Is the Term "Food Consistency" Used Consistently in Consumer Science? An Exploratory Study of Consumer Association and Conceptualization.

The post-pandemic context has changed the modes for collecting data in sensory and consumer science. The objectives of this research were to analyze consumers' associations of food consistency and to study two virtual modes of the Free Word Association test (FWA). This test was administered to 209 consumers (180 women, 29 men, 18-45 years old) asynchronously (i.e. self-administered) and synchronously (i.e. face to face interviews). The Cognitive Salience Index (CSI) was calculated, and the structure of the social representation was analyzed. Correspondence analysis showed that food consistency was a mixture of concepts related to structure, hardness and several aspects of auditory (e.g., Crunchy, Crispy), tactile (e.g. Smooth, Spreadable) and oral texture (e.g., Creamy, Gummy). Slightly consistent food was associated with something soft, liquid or semisolid, and very consistent food to something hard and resistant. Consistent food was more related to "very" than to "slightly consistent." The CSI depended on the stimulus presented (p < 0.05). Regarding the social representation structure, the central core had the highest CSI for all stimuli (CSI ≥ 0.13, p < 0.05). Consumers defined "very consistent, consistent and slightly consistent food" by naming more foods in the synchronous mode than in the asynchronous one. In the asynchronous mode, consumers took more time to complete the test. The virtual FWA test (asynchronous or synchronous) showed some differences in the associations of term consistency, due to the lack of spontaneity in the first minute. It is important to adjust the methodologies to standardize the times in both modes.

Satiety and consumers' perceptions: What opinions do Argentinian and Brazilian people have about yogurt fortified with dairy and legume proteins?

This study (1) evaluated the perceptions of Argentinian and Brazilian consumers regarding yogurt fortified with dairy proteins, legume proteins, or a combination of both, and (2) determined the satiety expectations of these foods as well as the consumers' intentions to taste and purchase protein-fortified yogurt. A total of 298 Argentinian and 100 Brazilian participants completed an online survey for this study. The free word association technique was used to investigate their perceptions about "satiety" as a verbal stimulus and 6 concepts of yogurt as visual/verbal stimuli (yogurt, set yogurt, skim set yogurt, skim set yogurt with a high content of dairy proteins, skim set yogurt with a high content of legume proteins, and skim set yogurt with a mix of dairy and legume proteins). The expected satiation and intentions to taste or purchase were evaluated using categorical scales. Regardless of their cultural background, participants from both countries expressed similar associations with the stimuli presented. Yogurt and set yogurt were associated with consumption occasions, sensory characteristics, liking, and foods, whereas skim yogurt was associated with diet food. Products fortified with proteins were associated with healthy foods, regardless of the protein source, and they yielded the highest rates for expected satiation. Brazilian participants were more likely to taste the food with a combination of proteins; however, participants from both countries were indifferent to purchasing the product. Important characteristics in the design and marketing of these products were pleasant sensations, such as "fullness," "satisfied," and snacks to eat "on the go," and the vegetarian consumers' segment. The combination with fruits or cereals, creaminess, and vanilla flavor should also be considered. The study findings could have implications for the dairy industry when designing yogurt fortified with proteins and communicating the nutritional and wholesome properties of these products.

Development of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) waste powder as a potential food ingredient with functional properties.

Salta province, northwestern Argentina, produces blueberries for export and discards fruits with a potential quantity of bioactive compounds. These bioactive compounds have health-promoting properties that prevent or delay the appearance of chronic diseases. This study aimed to formulate blueberry microcapsules using discarded fruit, to determine and evaluate the effect of spray-drying and lyophilization on the bioactive compounds and their physical properties. Fourteen capsule prototypes were obtained by applying a randomized full factorial design with two factors: type of drying and type of wall material. The former factor had two levels (spray-drying and lyophilization) and the latter had three levels, each with defined quantities to be used, namely maltodextrin (0%, 10%, 15%, and 30%), gum Arabic (0%, 10%, 15%, and 30%), and modified starch (0%, 10%, 15%, and 30%). Spray-drying, lyophilization, total polyphenols, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, antioxidant activity, and the physical properties of the microcapsules were analyzed using ANOVA, PCA, and cluster analysis. Results showed significant differences between the two processes (P < 0,05), with lyophilization being better at preserving bioactive compounds. The PCA test also showed a positive association between lyophilization and bioactive compounds, while spray-drying powders were related to negative characteristics, like moisture and water activity.

