Methods for a deeper understanding of the sensory perception of fruit fillings

Canned complementary porridges for infants and young children (6-23 months) based on African indigenous crops; nutritional content, consistency, sensory, and affordability compared to traditional porridges based on maize and finger millet

Child malnutrition is a major health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa. Complementary foods made from African indigenous and locally available raw materials are often low in protein and nutrients. It is, therefore, important to supply complementary foods that are nutritious and affordable, and with an acceptable consistency and taste. The objective of this study was to develop, on a pilot scale, food-to-food fortified, convenient, canned complementary porridges based on blends of African indigenous crops, i.e., orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) flour, and leguminous (i.e., cowpea, and Bambara groundnut) and cereal flours (i.e., teff, finger millet, maize, and amaranth), and milk powder. Plant-based, African complementary foods are often lacking in vitamin A, zinc, iron, and energy. Porridge with OFSP on a 32% dry weight (dw) basis achieved recommended levels of vitamin A (530 µg per 100 g dw). Satisfactory energy (431 Kcal per 100 g dw) was obtained by supplementation of vegetable oil. A nutritious, low-cost porridge (costing 0.15 € per 100 g can) that fulfills consistency constraints was obtained by including supplements of zinc and iron salts as ingredients. The solids content and thus protein/energy could be significantly increased using protein fractionated or germinated cowpea flours without compromising on viscosity. The sensory profile was characterised by more intense vegetable, leguminous, and malty flavours as compared to traditional reference porridges.

Hydrocolloid-based fruit fillings: A comprehensive review on formulation, techno-functional properties, synergistic mechanisms, and applications

This study offers a comprehensive review of current developments regarding the utilization of diverse hydrocolloids in formulating fruit fillings across different fruit types, their impact on textural attributes, rheological properties, thermal stability, syneresis, and nutritional advantages of fillings and optimization of its characteristics to align with consumer preferences. The review also focuses on the various factors influencing fruit fillings, including the selection of fruits, processing methodologies, the inherent nature and concentration of hydrocolloids, and their synergistic interactions. In depth, scientific work on the impact of the parameters such as pH, total soluble solids, and sugar content within the fruit fillings was also discussed. Additionally, this article focuses on the utilization of the diverse fruit fillings developed by using hydrocolloids in bakery products including pastry, tartlet, muffins, cookies, and so forth. The review establishes that hydrocolloids offer a spectrum of techno-functional attributes conducive to strengthening both the structural and thermal stability of fruit fillings, consequently extending their shelf life. It further establishes that incorporating of hydrocolloids facilitates the development of healthier food products by mitigating the necessity of excessive sugar or various other less favorable ingredients. The incorporation of fruit fillings in bakery products significantly increases the value proposition of these baked goods, contributing to their overall enhancement of quality and sensory value.

Multi-attribute temporal descriptive methods in sensory analysis applied in food science: A systematic scoping review

Among descriptive sensory evaluation methods, temporal methods have a wide audience in food science because they make it possible to follow perception as close as possible to the moment when sensations are perceived. The aim of this work was to describe 30 years of research involving temporal methods by mapping the scientific literature using a systematic scoping review. Thus, 363 research articles found from a search in Scopus and Web of Science from 1991 to 2022 were included. The extracted data included information on the implementation of studies referring to the use of temporal methods (details related to subjects, products, descriptors, research design, data analysis, etc.), reasons why they were used and the conclusions they allowed to be drawn. Metadata analysis and critical appraisal were also carried out. A quantitative and qualitative synthesis of the results allowed the identification of trends in the way in which the methods were developed, refined, and disseminated. Overall, a large heterogeneity was noted in the way in which the temporal measurements were carried out and the results presented. Some critical research gaps in establishing the validity and reliability of temporal methods have also been identified. They were mostly related to the details of implementation of the methods (e.g., almost no justification for the number of consumers included in the studies, absence of report on panel repeatability) and data analysis (e.g., prevalence of use of exploratory data analysis, only 20% of studies using confirmatory analyses considering the dynamic nature of the data). These results suggest the need for general guidelines on how to implement the method, analyze and interpret data, and report the results. Thus, a template and checklist for reporting data and results were proposed to help increase the quality of future research.

