THE TEXTURE PROFILE: ITS FOUNDATIONS AND OUTLOOK

The origins of the Texture Profile are traced from antecedent developments both in food science and in psychology. A variety of theoretical underpinnings of the Profile are considered: (1) selection of texture variables, (2) problem of standards in texture, (3) appropriate rules for measuring psychological magnitudes, (4) appropriate sensory-instrumental functions, (5) combination rules whereby the observer combines different texture attributes and relates each attribute to a linear combination of others, and (6) interaction between users of the Texture Profile. In each of the above, the underlying assumptions are discussed and possible modifications are suggested in order to generalize the profile procedure.