Physico-chemical and sensory properties of marmalades made from mixtures of fruits and under-exploited Andean tubers.

BACKGROUND: This work studies the added value to the Andean tuber crops through the production of jams. The objective were: (1) to study the sensory and instrumental characteristics of dietetic marmalades made with fruits and Andean tubers; (2) to research consumer's acceptability and emotional responses; (3) to assess the relationship between sensory and instrumental variables and (4) to determine sensory, instrumental and emotional variables that influence the acceptability. RESULTS: Pearson's correlations showed that spreadability was the variable better predicted by sensory and instrumental ones. The analysis of variance showed that sourness increased with the increase of strawberry and the decrease of apple contents (P < 0.05). The acceptability increased when the strawberry proportion was higher. The sweetness-sourness balance drove the hedonic response and some emotions changed from one feeling to its corresponding opposite when the strawberry proportion reached 50 or 60. According to a partial least square 2 and a principal components analysis of sensory/acceptability/emotion data, 'typical', 'autochthonous', 'urban' and 'present' resulted in positive emotions which favored the consumer liking. CONCLUSION: Formulating marmalades with mixtures of fruits and Andean tubers will allow giving value-added to these crops. The elaboration of products using innovative raw materials will be an incentive for farmers to cultivate them. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Composición físico-química y evaluación sensorial de una pasta rellena fresca dietética con adición de fibra prebiótica / Physical and chemical composition and sensory evaluation of dietetic fresh stuffed pasta with addition of prebiotic fiber

La inulina y la oligofructosa pueden utilizarse para incrementar el contenido de fibra dietética en una amplia variedad de alimentos como las pastas alimenticias. Objetivo: El objetivo del trabajo fue elaborar y evaluar sensorialmente una pasta rellena fresca (ravioles) de bajo contenido graso e hiposódica, con el agregado de fibra prebiótica (inulina enriquecida con oligofructosa - Synergy1). Metodología: se elaboraron ravioles de pollo y espinaca (RPE), sin el agregado de cloruro de sodio y con adecuada selección de grasas, en dos proporciones de harina de trigo – Synergy 1 (90:10 y 85:15). Se evaluó Calidad Sensorial (Prueba de Puntuación Compuesta con panel entrenado). La relación porcentual preferida fue seleccionada por Test Pareado Simple y los productos preferidos fueron evaluados a través de Escala Hedónica en 100 consumidores. Se realizaron análisis físico-químicos: humedad, pH, cenizas, sodio, grasas (AOAC) y Fibra Alimentaria Total (FAT) y sus fracciones: soluble e insoluble. Se determinó el porcentaje de cobertura de ingesta de fibra total. Se estimó Valor Calórico -Nutricional por porción. Se calculó el porcentaje de adecuación de fibra total según el valor diario de referencia.Resultados: La Calidad Sensorial de los RPE (90:10 y 85:15) fue de 98 puntos para ambos. La pasta elaborada con la proporción Harina:Synergy1 85:15 resultó preferida (p<0,05). El contenido de Humedad fue de 40,4%; Hidratos de Carbono de 23,0%; Proteínas, 8,4 %; Grasas de 1,4 %; fibra total de 20 g/100g (insoluble: 1,1 g y soluble: 4,9 g); Inulina 14,0 %; Sodio de 83 mg/100g. El pH fue de 7,26 (masa) y 7,30 (relleno). El porcentaje de cobertura de fibra fue del 80% por porción. En lo referido al VCT, este fue de 212 cal%. Conclusiones: Fue factible la elaboración de una pasta rellena fresca dietética, de bajo contenido en grasa e hiposódica, con el agregado de fibra prebiótica con una calidad sensorial óptima y buena aceptabilidad.