1. Using sensory analysis in Food Technology

2. 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

3. 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

4. Sensory analysis in the Food Industry
Sensory analysis is used at several stages during product development
Companies can compare a competitor’s product
Improve products by modifying or changing the ingredients
Check that the specification is being met

5. 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

6. Industry Continued Demonstrate new products to marketing team
Promote new or reformulated products to consumers
Sensory analysis is carried out in controlled conditions

7. Which senses are used in Analysis?
Sight – Appearance
Smell and taste – Aroma and flavour
Touch – Texture and mouthfeel
Sound – Noise

8. Taste areas of the tongue

9. Sensory Analysis Tests
Preference Tests – These supply information about people’s likes/dislikes of a product.
Discrimination Tests – Aim to evaluate specific attributes ie Crunchiness

10. 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 1=Dislike very much, 5=Like very much. Samples analysed for lowest/highest score
Scoring tests – Samples are scored on a scale between like and dislike

11. 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

12. 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