Sensory Analysis

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Sensory Analysis

• Using sensory analysis in Food Technology

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Sensory analysis is used to evaluate food
products

• Sensory analysis is used in industry and
  discovers details on
• Flavour and taste
• Texture
• Appearance Colour, shape, size
• Smell/Aroma
• Sounds

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Sensory Analysis studies three main areas

• What does the product taste like?
• What are its sensory characteristics?
• How does a change in production, packaging or
  storage affect sensory characteristics

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Sensory analysis in the Food Industry

• Sensory analysis is used at several stages during
  product development
• Companies can compare a competitors product
• Improve products by modifying or changing the
  ingredients
• Check that the specification is being met

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Industry continued

• Monitor quality control by checking regular
  samples against specification
• Detect differences between products from
  different runs or batches
• Profile the characteristics of new products
• Describe specific characteristics

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Industry Continued

• Demonstrate new products to marketing team
• Promote new or reformulated products to consumers
  
• Sensory analysis is carried out in controlled
  conditions

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Which senses are used in Analysis?

• Sight Appearance
• Smell and taste Aroma and flavour
• Touch Texture and mouthfeel
• Sound Noise

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Taste areas of the tongue

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Sensory Analysis Tests

• Preference Tests These supply information about
  peoples likes/dislikes of a product.
• Discrimination Tests Aim to evaluate specific
  attributes ie Crunchiness

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Preference Tests

• Pair comparison/preference test a test which
  compares a pair of similar products looking at
  specific characteristics
• Hedonic tests Test sample and grade 1Dislike
  very much, 5Like very much. Samples analysed for
  lowest/highest score
• Scoring tests Samples are scored on a scale
  between like and dislike

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Discrimination Tests

• Ranking Decide on attribute to be ranked eg
  Crunchiness, allow people to evaluate samples and
  place them in rank order
• Star Diagram Allows food products to be
  evaluated using a range of attributes

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Star Diagram

• The test can be used to
• Evaluate differences in similar products
• Gauge consumer response
• Analyse specific attributes
• Check a product meets its specification
• Compare similarities in a range of products
• Show opportunities for product development