Sensory Data Analysis and Future Developments

Sensory analysis is an important tool for food product developers working on dairy products. The sensory perception of quality needs to be determined and considered from raw materials and ingredients right through to finished products. In some situations, a general measurement of product quality may be satisfactory; however, more detailed and complex information about sensory properties is needed for most instances. Sensory analysis can determine the consumer acceptability of the product and identify the intensities of different sensory properties. Specific sensory methodologies have been developed to accurately and reproducibly measure human responses to different food items. This chapter focuses on the sensory methodologies, including acceptance testing, descriptive analysis and rapid sensory methodologies and the appropriate corresponding statistical techniques used to interpret the data generated. Examples of sensory methodologies and their application to dairy products will be presented.