Development of NutriKropeck: An Innovative Malunggay and Scallop Functional Marine-Based Snack with Student-Friendly Pricing

A group of Filipino researchers set out to create a new snack food — called NutriKropeck — by combining malunggay (the local name for Moringa oleifera leaves) with scallop meat inside a traditional Filipino puffed seafood cracker known as kropeck. The goal was to produce something nutritious, affordable, and appealing enough for schoolchildren to actually want to eat. Four different formulations (Treatments A, B, C, and D) were tested, and a panel of 35 tasters rated each version on aroma, taste, color, texture, and overall acceptability. Treatment D came out on top, earning the highest ratings across every sensory category. Interestingly, despite Treatment D being the clear winner in terms of preference scores, the statistical analysis found no significant differences between the four formulations across any of the sensory categories — meaning the preference was consistent but not statistically dramatic. The researchers also asked panelists to vote on a product logo, with Logo 3 winning 74% of the vote. Pricing was set at 25 Philippine pesos for a 40-gram pack and 35 pesos for 50 grams, positioning the snack as accessible to low-income families. The study matters because it explores a practical, community-level way to deliver moringa's nutritional benefits to children through a familiar, culturally accepted food format. However, the researchers themselves acknowledge that nutritional content, shelf life, and packaging have not yet been tested, meaning the product's actual health value remains unconfirmed at this stage.