Effects of colorant concentration and ‘natural colour’ or ‘sodium content’ claim on saltiness perception,consumer liking and emotion,and purchase intent of dipping sauces

Natural colorant (no colorant, NC = 0%; moderate colorant, MC = 1.2%; high colorant, HC = 3.6% w/w) and salt (regular salt, RS = NaCl; reduced sodium, ReS = KCl; no salt, NS) were added in mayonnaise‐based dipping sauces to evaluate effects of colorant concentration and ‘natural colorant’ or ‘sodium content’ claim on saltiness expectation, consumer liking and emotion, and purchase intent (PI) of these products. Regardless of the salt type and content, increasing colorant concentration decreased colour liking scores while saltiness expectation tentatively increased as indicated by higher % of ‘too much’ responses for saltiness on a JAR (Just‐About‐Right) scale. At a given salt type and content, liking scores of salty taste decreased with increasing colorant concentration, both before and after the ‘sodium content’ claim was given to consumers. Emotion scores elicited by consuming dipping sauces were affected by colorant concentration. Positive emotions (good, interested, satisfied) decreased while negative emotions (guilty, unsafe, worried) increased with increasing colorant concentration. Statements of ‘natural colorant’ and ‘sodium content’ claim had minimal effects on elicited emotions and PI.     

Influences of a natural colourant on colour and salty taste perception,liking, emotion and purchase intent: a case of mayonnaise‐based dipping sauces

Effects of colourant and a ‘natural source’ statement on sensory liking, emotion, saltiness expectation and purchase intent (PI) of three dipping sauces containing shrimp head colourant [no‐colourant (NC); moderate‐colourant (MC, 1.2% colourant); high‐colourant (HC, 3.6% colourant)] were evaluated. Consumers disliked colour of HC compared to MC (4.65 vs. 6.24). Despite the same NaCl level, saltiness liking decreased with increasing colourant [6.38 (NC), 5.43 (MC), 3.97 (HC)]. Correspondence analysis biplot revealed that sauces with or without natural colourant were associated more with positive emotions. Positive emotion (good, interested, satisfied) scores decreased while negative emotion worried increased with increasing colourant concentration. The ‘natural source’ statement decreased guilty and unsafe scores but minimally affected PI of NC and MC. Saltiness expectation was not different between NC (off‐white colour) vs. MC (lighter orange) and between NC vs. HC (darker orange); however, consumers expected HC to be saltier than MC.     

Comparison of performance and quantitative descriptive analysis sensory profiling and its relationship to consumer liking between the artisanal cheese producers panel and the descriptive trained panel

The aim of this research was to compare the performance and sensory profiling of a panel of artisanal cheese producers against a trained panel and their relationship to consumer liking (external preference mapping). Performance was analyzed statistically at an individual level using the Fisher's test (F) for discrimination, the mean square error for repeatability, and Manhattan plots for visualizing the intra-panel homogeneity. At group level, performance was evaluated using ANOVA. External preference mapping technique was applied to determine the efficiency of each sensory profile. Results showed that the producers panel was discriminant and repetitive with a performance similar to that of the trained panel. Manhattan plots showed that the performance of artisanal cheese producers was more homogeneous than trained panelists. The correlation between sensory profiles (Rv = 0.95) demonstrated similarities in the generation and use of sensory profiles. The external preference maps generated individually with the profiles of each panel were also similar. Recruiting individuals familiar with the production of artisanal cheeses as panelists is a viable strategy for sensory characterization of artisanal cheeses within their context of origin because their results were similar to those from the trained panel and can be correlated with consumer liking data.     

Optimisation of wheat flour‐based sponge cake formulation containing tapioca starch and xanthan gum

The optimum formulation for wheat flour (WF)‐based sponge cakes containing tapioca starch (TS) and xanthan gum (Xan) was determined using the central composite design with two factors and response surface methodology (RSM). Effects of partial substitution of TS (5–15%) for WF in a 20% total flour blend and Xan (0.1–0.3%) on specific volume, parameters of texture profile analysis and sensory liking scores of baked sponge cakes were investigated. A second‐order polynomial response surface was used to explain the influence of TS and Xan on the dependent variables. Coefficients of determination (R² ≥ 0.75) of the response variables and significant regression models were used for RSM optimisation. Based on the RSM contour plots, the cake formulation containing 16% butter with desired physical properties (maximum specific volume; minimum hardness, gumminess and chewiness) and sensory quality (maximum overall liking) was found to be 11.09–11.88% TS and 0.10–0.11% Xan.     

