1. Congress on Sensory Evaluation held in Spain satisfies participants' and organizers' expectations

Madrid, May 30, 2005 - Participants and organizers of the 1st International Conference on “Sensory Evaluation - More than just Food” held in Spain from May 25 to 26 were very satisfied with this meeting at Madrid. Delegates of more than 100 industrial companies from a number of countries had gathered at the seminar organized by the Spanish private association ainia centro tecnológico in conjunction with and at the request of the European Sensory Network (ESN). The speakers presented talks and workshops on methodological and practical aspects of sensory analysis in the fields of quality control, product development and consumer research.

Market research by sensory evaluation methods is relatively new in Spain, as it is in many other European countries. It allows to the study of  human responses to sensory and hedonic characteristics of products by means of scientific and objective methods. Odour, taste, colour, aroma, usability, ergonomy, texture, form, package, presentation ... all these aspects influence the perception of a product and the decision as to whether consumers will choose and buy it.

According to the experts at this meeting, methods of sensory evaluation cannot only be applied in the food sector, but also in many other fields of the consumer industry.

In three workshops the speakers presented participants with different kinds of practical examples from three different areas: Quality control in foods, sensory aspects of packing material, and applied consumer studies for non-food and personal care products. Among the practical cases discussed were descriptive evaluation methods for textile materials, a consumer study on detergents, information on statistical methods which may be used in quality control, the selection of adequate packaging materials for different kinds of products and the question as to how consumers perceive and accept these packages.

The experts explained how to create and analyse sensory profiles of different types of products. They  made clear what type of attributes have to be considered in each different case and they described the adequate working methods for doing this.

“This seminar was a great opportunity for the exchange on experiences and methods and a wonderful occasion to reinforce the international cooperation of technological centres with industry”, concluded seminar organizer Mrs. M. José Sanchez of the Spanish ESN member ainia.

For more information please contact:

María José Sánchez Climent  

ainia centro tecnológico

Parque tecnológico de Valencia.

C/Benjamín Franklin 5-11

46980 Paterna / Valencia (Spain) 

Tel. +34 96 136 60 90

Fax: +34 96 131 80 08

 mjsanchezainia.es