A salt substitute with low sodium content from plant aqueous extracts

The perception of the salty taste, obtained in humans by using sodium chloride (NaCl), is one of the most important attributes of the human sensory system. However, extra intake of sodium present in salt might lead to conditions such as hypertension. To develop a salt substitute with low sodium content, 13 plants were extracted with water, and their sensory perception was analyzed. After the sensory evaluation, 3 plant aqueous extracts (PAEs), representing salty and umami tastes, were selected using principal component analysis (PCA). They were powdered using a spray dryer, mixed, and subsequently referred to as plant salt substitute (PSS). The relative saltiness of PSS to NaCl was shown to be 0.65. When the degree of saltiness between PSS and NaCl is the same, PSS contains 43% less sodium than NaCl. Therefore, PSS can be used in food to reduce an individual's sodium intake while retaining the salty taste of NaCl.     

Understanding of the influence of composition,structure and texture on salty perception in model dairy products

The aim of this study was to better understand salt release and perception in model dairy products, having different composition, structure and/or texture. Sensory and instrumental methods were used to quantify and relate texture to salt mobility and perception. A high dry matter content (protein and fat jamming) and a gel structure with a protein network formation induced a decrease of diffusion coefficient of salt in matrices. Moreover, salty perception was higher for non-renneted products than for gelled ones. For gels, saltiness was enhanced in fat products. These results were discussed in regards with textural and physico-chemical food properties: the structural parameter tan δ was the most correlated with salty perception highlighting the impact of product structure on saltiness. Results also demonstrated that physiology and complex events (mastication, dilution and mixing with saliva, dynamic of bolus formation) occurring during food consumption must be considered to go further in understanding.     

Fat and salt contents affect the in-mouth temporal sodium release and saltiness perception of chicken sausages

In cooked meats, sodium chloride is involved in taste, texture and flavour release. So a reduction in the salt content may have an impact on overall perception and acceptability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of composition on sodium release and saltiness intensity in chicken sausages. The rheological properties of the sausages differed according to composition. Temporal sodium release and temporal saltiness intensity were evaluated by four selected subjects when eating sausages. At each time point, the effect of the salt level in sausages on sodium release was positive and highly significant. The effect of lipids on sodium release was negative. Concerning perception, the amount of salt used had a positive effect on saltiness intensity, and lipids seemed to exert a masking effect. Generally, clear relationships between salt levels, sodium release and saltiness intensity were found but the masking effect of lipids on saltiness intensity probably also involved texture or fat perception mechanisms.     

Analysis of binary taste-taste interactions of MSG,lactic acid,and NaCl by temporal dominance of sensations

Temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) is a relatively novel sensory evaluation technique that measures the temporal evolution of sensory perception. The sensory properties of food or drink products have been described by TDS; however, basic sensory data on TDS are still lacking. We analyzed TDS data for solutions of three basic tastes (umami, salty, and sour) and their binary combinations. The duration of TDS for the main taste of each type of solution (monosodium glutamate [MSG] for umami, sodium chloride [NaCl] for saltiness, and lactic acid for sourness) increased in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the duration of the umami taste of MSG was longer than that of MSG/inosine 5′-monophosphate solution with an umami taste of equivalent intensity. The duration of NaCl saltiness was increased by coexistence with MSG and decreased by coexistence with lactic acid. On the other hand, the duration of the umami taste of MSG was suppressed by coexistence with NaCl but not lactic acid, while the duration of the sour taste of lactic acid was suppressed by MSG but not NaCl. These findings provide novel insight into the temporal sequence of basic taste perception during food consumption.     