Dynamic Instrumental and Sensory Methods Used to Link Aroma Release and Aroma Perception: A Review

Perception of flavor is a dynamic process during which the concentration of aroma molecules at the olfactory epithelium varies with time as they are released progressively from the food in the mouth during consumption. The release kinetics depends on the food matrix itself but also on food oral processing, such as mastication behavior and food bolus formation with saliva, for which huge inter-individual variations exist due to physiological differences. Sensory methods such as time intensity (TI) or the more-recent methods temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) and temporal check-all-that-apply (TCATA) are used to account for the dynamic and time-related aspects of flavor perception. Direct injection mass spectrometry (DIMS) techniques that measure in real time aroma compounds directly in the nose (nosespace), aimed at obtaining data that reflect the pattern of aroma release in real time during food consumption and supposed to be representative of perception, have been developed over the last 25 years. Examples obtained with MS operated in chemical ionization mode at atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressure (atmospheric pressure chemical ionization APCI or proton-transfer reaction PTR) are given, with emphases on studies conducted with simultaneous dynamic sensory evaluation. Inter-individual variations in terms of aroma release and their relevance for understanding flavor perception are discussed as well as the evidenced cross-modal interactions.

A Timely Application-Temporal methods, past, present, and future

Eating is a dynamic experience, and temporal sensory methods have been proposed to document how products change over the course of consumption or use (nonfood). A search of online databases yielded approximately 170 sources related to temporal evaluation of food products that were compiled and reviewed. This review summarizes the evolution of temporal methodologies (past), offers guidance in selecting appropriate methods (present), and provides insights into the future of temporal methodologies in the sensory space. Temporal methods have evolved to document a variety of characteristics in food products including how the intensity of a specific attribute changes over time (Time-Intensity), which specific attribute is dominant at each time during evaluation (Temporal Dominance of Sensations), which attributes are present at each time point during evaluation (Temporal Check-All-That-Apply), and many others (Temporal Order of Sensations, Attack-Evolution-Finish, and Temporal Ranking). In addition to documenting the evolution of temporal methods, this review considers the selection of an appropriate temporal method based on the objective and scope of research. When choosing a temporal method, researchers should also consider the selection of panelists to perform the temporal evaluation. Future temporal research should focus on validation of new temporal methods and explore how methods can be implemented and improved to add to the usefulness of temporal techniques for researchers.

The Impact of Mood, Familiarity, Acceptability, Sensory Characteristics and Attitude on Consumers' Emotional Responses to Chocolates

Studies on emotions linked to sensory characteristics to understand consumers’ choice behaviour have grown in number rapidly. Internal consumer behaviour variables, namely mood, familiarity, acceptability, and attitude (MFAA), have been found to influence emotional response. The aim of this paper was to determine the impact of MFAA on consumers’ emotional responses towards chocolate as well as the effect of the sensory characteristics of chocolate on consumers’ emotional responses. Upon ethical approval, three chocolates were selected by a trained sensory panel based on 14 sensory attributes regarded relevant. Screened respondents (n = 149) completed an online survey based on the tasting of the chocolates by means of a home-use test (HUT). The questionnaire captured consumers’ mood (Quick mood scale), familiarity (QFFQ), acceptability (FACT), the sensory characteristics of the chocolate samples and emotional response (EsSense25 Profile), and lastly attitude (ACQ). Descriptive and inferential statistics were examined to answer the hypotheses of the study. The findings indicate that emotions are related to the bitter sensory attributes of chocolate and that this emotional response is influenced by MFAA variables, supporting the known fact that consumer behaviour is complex and multi-dimensional. Internal consumer behaviour variables play an important role in the emotions experienced during the consumption of chocolate. Investigating the relative importance of consumer behaviour components in sensory studies could allow for the design of food products such as chocolates based on a more “holistic” view of the consumer.

