TV etiquette expert urges Brits to employ ‘soft crunch technique’ for crispy snacks – as poll suggests noisy eating is the UK’s biggest annoyance
A TV etiquette expert is urging Brits to use the ‘soft crunch technique’ when snacking in public to reduce annoying eating noises.
Laura Akano, who teaches English etiquette and the art of etiquette, has devised a 10-point plan to help high-volume snackers keep noise levels down among co-workers and commuters.
The survey by crispbread maker Ryvita shows 69 per cent of UK adults believe mindless noisy eating is their biggest bugbear; It even surpasses the loud music playing, snoring and crying babies on trains.
Half of those surveyed said they supported a complete ban on loud eating in certain places and even an “eat carefully” warning about crunchy snacks.
Ms. Akano detailed how to make the most of a noisy snack without disturbing your fellow passengers, co-workers, and friends.
He said: ‘Soft crunch etiquette is the polished art of eating a crunchy snack quietly by chewing slowly and keeping your mouth closed.
‘Keeping your mouth closed reduces the crackling sound. Using the soft crunch technique allows you to chew gracefully quietly and slowly, so that your crunching does not become distracting and disruptive to people around you.’
He even recommends adopting the ‘three-finger rule’ (using only your thumb, index finger and middle finger) for picking up snacks to keep your fingers clean.
Ms Akano added: ‘Not only do you look stylish, you also avoid getting all your fingers dirty.’
Etiquette expert Laura Akano (pictured) has created a guide for Brits who want to snack more mindfully
Crisps are among the loudest snacks anyone has ever heard someone eat, according to a survey of 2,000 adults in the UK.
Miss Akano He had previously attracted media attention after being recruited by the Cumberland School in Plaistow, east London, to teach its students better etiquette – in a bid to win a scholarship.
The coach’s lessons are designed to boost the self-confidence of schoolchildren, many of whom come from working-class backgrounds, as well as teaching them stances and greetings that would impress even the toughest royalty.
Ryvita’s survey of 2,000 Britons found that crisps are widely regarded as the noisiest food by 73 per cent of pollsters; followed by crackers, tortilla chips and raw carrots.
And those asked put eating munchies in cinemas at the top of their list of undesirable habits, followed by eating smelly food; However, the situation was the opposite in trains.
In fact, while 8 in 10 people admit to arguing with their partners about their eating habits at home, less than half admit to eating noisily.
A Ryvita spokesperson said: ‘Brits clearly love crunchy snacks, but we’ve found we’re becoming much less forgiving about where people eat them.
‘Whether it’s an office, a cinema or a quiet train carriage, many people feel that casual etiquette has been compromised.’
The snack company conducted the survey to coincide with the launch of its new range of Ryvita Sticks, available as a crunchy alternative available in Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream and Chive varieties.
