Aussies still love their fizzy drink and chips

Salty processed snacks and sweet soft drinks, consumed individually, are definitely on the list of ‘occasional foods’. But it appears Australians like to double up on their treats, with research revealing that people who snack on potato chips, corn chips, Twisties and Cheezels in an average seven days more often than not also drink flavoured soft drinks in the same period.

Findings from Roy Morgan Research reveal that over the last five years, potato chips’ status as the nation’s favourite snack food has continued, with 42% of the population (8.2 million people) eating them in any given seven days (up from 41% a year ago). And 62% of potato-chip snackers also consume some kind of soft drink during that time — well above the national average of 48%.

Other salty snacks, such as corn chips, Twisties, Cheezels and popcorn, also seem to go hand in hand with soft-drink consumption. 62% of people who eat corn chips, and 70% of those who snack on Twisties and Cheezels, also consume soft drinks in an average seven days.

What about other snacks?

While soft drinks could be viewed as a logical thirst-quencher to accompany salty snacks, this does not explain the fact that Aussies who snack on chocolate bars are even more likely (65%) than those who eat potato chips and corn chips to consume at least one soft drink in an average week.

It seems many Australians are stuck in a snacking cycle, as Roy Morgan data also shows that people who snack on chocolate bars are markedly more likely than the average Australian to snack on potato chips, corn chips and other salty snacks.

The news that potato crisps are still Australia’s favourite snack can be seen as somewhat concerning from a health perspective — especially when sugary soft drinks are also part of the dietary equation.

“While it’s true that snack-food brands have made the effort to introduce low-salt and/or diet variations to their product ranges, these have not proven as popular as the originals. In fact, our findings show that people who snack on crisps, corn chips and the like are less likely than the average Aussie to agree with health statements such as ‘I always think of the number of calories in the food I’m eating’, ‘A low-fat diet is a way of life for me’ and ‘I restrict how much I eat of fattening foods’,” said Andrew Price, general manager — consumer products, Roy Morgan Research.

“It’s a complex situation. On one hand, snack food and soft drinks regularly attract negative media scrutiny for their less-than-nutritious qualities; and on the other, their popularity is impossible to deny,” said Price.