Sensory Characterization of Iberian Dry-Cured Loins by Using Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) Analysis and Multiple-Intake Temporal Dominance of Sensations (TDS)

The aim of the present work was to sensorially characterize different commercial categories of Iberian dry-cured loins (varying genetic and feeding background) using a novel dynamic sensory technique, and to explore consumers preferences applying a rapid method. The samples (green label—GL, Cebo de Campo Ibérico; red label—RL, Bellota 50% Ibérico; and black label—BL, Bellota 100%) were analyzed by (i) Check-all-that-apply (CATA) with the evaluation of an ‘Ideal’ dry-cured loin and the overall liking, and by (ii) multiple-intake Temporal Dominance of Sensations (TDS). The CATA results indicated that the sensory characteristics of RL samples were closer to those of the ‘Ideal’ loin. Furthermore, juiciness, marbling, cured flavor, chewiness, persistence, and brightness were selected as ‘must-have’ attributes. Juiciness cured flavor and red color were considered as drivers of liking. TDS results showed that flavor attributes presented the highest dominance rates, with saltiness being the most dominant attribute along BL sample evaluation, and with cured and paprika flavor for GL and RL samples. These sensory technique results displayed the ability to sensorily characterize dry-cured loins, providing different, complementary, and valuable information.

Consumers' Sensory Perception of Food Attributes: Identifying the Ideal Formulation of Gluten- and Lactose-Free Brownie Using Sensory Methodologies

Products for consumers with special needs (celiac) and those who prefer a differentiated diet are necessary due to growing demand and a niche market to be exploited. The incorporation of other substances in the formulation of cakes requires a detailed analysis of their characteristics and sensorial attributes. However, the use of these flours may change the sensory characteristics of a product that is normally made from wheat flour. This study aimed to identify the ideal formulation of gluten- and lactose-free brownies made with rice flour and beans/lentils in consumer perception, through the combination of sensory tests. Using these data, the aim was to define recommendations for the reformulation of a product of high consumer acceptance, using easily accessible ingredients. The sensory methods used were descriptive analysis with a group of 20 trained evaluators and a group of 100 consumers evaluated through the check-all-that-apply and just-about-right questionnaire; all groups performed the acceptance test by hedonic scale. Data were analyzed using multivariate techniques and correlation matrices. The results showed that the attributes selected by the trained evaluators and consumers were sufficient to indicate that color and texture were the most striking characteristics that should be improved in brownie formulations without gluten and lactose. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The study assumes that from the combination of sensory methods it is possible to verify the attributes that are most attractive to consumers in gluten-free and lactose-free cake formulations, using easily accessible ingredients that have technological, nutritional, and sensory quality, such as those formulated with wheat.

Characterizing the Dynamic Textural Properties of Hydrocolloids in Pureed Foods-A Comparison Between TDS and TCATA

Pureed foods, a compensatory diet for dysphagia, require the incorporation of hydrocolloids in order to be swallowed safely. The effect of hydrocolloid addition on textural dynamics of pureed foods has not yet been investigated. Starch and xanthan were added to levels that allowed products to meet the criteria of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative. Nine pureed carrot matrices made with two concentrations of starch, xanthan, and their blends were characterized for textural evolution using two dynamic sensory techniques: Temporal Dominance of Sensations (TDS) and Temporal Check-All-That-Apply (TCATA). Each test, with four replications, was conducted with 16 panelists. Results indicate that purees were divided into two groups based on sensory responses--grainy and smooth were the primary differentiating attributes for these two groups. Grainy was associated with starch-added samples, while samples with xanthan (alone and in blends) were smooth and slippery. For both groups, thickness was perceived during the first half of processing, adhesiveness in the second half of oral processing, and mouthcoating was perceived toward the end of processing. A comparison of results from these tests showed that both TDS and TCATA gave similar information about texture dynamics and product differentiation of pureed foods.