Six Steps to Sensory Evaluation: A practical tool to apply Sensory ScienceH L de Kock*, A Minnaar and M Kinnear
Dept of Food Science, University of Pretoria. South Africa
 riette.dekock up.ac.za
The effective use of Sensory Evaluation as a decision-making tool in industry is often not achieved. Sensory Evaluation is often taught in a manner that does not equip users with the skills to fit appropriate sensory test conditions to industrial questions or problems. In an effort to improve this situation, a logical step approach to applying Sensory Evaluation was developed. The Six Steps to Sensory Evaluation are:
STEP 1: Analyse the sensory question or problem
STEP 2: Define the test objective
STEP 3: Select the test conditions
STEP 4: Run the test
STEP 5: Analyse the results
STEP 6: Take action
The six steps approach begins and ends with the ‘problem or question’ that requires sensory evaluation. While it does not give straightforward answers for all the potential applications of sensory evaluation, it guides the user to make the most appropriate decisions. Step 1 is to find out the answers to the WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE, WHO questions regarding the problem or question. These answers will be used to establish the objective of the test that is required (Step 2). Successful sensory tests require a clear understanding and statement of objectives. Once the test objective is defined, the most appropriate test conditions; including the test method, test environment, test panel and test samples can be established. Detailed planning is the key to running a successful sensory test (Step 4). A suitable method to analyse the test results should be selected (Step 5). The last step of any sensory test is to to interpret the findings by reverting back to the original question (Step 1), consider the test objective (Step 2), take into account the conditions of the test (Step 3), how the test was run (Step 4), interpreting the results (Step 5) and to decide on a course of action (Step 6). Using examples, the practical application of this approach will be demonstrated.
Key words: six steps, industry, sensory problem, test conditions
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