Physicochemical properties and storage stability of spray‐dried soya bean sprout extract

Amylase is a very important enzyme due to its wide food applications. To preserve amylase activity in soya bean sprout extract (SSE), SSEs were spray‐dried with 10% maltodextrin and 0–3% alginic acids, and their physicochemical properties and storage stability were compared with freeze‐dried one. SSE exhibited maximum amylase activity at pH 7.0 and 60 °C, with the most active substrate specificity towards soluble starch. Spray‐dried SSEs exhibited higher water solubility index (WSI) and in vitro relative amylase activity but lower water vapour sorption (WVS) and smaller particle size than freeze‐dried SSE. For spray‐dried SSEs, particle size, WSI and in vitro relative amylase activity increased while WVS decreased with increasing % alginic acid. This study demonstrated that spray drying of SSE, especially with 10% maltodextrin and 2% alginic acid, was effective in keeping amylase active and stable during 7‐week storage at room temperature (25 °C).     

Assessing Consumer Emotional Responses in the Presence and Absence of Critical Quality Attributes: A Case Study with Chicken Eggs

Effects of attribute presence and absence on the emotional profile and consumer acceptability of products with varying qualities were assessed using eggs as an example. An online survey (n = 320) was used to evaluate emotional responses and acceptability to 5 types of egg quality attributes: intrinsic, aesthetic, extrinsic, expediency, and wholesome/safety, for both present and absent conditions. Attribute absence rather than presence evoked greater consumer discriminating emotions associated with eggs. Mean emotion intensity elicited by the presence of all quality attributes ranged from 1.67 (intrinsic; guilty) to 4.05 (wholesome; good) versus 2.01 (wholesome; satisfied) to 3.29 (wholesome; disgusted) when absent. Key positive emotions elicited by presence of attributes were active, calm, good, interested, happy, safe, and satisfied; while dominant negative emotions elicited by absence of attributes included disgusted and worried. Wholesome quality (constituted by egg freshness, “packing/best‐before‐date” and absence of visible cracks) exhibited the highest liking (7.65) and emotion intensities, while the emotional responses to both the presence and absence of intrinsic quality (constituted by nutrient‐fortified egg, organic egg, and USDA‐certified farm egg) were similar, reflecting their dynamic effects on emotions. Emotions and acceptability were more correlated for attribute absence than presence; and good, happy, and satisfied emotions were strongly related to egg acceptability (r ≥ 0.6). Egg product/packaging design can be oriented toward emphasizing wholesome and expedient attributes, since they enhance good, safe, and satisfied emotions, while minimizing disgust, worry, and boredom. The use of emotional responses and hedonic testing regarding attribute presence and absence would allow for improved selection of attributes critical to consumer acceptance of products.     

Cross‐Cultural Consumer Acceptability and Purchase Intent of Forage‐Finished Rib‐Eye Steaks

Rib‐eye steaks, from 3 forage‐finished systems (S1, S2, and S3) and 1 commercial steak (C), either cooked by 1‐sided‐grilling or 2‐sided‐grilling, were evaluated for sensory acceptability [overall appearance (ORA) and overall appearance of fat (OAF) for raw steaks; overall appearance (OCA), overall beef aroma (OBA), overall beef flavor (OBF), juiciness, tenderness and overall liking (OL) for cooked steaks] and purchase intent by Hispanic, Asian and U.S. consumers. They also indicated preferred degree of doneness and cooking methods. Cross‐cultural differences in preferences and consumer acceptability of rib‐eye steaks were observed. Grilling was the most preferred cooking method. Hispanics and Asians preferred medium and/or medium well, while U.S. consumers preferred medium and/or medium rare. For cooked steaks, the population effect was significant for all sensory attributes; Asians generally scored lower than did Hispanics and U.S. consumers. C and S3 generally had higher scores for all sensory attributes across 3 populations. Purchase intent for all forage‐finished steaks was higher for Hispanics and U.S. consumers compared to Asians (50.0% to 77.8% compared with 43.2% to 65.9%). Attributes influencing purchase intent of forage‐finished steaks differed among populations: tenderness (odds ratio = 1.4) for Hispanics, OCA (odds ratio = 1.5) for Asians, and OBF (odds ratio = 1.3) for U.S. consumers. Overall, this study demonstrated that the type of forage‐finished system and ethnic differences influenced sensory acceptability and purchase intent of forage‐finished rib‐eye steaks.