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Food TechnologySensory Analysis

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Learning objectivesL

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To understand about the use of sensory analysis to guide decisions about food products.

To know how to produce accurate and fair results when carrying out sensory analysis.

To learn about the different types of tests which can be used in sensory analysis.

To understand how sensory analysis is used by food manufacturers.

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What statements do people usually make when they taste and try out food?

Describing a product

This is because they do not tell you any detail about the product being tasted – for example, how you could make it nicer or less horrible.

Instead, descriptive adjectives should be used to describe the product.

This is very nice!

Urgh, I don’t like

this!

If food is being tasted as part of research to help develop food products, such statements should not be used – in fact they are banned!

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What sensory organs are used?

Taste lemons, chocolate and blue cheese.

When tasting food and describing what the food is like, descriptive adjectives should be used. This is done by using all five sensory organs.

Hear the snap of a crunchy biscuit and the fizz of a drink.

Smell coffee and bread freshly made.

See a ripe banana and a trifle decorated with piped cream.

Touch a ripe pear and crusty bread.

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Can you guess the food being described?

yeasty, crumbly, doughy

a fragrant, juicy, orange, sweet and oval fruit

bread

rich, fatty, sweet, light brown with a bit of a crunch but then smoothjuicy, meaty, a little spicy, a little

chewy, a long thin shape

a crumbly and fatty base with a yellow, smooth, tangy and sweet

filling as well as a light, sweet, fluffy and eggy topping

mango

chocolatesausage

lemon meringue

pie

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How is sensory analysis carried out?

How can sensory analysis be carried out so that it is fair?

Three different types of test (descriptive, preference and discrimination) are used in sensory analysis.

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What are descriptive tests?

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What are preference tests?

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What are discrimination tests?

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Sensory analysis quiz

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monitor regular samples from the production line

measure the shelf life of a product

find out if people can distinguish between a ‘new improved’ product and the original one

monitor the development of a new product

check that a new product is liked by consumers.

How is sensory analysis used in industry?

Food manufacturers use sensory analysis to develop new products and check the quality of existing products. Sensory analysis is used to:

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Key pointsK

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Sensory analysis is a key activity as it guides decisions about food products.

Sensory analysis uses all the senses to systematically taste food and record the experience.

There are descriptive, preference and discrimination tests.

Each test is suitable for different purposes and situations.

Descriptive tests are used for evaluating food against a specification.

Tests should be fair to get accurate results.