How to substantiate your snack crunch claims

The “crunch” factor featured strongly in the latest Frito-Lay US Trend Index as an important component in the perfect snack. Consumers were polled on their snacking preference, showing that 70% of snackers would reach for food with a crunch. It’s not surprising then that there’s an entire industry dedicated to making foods crispy.

Whether it’s a heaping pile of pita chips, a crisp apple, or a fresh cucumber salad, people can’t seem to get enough of that crispy, crunchy texture. It turns out, texture and sound play an underrated role —gastrophysicist Charles Spence and a psychiatrist explain the unique kick many of us get out of crunchy food in particular and that there’s a direct correlation between crunchiness and how a food is perceived. Read more