Modulation of snack foods: An approach to overcome hidden hunger in children.

The global snack foods market had grown to 585 billion USD by 2022. Consumption of snacks has gained attention at a commercial level since they are liked by people of all ages, including millennials and elderly people. An increasing trend in snacking provides a potential opportunity for delivering micronutrients to minimize hidden hunger throughout the world. Various strategies are proposed in this review for modifying these snacks to improve snacking. The practical implications, including methodologies and approaches of such strategies, have also been summarized. The raw materials used for snack development can be biofortified for additional mineral content. By-products of fruits and vegetables can be used as ingredients and nutrient sources in the food industry. Organic salts, industrial fortificants, and nutritive substitutes can be used in extrusion processing as an enrichment method. Snacks can also be reformulated to contain more nutrients. Such strategies could greatly improve not only individual health but also the global market.