DETERMINATION OF THE SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF DRIED MILK POWDERS AND DAIRY INGREDIENTS

ABSTRACT A standardized descriptive language for skim milk powder and dried dairy ingredients was developed. The lexicon was initially identified from a large sample set of dried dairy ingredients (138). A highly trained descriptive panel (n = 14) refined terms and identified references. Dried dairy ingredients (36) were then evaluated using the developed language. Twenty‐one descriptors were identified for dried dairy ingredients. Seventeen flavors and tastes were identified in skim milk powders (27) with nine flavors/tastes observed in all skim milk powders. Dried dairy ingredients were differentiated using the language (P<0.05). There were flavors common to all dried dairy ingredients while other flavors were specific to particular products.