein-rich snacks is the demand for snacks that satisfy our cravings while also supporting functional needs like energy, digestion, weight management, and even graceful aging.

According to Griffith Foods’ Food & Flavor Outlook consumers are more conscious than ever about what they’re eating, driven by a desire for nutritious, better-for-you options.4 The trend is backed by data from Trax, which found 71% of Americans are choosing healthier snacks in 2025 and 61% are willing to pay a premium for healthier snack choices.5

One outcome is the growth in functional snacks and consumer demand for certain labels. For example, 30% of consumers say organic is an important factor when choosing a snack, followed closely by “sugar-free” (26%), and “non-GMO” (18%).6

Low in saturated fats, rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and containing natural antioxidants, non-GMO sunflower oil can help food manufacturers check all the boxes in serving up tasty, healthier snacking options and cleaner labels.

Snack trend #3 – New adventures in snacks

Balancing the lifestyle and health trends shaping snack demand and innovation is the growth of adventure-seeking in snacks, marked by interest in bigger, bolder and global flavors. Consumers are increasingly seeking new snack adventures, with 75% agreeing they get excited about finding a new snack to try and 67% considering themselves snack adventurers.7

Consumers are craving the unexpected and pushing boundaries by demanding bold, global, and nostalgic flavors that power an emotional connection.8 One factor behind the trend is growing consumer need for comfort and escape, with snacking being one key (and easy) outlet.

For product innovators appealing to the trend towards snack adventures, the flavor neutral attributes of highly versatile sunflower oil make it perfect for a variety of formulations by allowing unique flavor combinations to come through as they were meant to be.

If you’re curious how sunflower oil will perform in your product formulations, download this helpful white paper, or contact a sunflower oil supplier.

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