Juyun Lim

Derivation and evaluation of a labeled hedonic scale.

The objective of this study was to develop a semantically labeled hedonic scale (LHS) that would yield ratio-level data on the magnitude of liking/disliking of sensation equivalent to that produced by magnitude estimation (ME). The LHS was constructed by having 49 subjects who were trained in ME rate the semantic magnitudes of 10 common hedonic descriptors within a broad context of imagined hedonic experiences that included tastes and flavors. The resulting bipolar scale is statistically symmetrical around neutral and has a unique semantic structure. The LHS was evaluated quantitatively by comparing it with ME and the 9-point hedonic scale. The LHS yielded nearly identical ratings to those obtained using ME, which implies that its semantic labels are valid and that it produces ratio-level data equivalent to ME. Analyses of variance conducted on the hedonic ratings from the LHS and the 9-point scale gave similar results, but the LHS showed much greater resistance to ceiling effects and yielded normally distributed data, whereas the 9-point scale did not. These results indicate that the LHS has significant semantic, quantitative, and statistical advantages over the 9-point hedonic scale.

Taste mixture interactions: suppression, additivity, and the predominance of sweetness.

Most of what is known about taste interactions has come from studies of binary mixtures. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether asymmetries in suppression between stimuli in binary mixtures predict the perception of tastes in more complex mixtures (e.g., ternary and quaternary mixtures). Also of interest was the longstanding question of whether overall taste intensity derives from the sum of the tastes perceived within a mixture (perceptual additivity) or from the sum of the perceived intensities of the individual stimuli (stimulus additivity). Using the general labeled magnitude scale together with a sip-and-spit procedure, we asked subjects to rate overall taste intensity and the sweetness, sourness, saltiness and bitterness of approximately equi-intense sucrose, NaCl, citric acid and QSO(4) stimuli presented alone and in all possible binary, ternary and quaternary mixtures. The results showed a consistent pattern of mixture suppression in which sucrose sweetness tended to be both the least suppressed quality and the strongest suppressor of other tastes. The overall intensity of mixtures was found to be predicted best by perceptual additivity. A second experiment that was designed to rule out potentially confounding effects of the order of taste ratings and the temperature of taste solutions replicated the main findings of the first experiment. Overall, the results imply that mixture suppression favors perception of sweet carbohydrates in foods at the expense of other potentially harmful ingredients, such as high levels of sodium (saltiness) and potential poisons or spoilage (bitterness and sourness).

Potential Mechanisms of Retronasal Odor Referral to the Mouth

The current study took a first step toward elucidating the sensory input that drives retronasal odor referral to the mouth. In 2 experiments, subjects performed odor localization tasks under various oral-nasal stimulation conditions that allowed us to assess the effects of direction of airflow, taste, and tactile stimulation on retronasal odor referral. Subjects reported the locations of perceived odors when food odorants were inhaled through the mouth alone or in the presence of water or various tastants in the mouth. The results indicated that when perceived alone, vanilla and soy sauce odor were localized 54.7%: 26.4%: 18.9% and 60.0%: 21.7%: 18.3% in the nose, oral cavity, and on the tongue, respectively. The localization of odors alone was not significantly different from when water was presented simultaneously in the mouth, indicating that tactile stimulation itself is not sufficient to enhance odor referral. However, the presence of sucrose, but not other tastes, significantly increased localization of vanilla to the tongue. Likewise, only NaCl significantly augmented referral of soy sauce odor to the tongue. These data indicate that referral of retronasal odors to the mouth can occur in the absence of a either taste or touch but that referral to the tongue depends strongly on the presence of a congruent taste.

Sensory characteristics and relative sweetness of tagatose and other sweeteners.

UNLABELLED The present study investigated the sensory characteristics and relative sweetness of tagatose, an emerging natural low-calorie sweetener with various functional properties, compared to other sweeteners (sucrose, sucralose, erythritol, rebaudioside A), over a wide range of sweetness commonly found in foods and beverages (3% to 20% sucrose [w/v]). A total of 34 subjects evaluated aqueous solutions of the 5 sweeteners for the perceived intensities of sweetness, bitterness, astringency, chemical-like sensations, and sweet aftertaste, using the general version of the Labeled Magnitude Scale. The relationship between the physical concentrations of the sweeteners and their perceived sweetness (that is, psychophysical functions) was derived to quantify the relative sweetness and potency of the sweeteners. The results suggest that tagatose elicits a sweet taste without undesirable qualities (bitterness, astringency, chemical-like sensations). Out of the 5 sweeteners tested, rebaudioside A was the only sweetener with notable bitterness and chemical-like sensations, which became progressively intense with increasing concentration (P < 0.001). In terms of perceived sweetness intensity, the bulk sweeteners (tagatose, erythritol, sucrose) had similar sweetness growth rates (slopes > 1), whereas the high-potency sweeteners (sucralose, rebaudioside A) yielded much flatter sweetness functions (slopes < 1). Because the sweetness of tagatose and sucrose grew at near-identical rates (slope = 1.41 and 1.40, respectively), tagatose produced about the same relative sweetness to sucrose across the concentrations tested. However, the relative sweetness of other sweeteners to sucrose was highly concentration dependent. Consequently, sweetness potencies of other sweeteners varied across the concentrations tested, ranging from 0.50 to 0.78 for erythritol, 220 to 1900 for sucralose, and 300 to 440 for rebaudioside A, while tagatose was estimated to be approximately 0.90 times as potent as sucrose irrespective of concentration. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The present study investigated the sensory characteristics and relative sweetness of tagatose, an emerging natural low-calorie sweetener, compared to other sweeteners. Study results suggest that tagatose elicits a sweet taste without undesirable qualities over a wide range of concentrations. Tagatose produced about the same relative sweetness to sucrose across the concentrations tested, while the relative sweetness of other sweeteners was highly concentration dependent. The present data provide a general guideline when considering the use of tagatose and other sweeteners in foods and beverages.

