SENSORY AND INSTRUMENTAL EVALUATION OF TEXTURE OF COOKED AND RAW MILLED RICES WITH SIMILAR STARCH PROPERTIES

Three pairs of milled rices with similar starch properties (low gelatinization temperature waxy, and low gelatinization temperature low amylose, and intermediate gelatinization temperature intermediate amylose) were assessed for cooked rice properties by two industry taste panels and for raw and cooked rice properties by 30-member Filipino consumer panels. Only slight differences in texture within pairs were noted by the two industry taste panels who had not been trained to assess boiled raw rice or waxy rice. The Filipino consumer panel gave significantly higher ranked scores for one low-amylose variety in both raw and cooked forms. Malagkit Sungsong suman sa antala was ranked higher than modern waxy rices. Instrumental methods for translucency and whiteness of raw rice and Instron hardness and stickiness of cooked rice were not able to detect differences perceived by the Filipino consumer panels.     

Relating consumer and trained panels’ discriminative sensitivities using vanilla flavored ice cream as a medium

This research investigated the possibility of uncovering a relationship between the sensitivities of trained and consumer panels in three experiments. In Experiment I, five studies were conducted using vanilla flavored ice cream. In each study, two ice cream samples differing in formulation and/or their manufacturing process were used. They were compared by both panels using same–different tests with sureness judgments (degree of difference methodology). Using the appropriate probabilistic Thurstonian model, d′ values, a measure of the underlying sensory difference perceived between the products, were calculated and the underlying relationship between the two panels’ sensitivities uncovered. An additional study was then conducted (Experiment II). A new pair of ice creams differing in fat content was first evaluated by the trained panel. Based on the estimated d′ value (trained panel’s measured d′ = 2.69), the corresponding consumer d′ value was predicted using the relationship uncovered in Part I (consumer panel’s predicted d′ = 1.54). The same pair of ice creams was then evaluated by the consumer panel. The measured d′ value for the consumers was almost identical to that predicted by the uncovered relationship (consumer panel’s measured d′ = 1.56). Along with the discrimination component of these studies, paired preference tests were conducted (Experiment III) in order to study a link between perceived difference and expressed preference. The results give an indication of when a perceived difference might start translating into a change in acceptability of the original product. These results indicate the potential of such an approach to predict consumers’ perceptions from an in-house semi-trained or trained panel, providing a useful predictive tool and a means of reducing repetitive and costly consumer testing.     

Influence of Visual Masking Technique on the Assessment of 2 Red Wines by Trained and Consumer Assessors

ABSTRACT:  During sensory evaluation assessments, visual masking techniques are frequently employed to disguise color differences between samples and minimize perceptual bias. Particularly in wine, the impact of these masking techniques on panelist evaluations has not been well studied. The objective of this study was to study the influence of visual masking techniques on the aroma and flavor assessment of 2 red wines and observe the impact of these techniques on trained and consumer sensory panels. Specific masking techniques included (1) blue wine glass/white illumination; (2) clear glass/red illumination; and (3) clear glass/white illumination. Ten panelists were trained to recognize 7 aroma and flavor attributes, while consumer panelists ( n = 80) evaluated attributes and liking. For the trained panel, the visual masking technique affected only perceived spicy flavor of Syrah ( P ≤ 0.05), with the clear glass/red illumination resulting in more intense spicy flavor compared to the other 2 conditions. Principal components analysis showed that for the 2 red wines evaluated by the trained panel, red illumination resulted in higher spicy attributes and perceived astringency while wines served in blue wine glasses were higher in perceived astringency. For the consumer panel, red illumination resulted in wines higher in perceived astringency and blue wine glasses resulted in wines higher in perceived flavor liking. These results indicated that the visual masking techniques may influence both trained and consumer panel evaluation of aroma and flavor attributes of red wine. However, beyond red wine, this study makes the larger point that the choice of masking technique does impact sensory evaluations.     

TASTE PANEL TESTING OF UHT FLUID DAIRY PRODUCTS1

Fluid dairy products processed by ultra-high-temperature steam injection were evaluated by two independent panels to determine the effect of % fat and process and storage conditions of flavor. Fat content from 0.5 to 10.5%, process time from 3.4 to 20.3 s, process temperature from 138 to 149°C, storage time from zero to 48 weeks, and storage temperature from 4 to 40°C were studied. The two panels consisted of an untrained consumer panel and a trained panel of dairy judges. Scores from both panels correlated well. Scores on all samples stored at 4°C generally increased through time while those at 40°C had declining scores. Samples with 3.25% fat generally scored higher than those with 0.5 or 10.5% fat. An empirical relationship and nomograph were formulated between diary judge score, % fat, storage temperature and storage time. Milk produced and stored at or near room temperature may be predicted to receive moderate scores through one year.     

Prediction of consumer liking from trained sensory panel information: Evaluation of neural networks

This study was set out to establish artificial neural networks (ANN) as an alternative to regression methods (multiple linear, principal component and partial least squares regression) to predict consumer liking from trained sensory panel data. The sensory profile and acceptability of 10 market samples of beef bouillon products were measured. The products were distinct as evaluated by the trained sensory panel. A total of 100 regular beef bouillon product users from Manila measured overall liking, flavour, aftertaste and mouthfeel of the products. Curve fitting method was applied to identify sensory drivers of consumer liking. The sensory drivers of consumer liking were used as explanatory variables in artificial neural networks and regression methods. To overcome the limitations of regression methods we have used artificial neural network techniques to model consumer liking score as a function of trained sensory panel scores and achieved quite encouraging results. Our simulation experiments show that though the regression methods such as multiple linear regression (MLR), principal component regression (PCR) and partial least square (PLS) give an accurate prediction of consumer liking scores, this approach is not robust enough to handle the variations normally encountered in trained sensory panel data. ANNs were trained using the sensory panel raw data and transformed data. The networks trained with sensory panel raw data achieved 98% correct learning, the testing was in a range of 28–35%. Suitable transformation method was applied to reduce the variations in trained sensory panel raw data. The networks trained with transformed sensory panel data achieved about 80–90% correct learning and 80–95% correct testing. It is shown that due to its excellent noise tolerance property and ability to predict more than one type of consumer liking using a single model, the ANN approach promises to be an effective modelling tool.     

Dry and Wet Aging Effects on Palatability Attributes of Beef Loin and Rib Steaks from Three Quality Grades

Twenty Prime and 20 Choice IMPS 107 ribs, and 20 Prime, 20 Choice and 20 Select IMPS 179 short-cut strip loins were equally divided between dry aging and wet aging treatments. Steaks and Toasts, aged for 21 days, were evaluated by trained and consumer panels for sensory attributes. Some statistically significant palatability differences were observed due to treatment, grade and cut of loin and rib steaks by the trained panel, but no statistical differences in palatability attributes of loin steaks were detected by consumer panelists. A major difference between aging treatments, however, was the greater shrink and trim loss associated with dry aging.