Last updated on 8-8-2025 by Laïla Boulbayem
Why do we study dietary patterns of the population?
- What we eat and drink has a direct impact on our health and well-being. By studying dietary patterns in the population (What foods are eaten? At what frequency? By whom?), we can identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions to promote better diets. This knowledge helps address the risk of diet-related diseases and supports the development of healthy, sustainable food systems.
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On this page, we take a closer look at the consumption of savoury snacks in the population.
How do we study the consumption of savoury snacks?
- The consumption of savoury snacks was assessed, overall and for different population groups, using data from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Trained interviewers recorded twice, on two non-consecutive days, all the foods and drinks that participants had consumed on the previous day using a specialised computer program (GloboDiet®).
- The mean savoury snacks consumption (in grams per day) was calculated using the average consumption, overall and subcategories, over the two recall days of each participant. Since mean distributions are skewed, comparison between population subgroups should be interpreted with caution.
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In addition to the 24-hour recalls, participants (or parent in case of children) also completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire: they reported how often they consumed a specific food or food group in the last 12 months. On this page, we present the frequency of savoury snack consumption using the following categories: “Never”, “less than once a week”, “1 time per week”, “2-4 times per week”, “5-6 times per week” and “once a day or more”.
- The detailed methodology can be found here.
What is included in the group of “savoury snacks”?
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The “savoury snacks” group includes the following subcategories:
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Salty snacks, biscuits and crisps;
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Savoury snacks, such as filled appetizers, dumplings, sausage rolls, and spring rolls, etc.
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Key results
The overall mean consumption of savoury snacks 9 g per day
The majority of the population (70%) consumes savoury snacks less than once per week, compared to 42% for salty snacks
Savoury snack consumption is similar among children (8 g per day), adolescents (10 g per day), and middle-aged adults (7 g per day), while younger adults (18–39 years) consume the most (15 g per day) and older adults (65+ years) the least (4 g per day)
In Flanders, 43% of individuals consume salty snacks less than once a week, compared to 37% in Wallonia, while 26% of Flanders residents eat them weekly versus 32% in Wallonia
By sex
Mean consumption of savoury snacks (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean consumption refers to the population mean consumption, calculated from the individual mean consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- The overall mean consumption of savoury snacks 9 g/day.
- Mean savoury snacks consumption is similar for men (9 g/day) and women (9 g/day).
- Women consume 5 g/day of salty snacks, biscuits and crisps, as well as 4 g/day of savoury snacks. In comparison, men consume 6 g/day of salty snacks and 3 g/day of savoury snacks.
Frequency of salty snack consumption in the population aged 3 years and older, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Overall, 3% of the population report consuming salty snacks on a daily basis, while 42% report its consumption less than once per week.
- There are no differences in the frequency of salty snack consumption between men and women.
Frequency of hot snack consumption in the population aged 3 years and older, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- 70% of individuals consume hot snacks less than once per week, while 23% never consume these. Very few individuals eat hot snacks one time per week or more.
- There are no differences in the frequency of hot snack consumption between men and women.
By age
Mean consumption of savoury snacks (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean consumption refers to population mean consumption, calculated from the individual consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- The overall consumption of savoury snacks is similar among children (8 g/day), adolescents (10-17 years: 10 g/day), and middle-aged adults (aged 40-64: 7g/day).
- In comparison, adults (18-39 years) have a considerably higher consumption (15 g/day) than these groups, while older adults (65 years and above) consume less savoury snacks (4 g/day).
- The distribution of savoury snacks, salty biscuits and crisps and savoury filled appetizers varies slightly across age groups. Savoury snacks, salty biscuits and crisps consumption appears to be higher than savoury-filled appetizers among children (3-9 years), adolescents (10-17 years), and older adults (65 years and above), while the distribution is more equal among younger (18-39 years) and middle-aged (40-64 years) adults.
Frequency of salty snack consumption in the population aged 3 years and older, by age, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- 54% of older adults (aged 65 and above), 43% of middle-aged adults (40-64 years) and 40% of children report consuming salty snacks less than one time per week. This frequency is particularly high for older adults aged 65 and over compared to the other age groups.
- A greater proportion of middle-aged (40-64 years: 10%) and older adults (65+ years: 18%) report never consuming savoury snacks, compared to the three other age groups (3-9 years: 1%; 10-17 years: 2%, and 18-39 years: 3%).
Frequency of hot snack consumption in the population aged 3 years and older, by age, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- 61% of children (3-9 years), 64% of adolescents (10-17 years), 77% of young adults (18-39 years), 74% of middle-aged adults (40-64 years), and 63% of older adults (aged 65 and above) report consuming hot snacks less than one time per week.
- 33% of children and older adults never consume hot snacks.
By educational level
Mean consumption of savoury snacks (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean consumption refers to population mean consumption, calculated from the individual consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- The mean consumption of savoury snacks is slightly lower for individuals with a high level of education (8 g/day) compared to those with a low and medium level of education (both 9 g/day).
- The mean consumption of savoury snacks, salty biscuits, and crisps is similar to that of savoury filled appetizers for individuals with medium and high levels of education. Individuals with low levels of education tend to report slightly higher consumption of savoury snacks, salty biscuits and crisps (6 g/day) compared to savoury filled appetizers (3 g/day).
Frequency of salty snack consumption in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- A higher proportion of individuals with a high level of education consume salty snacks less than once per week (46%) or two to four times per week (20%), compared to 40% and 16%, respectively, among those with low education levels.
- Moreover, a greater proportion of individuals with low levels of education never consume salty snacks (11%), compared to those with medium (6%) or high (4%) levels of education.
- A higher proportion of individuals with low levels of education (4%) consume savoury snacks at least once a day, compared to those with high levels of education (1%).
Frequency of hot snack consumption in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- 74% of individuals with medium and high levels of education consume hot snacks less than once per week, compared to 66% of individuals with low levels of education.
- 25% of individuals with low levels of education never consume hot snacks, compared to 21% of those with medium and high levels of education.
By region
Mean consumption of savoury snack (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and over, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean consumption refers to the population mean consumption, calculated from the individual mean consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- The mean consumption of savoury snacks is similar across Wallonia (8 g/day) and Flanders (10 g/day).
Frequency of salty snack consumption in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- In Flanders, most individuals (43%) consume salty snacks less than once a week, compared to 37% in Wallonia.
- About 26% of the population in Flanders eats salty snacks once a week, compared to 32% in Wallonia.
- Additionally, 19% of individuals in Flanders consume salty snacks two to four times per week, while in Wallonia, this figure is 16%.
Frequency of hot snack consumption in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- In Flanders, 75% of individuals consume hot snacks less than once per week, compared to 67% in Wallonia.
- Additionally, 28% of Wallonia residents and 17% of those in Flanders never consume hot snacks.
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Food consumption: Savoury snacks, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/food-consumption/savoury-snacks