Oral sensations from iron and copper sulfate

In previous work, retronasal smell was an important cue for perceiving metallic sensations from ferrous sulfate (FeSO4). The purpose of this study was to examine whether FeSO4 produced oral sensations as well as retronasal cues and whether astringency contributed to the oral sensations. In the first study, discrimination of FeSO4 from water was confirmed at concentrations at or above 5 mM without retronasal flow. A second study examined whether FeSO4 and CuSO4 could be detected on a non-gustatory region by tactile sensations. Astringency was perceived when the copper sulfate solution was applied to non-gustatory surfaces between the gum and the upper lip with or without retronasal cues. However, rated astringency for FeSO4 was less than that for CuSO4, and not significantly different from water. Other gustatory or tactile sensations from iron salts may contribute to their oral sensations and the possibility remains that at least one part of metallic sensation may be a metallic taste.

Evidence that Humans Can Taste Glucose Polymers

The sense of taste is essential for identifying potential nutrients and poisons. Accordingly, specialized taste receptor cells are activated by food-derived chemicals. Because of its importance in the human diet, oral detection of starch, or its degradation products, would presumably be highly beneficial. Yet, it has long been assumed that simple sugars are the only class of carbohydrates that humans can taste. There is, however, considerable evidence that rodents can taste starch degradation products (i.e., glucose polymers composed of maltooligosaccharides with 3-10 glucose units and maltopolysaccharides with >10 glucose units) and that their detection is independent of the sweet taste receptor, T1R2/T1R3. The present study was designed 1) to measure individual differences in human taste perception of glucose polymers, 2) to understand individual differences in the activity of salivary α-amylase, and 3) to investigate the role that salivary α-amylase may play in the taste perception of glucose polymers. In the first experiment, subjects rated taste intensity of glucose, sucrose, NaCl, and glucose polymers of various chain lengths, while their noses were clamped. Saliva samples from the subjects were also collected and their salivary α-amylase activity was assayed. Results showed that the perceived intensities of glucose, sucrose, and NaCl were significantly correlated (r = 0.75-0.85, P < 0.001), but not with the longer chain glucose polymers, whereas intensity ratings of all glucose polymers were highly correlated with one another (r = 0.69-0.82, P < 0.001). Importantly, despite large individual differences in α-amylase activity among subjects, responsiveness to glucose polymers did not significantly differ between individuals with high and low α-amylase activity. A follow up experiment was conducted to quantify the concentrations of glucose and maltose that were inherently present in the glucose polymer stimuli and to determine whether the amounts were within a perceptually detectable range. Results revealed that the amounts of simple sugars present in the test stimuli were trivial and were mostly at an undetectable level. These data together provide strong evidence that humans can taste glucose polymers and that the responsiveness to glucose polymers is independent of that to simple sugars.

Effects of Stimulus Intensity on Odor Enhancement by Taste

Enhancement of retronasal odors by sucrose has been shown to be a reliable perceptual phenomenon of taste–odor interactions. It is unknown, however, whether stimulus intensity modulates the degree of odor enhancement. The present study was therefore designed to investigate how the intensity of odor and taste alone affects the degree of odor enhancement. In the first experiment, subjects rated the intensities of taste and odor for aqueous solutions of sucrose and citral at three concentrations, both alone and in binary mixtures. The results showed that sucrose significantly increased the “citrus” ratings to an extent that was inversely related to the intensity of citral alone. Interestingly, the increase in sucrose intensity had insignificant effects on odor enhancement. To test the reliability of the relationship between odor intensity and the degree of enhancement, a second experiment was conducted in which subjects inhaled three concentrations of citral in vapor phase via the mouth while tasting sucrose. This procedure also provided an opportunity to rule out the possibility that the odor enhancement is the result of, at least in part, physicochemical interactions between sucrose and volatiles. Consistent with the previous results, the presence of sucrose in the mouth significantly enhanced the “citrus” ratings compared to when citral was inhaled alone, and the odor intensity relationship was preserved. These findings demonstrate that odor enhancement by sucrose is a perceptual phenomenon that occurs independent of physicochemical interactions between flavor components and that the degree of enhancement is greater when retronasal odors are weak.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Taint in Pinot noir: Detection and Consumer Rejection Thresholds of trans-2-Decenal

