Formulation, Analyses, and Acceptability of Crackers with Medicinal Leaves

Abstract: Snacks provide energy between meals, especially during periods of intense work. Crackers are among the most popular snack foods enjoyed by people of all ages. More than just a convenient treat, they embody versatility, affordability, and innovation in food production. This experimental-developmental research aimed to develop and evaluate a healthier version of crackers fortified with medicinal leaves. Ten semi-trained panelists assessed the sensory qualities of the crackers in terms of appearance, aroma, taste, and texture, while 100 consumers evaluated the general acceptability using a 9-point Hedonic scale. The study employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with data analyzed through mean and ANOVA. In addition, the research examined the microbial safety, shelf-life, and nutritional content of the best treatment. For sensory qualities, three (3) treatments (Treatment A- 10 grams, Treatment B- 15 grams, Treatment C- 20 grams) of each crackers incorporating different medicinal leaves were tested. All treatments were rated from very much to extremely appealing, pleasant, delicious, and crisp. Treatment A of crackers with Alagaw Leaves was the most preferred, also in crackers with Insulin and Tagpo tagpo leaves and showed no significant differences. In terms of general acceptability, crackers with Insulin leaves (Treatment A) were the most preferred among all products. While no significant differences were observed in sensory qualities, overall acceptability showed a significant difference in favor of crackers with Insulin leaves, identifying them as the best product. Microbial analysis revealed that the microbial counts of the best product were within the acceptable limits set by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) criteria for most parameters. Proximate analysis further confirmed that the product was energy-dense. Regarding shelf life, all treatments remained appealing, crisp, and pleasant in aroma for the first 21 days. Overall, the study demonstrated that crackers fortified with medicinal leaves are viable, nutritious, and sustainable snack foods. They offer a healthier option for consumers while providing economic benefits to local farmers and bakery vendors.

Keywords: Medicinal Leaves, Sensory Evaluation, Shelf Life, Microbial and Proximate Analysis