The ability of 10–11-year-old children to identify basic tastes and their liking towards unfamiliar foods

The involvement of children in sensory evaluation and consumer research continues to increase and has become crucial in the food industry, as children sensory perceptions differ from adults. Research on basic taste sensitivity in children provides contradictory results, with most of the studies not considering the familiarity aspect of the food samples. Familiarity can lead children to memories of the food which are able to influence their taste perception and liking. This study aims to investigate the ability of 10 to 11-year old children in identifying sweetness, saltiness, sourness, and bitterness in unfamiliar food samples. The taste identification data was collected from 98 children using 19 food samples representing the four basic tastes of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. For each food sample, the children evaluated their familiarity, the basic taste(s) they perceived using the check-all-that-apply (CATA) method and scored their liking. Their basic taste identification ability was investigated by comparing their results to trained panellists as a reference. The food samples were unfamiliar to most of the children (never tasted by 85% of the children on average). Correspondence Analysis (CA) showed that children were able to identify the basic tastes of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter in the unfamiliar foods, with a high congruency to the trained panellists. However, children’s identification ability was lower when combinations of dominant basic tastes occurred. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated a positive correlation between the presence of sweet taste and the children’s liking while sour and bitter tastes showed the opposite.     

基于游离氨基酸、挥发性组分和感官评价的2 种酸化技术加工乳饼的滋味特征差异分析

为明确传统酸水乳饼和发酵型乳饼的特征呈味物质,利用氨基酸分析仪和气相色谱仪分别对传统酸水乳饼和发酵型乳饼中的特征呈味物质（游离氨基酸、游离脂肪酸）进行测定,采用滋味活度值（taste activity value,TAV）判定特征呈味物质,同时进行感官评价;并且结合游离氨基酸和挥发性成分分析特征呈味物质与感官属性之间的相关性。结果表明,谷氨酸、组氨酸和癸酸、月桂酸、肉豆蔻酸、油酸、亚油酸的TAV大于1,对乳饼的滋味有着重要贡献。在感官和呈味物质组成方面,2 种工艺加工的乳饼明显区分开。发酵型乳饼的总体滋味强度高于传统酸水乳饼（P＜0.05）,感官属性以酸味、甜味、苦味和鲜味为主,而传统酸水乳饼伴有不愉悦的异味。偏最小二乘法对特征呈味物质与感官属性之间的相关性分析表明,感官属性与游离氨基酸相关性高,传统酸水乳饼的咸味与精氨酸,异味与甘氨酸、癸酸和棕榈烯酸呈显著正相关（P＜0.05）;发酵型乳饼的酸味与硬脂酸和亚油酸,甜味与天冬氨酸、苏氨酸、丝氨酸、谷氨酸、丙氨酸以及亚油酸,苦味与缬氨酸、蛋氨酸、异亮氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸以及肉豆蔻酸,鲜味与天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、丙氨酸均呈显著正相关（P＜0.05）。发酵酸化技术促进蛋白质和脂肪的分解,改善乳饼的滋味。     

The dynamic sensory evaluation of bitterness and pungency in virgin olive oil

The study illustrates the temporal perception of bitterness and pungency in monovarietal autochthonous virgin olive oils stored up to 18 months. Samples were kept at 10 °C and 28 °C. Analyses were performed by a trained sensory panel utilising a time–intensity (TI) evaluation technique. A general analysis revealed an overall trend of decreased bitterness and pungency intensity and duration with storage in all the oils, primarily related to temperature of storage and in minor extent to the storage time. Bitterness was the dominant sensation in oils just after the production for all the analysis duration. In contrast, in the aged samples, bitter taste rapidly decreases, and pungency therefore becomes (although it is also decreasing) the prevailing sensation of the TI measurement. Moreover, the study revealed some differences in timing and duration of the sensory perception of both the attributes among oil samples, in relation to their varietal origin.     

Ham Particle Size Influences Saltiness Perception in Flans

One major issue of the food industry is reducing sodium content while maintaining food acceptability and liking. Despite extensive research in this field, little has been published on real complex food products. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the size of particles, a parameter easily adjusted in food processing, could influence the salty taste of low‐salt food product. We thus evaluated the effect of ham particle sizes (4 levels, including a zero level) on salt perception and the consumer liking of flans varying in their overall salt concentrations (low‐ and high‐salt content). Two consumer panels, composed of 107 and 77 subjects, rated, respectively, the saltiness of and liking for the developed flans (8 samples). The outcomes of this study indicated first, that the addition of ham to flans increased the salty taste perception and second, that a decrease in ham particle size (ground ham) increased the perceived saltiness. Moreover, low‐ and high‐salt flans were equally liked, demonstrating that food manufacturers could reduce the salt contents (here, by over 15%) while maintaining consumer acceptability through the manipulation of the size of the salt‐providing particles.     

