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DEVELOPMENT OF A SENSORY TEST METHOD FOR ODOR MEASUREMENT IN A PACKAGE HEADSPACE
Author(s) -
REINBACH HELENE C.,
ALLESENHOLM BODIL,
KRISTOFFERSSON LARS,
BREDIE WENDER L.P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of sensory studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1745-459X
pISSN - 0887-8250
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-459x.2011.00328.x
Subject(s) - odor , brightness , repeatability , intensity (physics) , scale (ratio) , computer science , artificial intelligence , statistics , mathematics , psychology , optics , physics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience
The aim of the present study was to develop a sensory method to evaluate off‐odors in a package headspace relative to a reference scale. Selection of panelists was performed with a questionnaire and with the Sniffin' stick test. A 1‐butanol reference scale and three types of scales (a 15‐cm line, a color‐graded brightness line scale and a color‐graded brightness category scale) were compared. 1‐butanol proved to be a reliable reference scale for the off‐odor intensity in the package headspace. The type of scales did not affect the odor intensity ratings; however, the color‐graded brightness line scale tended to give a greater accuracy of scored odor intensity. The color‐graded brightness scale may strengthen the repeatability of the intensity measures due to the cross‐modal support in the judgment processes. The method allows the conversion of intensity judgment of a package headspace to a physical intensity scale of 1‐butanol and thus provides a valuable reference for comparing different package assessments over time. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS A method for assessing off‐odors in a package headspace is developed. The method development includes everything from selection and monitoring of the sensory panel to evaluation of different scaling techniques. Finally, a reliable and overtime fairly reproducible method for the evaluation of off‐odors in the headspace of packages is presented.