“Challenges related to how sensory parameters of beyond food products are measured as they are experienced throughout the day”
The members of the E3S Beyond Food working group aim to develop methods that allow for the measurement of various sensory stimuli and their respective influences within the same day. To support this initiative, they are presenting a poster at Eurosense 2024 named “Challenges related to how sensory parameters of beyond food products aremeasured as they are experienced throughout the day”
Authors: Zeineb NHOUCHI1, Irène BACLE2, Monica BORGOGNO3, Lise DREYFUSS4, Marc LAVARDE5, Anne-Marie PENSÉ-LHÉRITIER6, Lauren ROGERS7, Liz SHEEHAN8, Barbara SIEGMUND9
1ISIPCA, SFAS,
2Sens’ib Consulting, SFAS,
3Mérieux NutriSciences, SISS,
4SAM Sensory and Consumer Research, SFAS,
5Ecole de Biologie Industrielle, SFAS,
6FRMGaleSens, SFAS,
7Lauren Rogers (freelance sensory scientist), Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) UK,
8SRLPharmaSenses, Sensory Food Network Ireland,
9Graz University of Technology, SNÖ (Austria Sensory Society)
The sensory experiences of non-food products as they are perceived throughout the day are
multidimensional, involving all the human senses. These sensory encounters can play a pivotal
role in shaping individuals' attitudes and psychological states, as well as daily consumption and
usage. Thus, there is a dynamic interplay between sensory perceptions and daily activities
requiring an interesting and challenging variety of sensory methods. The experts of the E3S
Beyond Food group suggest presenting a poster that illustrates a timeline throughout the day,
with various products highlighting the diverse challenges faced during the implementation of
sensory methodologies. The sensory exposure of everyone is uninterrupted throughout the
waking period and individual variability may be considered as a major challenge for perception
because people exhibit diverse sensitivities to stimuli such as texture, color, and scent. For
example, the day begins with skincare products stimulating tactile and olfactory senses, and
often involves an interaction with medicines for some of us. Midday brings environmental
interactions, vibrant colours, and varied cuisines. The early evening is dedicated to sport, with
the perception of perspiration followed by the smell of shampoo. Additionally, the visual
stimuli generated by packaging and product design, and their interactions, can have a profound
effect on the overall product. The night brings artificial lighting and calming scents for sleep
preparation, intertwining sensory experiences.
Throughout the day, the consumer interacts with many environmental factors, including
lighting conditions and ambient noise, which can influence sensory perception, adding
additional layers of complexity and challenges to product assessment. Time-dependent
variations in sensory acuity may also play a role, with factors such as fatigue and circadian
rhythms affecting an individual's sensitivity. Therefore, designing products that maintain
consistent appeal, and developing the sensory methods to assess them, across these dynamic
conditions becomes a difficult task.