The effects of castration on the eating quality of dry-cured ham

The influence of the castration of entire male pigs on the eating quality of dry-cured ham was evaluated. Forty-eight dry-cured hams (435-day aged) were studied from entire and castrated males of two different crossbreeds. The proximate composition of the meat and the androstenone, indole and skatole fat content were determined. The entire hams were classified according to the androstenone and skatole content. Sensory analysis was carried out by a trained panel, evaluating marbling, juiciness, saltiness, graininess, toughness, overall flavour, boar odour and boar flavour. Also carried out was a preference and acceptability paired test by consumers. Castration increased meat fattening and reduced the androstenone and skatole levels of the fat. Significant differences (P<0.05) were found between entires and castrates for the average values given in all the sensory attributes studied. The dry-cured ham from castrates was scored as more flavoured, more marbled and softer. It was also perceived as less grainy, less salty and having less boar odour and flavour. The sensory perception of boar odour was more intense than that of flavour in dry-cured ham and appears to be related to the level of androstenone and skatole in fat. Dry-cured ham from castrated males was also more accepted and more preferred by consumers, especially women and habitual consumers. Castration of male pigs contributes to improve the quality of dry-cured ham. The rejection caused by boar odour and flavour is reduced, improving the overall flavour, texture and juiciness. In addition, the saltiness is less pronounced in ham from castrates. For this reason, the production of high quality dry-cured ham will have to shoulder the extra costs associated with processing castrated pigs.     

On the Effect of Tastant Excluded Fillers on Sweetness and Saltiness of a Model Food

ABSTRACT: In this study, the effect on taste due to the addition of air bubbles to a water-based gel was investigated. The gel phase contained either sucrose to give a sweet taste or sodium chloride to give a salty taste. For the sweet gels, taste intensities were evaluated for samples with different volume fractions of the air bubbles (up to 40%, v/v) and different concentrations of the sucrose. For the salty gels, samples were evaluated at 40% volume fraction of air bubbles. It was found that a reduction of the sodium chloride or sucrose by the same weight percentage as the volume fraction of the air bubbles in the samples gave equal taste perception as the nontastant-reduced samples. Moreover, saltiness and sweetness perception were clearly enhanced at 40% volume fractions of air bubbles if the sodium chloride or sucrose was not reduced. Thus, the overall tastes of the samples appeared to depend mainly on the concentration levels of the salt or the sucrose in the aqueous phase irrespective of the volume fraction of the air bubbles. However, the air bubbles were found to change the texture and appearance of the samples. It has been demonstrated that the inclusion of air bubbles offers scope for the reduction of sodium chloride or sucrose in food products.     

Increasing saltiness perception through perceptual constancy created by expectation

Reducing salt levels in food products is an important motivation for research, as the general intake of salt by consumers is too high. Finding strategies for salt reduction, while maintaining salty taste of products remains a big challenge. In this paper we show the effect that a perceptual expectation of a taste can have on subsequent taste perception, in the same product. A perceptual expectation is based on previous experience, memory, or other information from the product. Our hypothesis is that, if a product looks the same, smells the same and has the same texture as the product one is used to eat, small variations in taste will go unnoticed. In a consumer study, we investigated if the expectation, or implicit assumption, that saltiness remains constant across mouthfuls, can indeed reduce the perception of variation in salt concentration. We were able to demonstrate the existence of such an effect. We found that perceptual expectation, based on the first bite, can influence saltiness perception.     

Training a sensory panel for TI: a case study

Time–intensity (TI) is an increasingly used sensory method, however, no proper guidelines for training panellists with TI seem to have been set up, hence comparison of results from different TI studies is difficult. In this paper a three steps approach is proposed: (1) introduction to the method; (2) training for the TI task through a simple product assessment: basic taste beverages; (3) running a TI pilot experiment. The loadings from a principal components analysis (PCA) on TI data have proved to be useful in assessing panel agreement and providing information about individual differences. Pilot profiling proved useful for choosing the attributes to be used in the TI study. This minimises the chance of performing a TI study with irrelevant attributes. It is concluded that, following the steps in this study, most panellists are able to learn to perform a TI task reliably.