Over 50% of European consumers prioritise healthy eating – but they require support from the food industry
s the colder months approach, consumers’ cravings for comforting, familiar foods intensify, driving up the demand for rich, nostalgic flavours that evoke warmth and satisfaction. The comfort food category tends to surge in popularity during this period, and for manufacturers, seasonal demand is an opportunity. However, it comes with new formulation challenges.
Consumer trends show that people want the same family favourites they’ve always turned to, while increasingly opting for products that reflect modern dietary priorities; cleaner labels, reduced salt, lower fat, and fewer additives.
According to a recent report1, 73% of EU consumers seek out natural ingredients in recipes, while another report2 suggests that over 50% of European consumers prioritise healthy eating – but require support from the food industry.
Daria Pashkova, Marketing Manager at Ohly, experts in taste improvement solutions, explains that in today’s evolving market, yeast-based solutions are a key tool for satisfying the increasing demand for healthier alternatives without compromising on taste.
Evolving comfort foods for health-conscious consumers
As consumers become more health-conscious, the demand for comfort foods that maintain rich, nostalgic flavours while aligning with modern dietary trends has increased.
Traditionally, comfort foods have relied on indulgent ingredients like butter, cream, and salt to deliver deep, savoury flavours. However, with concerns increasing about the health impacts of foods which are high in fat or salt, food manufacturers have been challenged to rethink comfort food formulations and explore sodium reduction, healthier fats or plant-based options.
While this helps create an appealing label for the product, one key challenge remains: how to maintain the familiar taste that people expect.
Reformulation challenges
Many comfort food staples, such as soups, sauces, and ready meals, have historically relied on salt and fat to achieve their rich, familiar taste. When those components are reduced or removed in response to consumer demand, the result can be a loss of the savoury depth and satisfying mouthfeel or flavour profile that make these products successful.
Yeast-based ingredient solutions can help elevate taste naturally
Natural taste improvement strategies, such as yeast-based solutions, are playing an increasingly important role in solving this dilemma.
Often used to deliver savoury notes and provide depth in flavour, they can help manufacturers recreate the umami-rich profiles typically achieved with salt and fat. Yeast provides a natural, clean-label option to elevate taste, adding complexity and richness, particularly when reducing sodium content. Adopting this approach to reformulation can help to:
- Maintain depth and richness in products, even with reduced sodium and fat.
- Preserve familiarity in classic dishes.
- Support clean-label positioning with ingredients that align with consumer expectations of “natural” and “recognisable” ingredient profiles.
- Enhance savoury and umami notes, improving mouthfeel and overall satisfaction.
Yeast extracts can be tailored to different formulations, making them versatile for use in a variety of comfort foods, from savoury casseroles and sauces to soups and ready meals.
Ingredient strategies for maintaining depth of flavour
The key to maintaining indulgence while meeting clean-label expectations lies in using a variety of natural, wholesome ingredients that complement each other to produce satisfying, flavorful meals:
In addition to yeast extracts, brands can leverage other ingredients such as nutritional yeast, plant-based fats like avocado or olive oil, and herbs and spices to create the illusion of richness without relying on high-fat or high-sodium content.
For example, a healthier take on classic comfort foods may involve using whole grains like quinoa or brown rice instead of refined pasta or rice. Roasted vegetables can serve as a substitute for heavy sauces, while avocado-based dressings provide a creamy texture without the need for dairy. Yeast-based solutions tie these elements together, ensuring the dishes remain tasty, balanced and satisfying.
As a result, consumers are able to choose comforting, indulgent foods that produce a sense of nostalgia, all while fitting with their modern health goals. Clean-label, natural ingredients, like yeast extracts, allow manufacturers to strike this balance by modulating and elevating key flavours , whilst managing with reduced levels of sodium or fat.
Daria Pashkova, Marketing Manager at Ohly says:
“As the demand for healthier comfort foods continues to grow, yeast-based solutions offer a valuable tool for food manufacturers looking to deliver satisfying, nostalgic flavours in a modern, health-conscious context. These natural taste modulators can help brands maintain the richness and depth that consumers crave, while aligning to clean-label trends and supporting healthier dietary choices.
With the cold months upon us, the combination of indulgent comfort food and health-focused reformulations is becoming a key strategy for manufacturers hoping to meet the evolving tastes and preferences of today’s consumer.”
