No abstract

The sensory characteristics of the high potency sweetener sucralose were studied relative to sucrose, aspartame, saccharin, and acesulfame-K in a simple aqueous system. Trained panelists provided sweetness intensity estimates for each sweetener at six concentration steps using magnitude estimation. Taste profiles were obtained using category scaling procedures. Results indicated that (a) sucralose, aspartame, and sucrose had similar taste properties, (b) the psychophysical sweetness function of sucralose was similar to the other sweeteners studied, and (c) sweetness potencies of all sweeteners were concentration dependent with sucralose having the highest potency values ranging from 400-700 times the sweetness of sucrose on a weight basis.

A simple test from materials science, in which a notched beam is bent so that the notch increases in length due to the propagation of a crack, allows determination of a parameter called the Critical Stress Intensity Factor in Mode I fracture, KIC, by means of which the conditions under which the crack will propagate can be quantified. This is shown to track sensory hardness of several apples, carrot, celery and cucumber with remarkable precision, a result predicted by theoretical analysis due to Lucas et al. (2002). Hardness and crunchiness are shown to be indistinguishable and therefore must be identical. Therefore, a mechanical test can reliably replace a sensory test resulting in quicker, cheaper and more accurate estimate of a sensory parameter.

Addition of l-4 ppm neohesperidin dihydrochalcone to sweet and nonsweet food products modified the intensity of some flavor attributes in all products evaluated, as determined by a panel of trained assessors during a series of descriptive attribute analyses. Flavor enhancements were perceived in all products, although no consistent pattern of enhancement was observed across the product range. Fruit flavors were enhanced across all fruity products, as were some odor attributes. Intensity reductions of some sharp or spicy flavor attributes were also recorded. The great majority of flavor modifications induced were considered to bring about improvements in product sensory quality.

The sensory characteristics of sucralose, aspartame, and sucrose were studied in an unflavored lipid model system varying in fat levels. One study investigated the effects of fat on the potencies (vs. sucrose) of sucralose and aspartame. We also examined absolute changes in all three sweeteners in taste, temporal, and mouthfeel properties at fiied concentrations across a wide fat range. Results indicated a modest decrease in the potencies of sucralose and aspartame across fat concentrations, especially at lower sweetness levels. All sweeteners responded similarly to changes in fat concentration. Independent of fat level, sucralose was perceived more similar to aspartame in onset, bitterness, and aftertaste, than to sucrose.