Sensory & Consumer Testing | Types of Sensory Testing |
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The Sensory & Product Development Group at IEH provides an integrated approach to improve existing products and develop new products. With support from Sensory and Consumer Testing, we offer a range of technical services to help food manufacturers to improve existing products as well as to continually introduce new ones in the competitive food market.

Shelf-life Studies: Once a product is launched it is essential that the sensory quality of the product be maintained at an acceptable level. IEH offers expertise on shelf-life studies of the product in terms of:

• Designing quality assessment of the product
• Setting sensory specification
• Routine benchmarking of own and competitor product quality
• Measuring storage characteristics and sensory shelf-life

Packaging Studies: Packaging materials can affect the sensory properties of the food product in terms of flavor and texture. IEH offers services to monitor changes such as:

• Taints and off-odors in the product due to packaging material
• Sensory shelf-life of the product due to alternate packaging supplier
• To determine which packaging material best maintains the sensory integrity of the product

Reformulation guidance and alternate vendor supplier: R&D routinely reformulates or changes the ingredient supplier for cost reduction. We can help maintain the quality of your product with the following services:

• Ingredient evaluation
• Difference and similarity testing
• Sensory profiling: appearance, aroma, flavor, texture
• Consumer acceptability testing

Consumer Research: Do you know if your consumers prefer your product? What sensory attributes are desirable in your product? IEH will assist you with consumer opinion and acceptability to better understand what consumers WANT and NEED from your product.

• Consumer acceptability and preference trials: in-store and other public venues
• Consumer attitude to food products and food issues: surveys, in-depth interviews
• Consumer perception of sensory quality
• Questionnaire design

Consultancy and training: In addition, IEH offers a wide range of consultancy and training, including:

• Development of descriptive panel training modules: Customized lexicons and references created for your product.
• Training of QA staff or panels on appearance, flavor and texture assessment.
• Sensory panel formation, training and use.
• Staff screening for sensory panel use.