Soy crisps encourage healthier snacking

Finnsoy, the company behind the range, hope both children and adults will be motivated to try a healthier alternative to standard potato crisps and nuts which are typically high in salt and saturated fats.

The snacks are made from soy and have low carb, fat and sugar levels while remaining high in fibre and protein.

Finnsoy CEO Moshe Meidan told bakeryandsnacks.com​: "It is not only tasty and healthy, it is nutritionally good as well."​

The health benefits of soy are well established with studies linking the nutrient to cancer prevention and the lowering of 'bad' LDL cholesterol.

And according to research from the US National Cancer Institute, high consumption of soy-based foods during childhood could reduce the risk of developing breast cancer later in life by 58 per cent.

The soy snacks are sold by British company Hearty's in the UK but manufactured in Finland by Finnsoy.

Meidan hopes that, following the backlash against childhood obesity, the products will also tap into the need to encourage better dietary habits among the young.

"We have the solution for the empty space in the school canteens and vendingmachines after the potato chips are out,"​ she said.

"It is a very good tool to transform children's habits from fatty and highcarb snacks to healthy good-for-you snacks."​

The overall European market for soy products currently stands at more than €1.5bn per annum and is expected to grow at roughly 10 per cent per year.