wanna know all about sensory evaluation?

final thoughts on FS 131: Sensory Evaluation of Foods --> the last extract to be passed

Following the lecture on quantitative consumer testing, we moved on to qualitative consumer tests centering on focus group discussions. These are more intimate and do not need statistical analysis. Besides proper facilitation of the focus group discussion (to avoid monopolization by dominant personalities), careful interpretation of the data is critical and the participants may not represent the target market. But it may be able to gather extensive information about a product category.

For the lab sessions, the class underwent quantitative descriptive sensory analysis. We were able to experience the training that panelists undergo before sensory analysis of a certain product. This was even more challenging, especially during the generation of descriptors for each attribute of the peanut butter samples. Descriptions are hard to come by and I was able to perceive only a few qualities as compared with my classmates who were able to give a lot. From these, the descriptions for each attribute was narrowed down and consolidated. The next session is still the training stage with the prescribed references for each descriptor. This time, the group was smaller as the class was divided in two and I get to be the trainer! Being the panel leader, Ma’am Villarino briefed me and the other trainer on the sequence of actions to be undertaken during the training phase. I was generally nervous and I couldn’t remember to give the descriptions for each taste solution. I was also quite anxious for everything to go well. The panel realized that the references for roasted peanut and peanut skin flavor and aroma were not what they originally evaluated during the generation of terms phase. The cardboard reference was also not sufficient. Thus, we had to discard those references and no evaluation was made on the flavor and aroma. I was glad when the whole thing was finally over. The next session was the actual evaluation phase and, well, I tried to give an objective assessment of the products as best as I could.

The last part of the lab sessions for FS 131 was the consumer testing. We utilized the products in Sir Ciron’s project, high-fiber longganisa products using coconut flour. The test consists of two parts, consumer acceptability on 10 different formulations and consumer preference between a control and a high-fiber product. We were initially tasked to do the tasting on elementary kids aged 10-12 years old. However, due to the difficulty in securing panelists, there was a change of plans and we were asked to recruit mothers. Because of this, the actual consumer testing was delayed for a week. In place of that, we already conducted physico-chemical determination of the characteristics of the control and high-fiber products. Panelists are also very hard to come by since we had little time to recruit and we practically knew no housewives since many of us live in dorms or away from UP to know someone who actually lives on campus. I was in the preparation area during the testing. Many considerations have to be made regarding the products since those containing fiber easily crumble. The drying up of the samples while waiting for the next panelists also had significant effects on the evaluation of the products. The first day of testing was quite a circus since we are all first timers. We were able to organize ourselves more during the afternoon. The second leg of the tests was quite a breeze already. I just recently got hold of two of the questionnaires and may I say that the panelists were not able to answer them adequately. I actually tabulated one who checked two hedonic ratings for one product, and who provided the same answers for her reasons in liking the product which were not related in any way to the product she evaluated. This one consistently liked all of the products. The other one consistently gave dislike ratings for all of the products, at least citing in some products the flavor as the culprit. In other cases, the product is just too shameful to let her husband consume them or else, not suitable for sale. At least we were able to get more information from her.

This is the last of FS 131, besides the report on consumer tests and the upcoming exam. It was a totally different world from the usual food chemistry and microbiology. It aims to validate the qualities achieved during microbiological and physico-chemical testing of certain food products. The activities were also very varied and I am glad to see that there are many aspects of sensory evaluation. Initially, I only thought hedonic scaling was the only way to go since that is what I am used to doing, being a panelist of various sensory evaluations conducted in the college. Many things actually go on behind the scene. Maintenance of product quality prior to evaluation, randomization of samples and serving order, ensuring extraneous factors are minimized during evaluation. There is also such a thing as calibration of the panelists to give a reliable sensory profile of a certain product. Of course, statistical analysis should not be left behind. It’s a whole new world, and developments are coming up every time. Our journal assignment on sensometrics gave me some view on the various methods by which sensory evaluation is constantly being improved. The need to produce goods which meet consumers’ needs and satisfactions and analyzing consumer behavior is the driving force for this field of food science. It’s a promising field and I hope it picks up in the Philippine food industry.

reaching for that... goal!

i got to watch goal! last week. it can be likened to many of the movies which talk about dreams and reaching for them. of course, not all of them feature 3 football giants in the same screen, albeit for only a few seconds. i'm talking about beckham, raul and zidane. of course, you can't take this lightly when the premise is that you're a complete nobody, coming from the latin community of LA. somebody spots you and gives you a ticket to showcase your skills to the manager of one of the bigger teams in england. off you go, and on the way, you encounter a number of obstacles. playing in your first game is just the tip of the iceberg if you do well. and winning game after game must be the greatest feeling of them all. what makes this a nice watch is that you can relate to the feelings of santiago munez. playing football elicits similar feelings in me. love of the game wants me to achieve greater heights that santiago has. in fact, the succeeding goal! movies will feature santi inside the camp bernabeu, home of real madrid, and if this is correct, the last will be his world cup appearance, him being an illegal immigrant and all. just achieving his dreams makes me rejoice for santi, with goosebumps welling up in me as he achieves his dreams.

this brings me to a more important topic: my goals. our teacher in HE 100 has been telling us that without goals, we won't be going anywhere. we should have a map of the things we want to achieve and the things we ought to do to achieve them. this serves as a guide for the things we'll be doing for the next few years or the next decade of our lives. this has bothered me because i have no concrete plans. i only have this general goal that i want to achieve and yet, i'm not sure how i'll get there yet. the means i'm thinking about is not even very nice when you look at it. it's not how many successful people come to achieve their dreams. however, i'm just planning to wing it out, see how the tides go and just plan based on it. i don't think i'm much of a long-term planner person. in fact, if its alright, i wish i will not have to involve myself in a career related to food technology. or not. i'm not sure yet. this social responsibility thing hinges on my mind. work in this field is complicated. chemistry, physics, biology. but it's stuff for CSI if you are in the right job. hmm, i remember thinking i could work in forensics for an exciting career. however, there are a number of things i want to do alongside having a career. so, nothing's resolved. i've just aired it out. let me do some more thinking.