ABSTRACT
Snacks are a small amount of food eaten between meals and are classified as light, casual, or rushed meals (Lusas and Rooney 2002). Most are ready-to-eat items that are high in oil and flavored with salt or salty flavorings. From the processing viewpoint, snacks can be manufactured by a wide array of processes ranging from simple to sophisticated–complex. The simpler snacks are those produced from popcorn, and the most complex are those obtained by thermoplastic extrusion. Regardless of the process employed for their manufacture and their bad reputation among dietitians, snacks are increasing in popularity due to their flavor and convenience, and a change in food habits. The new trend of the industry is the development of nutritious and health-promoting snacks.
