The use of innovative sensory techniques: Consumer preference on cooked meat

V. SALVADORI; L. I. SEGURA; S. GOÑI; D. OLIVERA; M. MICAELA URETA

Sitges

Conferencia; 31st EFFoST International Conference; 2017

Understanding consumer?s preference is a dynamic process which demands constant actualization and modernization of the techniques. In this sense, recent studies suggest that applying immersive technologies is the key to obtain more specific and reliable information, due to a higher environmental approach which helps the panellists to be more engaged with the test. Besides, the projective technique as an exploratory tool can provide in-depth information to understand consumer behaviour. On the other hand, although meat colour has been the subject of numerous research works, frequently it was treated qualitatively by means of image analysis (most of them using the AMSA colour guide) and through traditional sensory tests. Besides, there is a lack of combination of these results with processing conditions (heating method, temperature and time). In this sense, immersive and projective methodologies are still unexplored in this field. The main objective of this work is to evaluate, through online surveys, consumers interest and perception on the cooking degree of red meat. Around 400 participants from different countries were asked about their habits referring meat consumption. Applying immersive and projective methodologies, a video footage depicting the sights and sounds experienced regularly when finishing the cooking process and cutting a slice of meat was shown to consumers and they were asked to write their perceptions and preferences using a projective questionnaire. Results showed differences between nationalities regarding the criteria used to determine if the meat is cooked. In this sense, Argentinean consumers preferred a well-cooked sample, which implies longer cooking times. The combination of immersive and projective techniques, incorporating relevant visual and audio cues, generates a consumer more engaged with the testing experience giving assessments that are more reliable compared to those derived from traditional assays.