Brown marmorated stink bug contamination in grape clusters results in the addition of an aroma compound, trans-2-decenal (T2D), to wine. Described as a green, musty aroma, it is considered detrimental to wine quality. The main focus of this study was to estimate the detection threshold (DT) and consumer rejection threshold (CRT) of T2D in Pinot noir, determine T2D’s impact on wine quality, and investigate potential consumer segmentation. The two thresholds were measured using an ascending forced choice method of limits applied to a series of triangle and paired comparison tests, and were estimated with a psychometric function whose significance was based on a binomial distribution as well as on d′ values based on Thurstonian models. The method of quantitation resulted in different T2D threshold levels. The DT of the panel was estimated to be 0.51 μg/L T2D from a psychometric fit and between 1.92 and 4.80 μg/L T2D based on Thurstonian scaled values. Similarly, for CRT, the psychometric function resulted in a threshold of 13.0 and 0.05 μg/L and d′ values between 4.80 and 12.00 μg/L. Wines containing T2D above the CRT were described as green, musty, and less fruity by a professional wine-tasting panel. When potential consumer segmentation was examined on the basis of the DT and CRT data, there was no direct link between sensitivity and preference. Based on these findings, the use of the CRT is recommended when establishing consumer tolerance levels of T2D in wine. Additionally, the use of d′, which provides a more sensitive method of threshold estimation, seems more appropriate for compounds, such as T2D, that negatively affect wine quality.

Human taste detection of glucose oligomers with low degree of polymerization

Studies have reported that some animals, including humans, can taste mixtures of glucose oligomers (i.e., maltooligosaccharides, MOS) and that their detection is independent of the known T1R2/T1R3 sweet taste receptor. In an effort to understand potential mechanisms underlying the taste perception of glucose oligomers in humans, this study was designed to investigate: 1) the variability of taste sensitivity to MOS with low degree-of-polymerization (DP), and 2) the potential role of hT1R2/T1R3 in the MOS taste detection. To address these objectives, a series of food grade, narrow-DP-range MOS were first prepared (DP 3, 3–4, 5–6, and 6–7) by fractionating disperse saccharide mixtures. Subjects were then asked to discriminate these MOS stimuli as well as glucose (DP 1) and maltose (DP 2) from blanks after the stimuli were swabbed on the tongue. All stimuli were presented at 75 mM with and without a sweet taste inhibitor (lactisole). An α-glucosidase inhibitor (acarbose) was added to all test stimuli to prevent oral digestion of glucose oligomers. Results showed that all six stimuli were detected with similar discriminability in normal tasting conditions. When the sweet receptor was inhibited, DP 1, 2, and 3 were not discriminated from blanks. In contrast, three higher-DP paired MOS stimuli (DP 3–4, 5–6, and 6–7) were discriminated from blanks at a similar degree. Overall, these results support the presence of a sweet-independent taste perception mechanism that is stimulated by MOS greater than three units.

Evidence of terroir in milk sourcing and its influence on Cheddar cheese

The concept of local food is rapidly gaining importance within the United States. The foundation of local food is terroir, which links a food to its production environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate evidence of terroir in milk sourcing and its influence on Cheddar cheese flavor. Specifically, the study was designed to assess if consumers could differentiate between Cheddar cheeses made with milk from different dairy farms. Milk from 5 locations, including single dairy farms and commingled sites, was collected from around the state of Oregon. Using raw and pasteurized counterparts of the milk, Cheddar cheese was made and aged. At 5 and 9mo into aging, Cheddar cheese consumers were asked to group the samples based on perceived similarity/dissimilarity of cheese flavor. Grouping data were subjected to multidimensional scaling and subsequent cluster analysis. Results at 5mo into aging revealed that cheeses made by milk originating from different farms (80km apart) within the same region were perceived as different, whereas cheeses made with milk from neighboring farms (5km apart) were grouped together, irrespective of heat treatment (i.e., raw vs. pasteurized). Cheeses made with commingled milk from different regions grouped together. At 9mo of aging, in contrast, a clear separation of perceived flavor was present between the pasteurized and raw cheese samples, whereas the effect of milk sourcing was less pronounced. These data suggest that the geographical location of the milk source has an effect on the flavor of Cheddar cheese, but that the practices of milk commingling and heat treatment likely reduce the effect of geographical location, particularly as cheese ages.