Is the Term "Food Consistency" Used Consistently in Consumer Science? An Exploratory Study of Consumer Association and Conceptualization.

The post-pandemic context has changed the modes for collecting data in sensory and consumer science. The objectives of this research were to analyze consumers' associations of food consistency and to study two virtual modes of the Free Word Association test (FWA). This test was administered to 209 consumers (180 women, 29 men, 18-45 years old) asynchronously (i.e. self-administered) and synchronously (i.e. face to face interviews). The Cognitive Salience Index (CSI) was calculated, and the structure of the social representation was analyzed. Correspondence analysis showed that food consistency was a mixture of concepts related to structure, hardness and several aspects of auditory (e.g., Crunchy, Crispy), tactile (e.g. Smooth, Spreadable) and oral texture (e.g., Creamy, Gummy). Slightly consistent food was associated with something soft, liquid or semisolid, and very consistent food to something hard and resistant. Consistent food was more related to "very" than to "slightly consistent." The CSI depended on the stimulus presented (p < 0.05). Regarding the social representation structure, the central core had the highest CSI for all stimuli (CSI ≥ 0.13, p < 0.05). Consumers defined "very consistent, consistent and slightly consistent food" by naming more foods in the synchronous mode than in the asynchronous one. In the asynchronous mode, consumers took more time to complete the test. The virtual FWA test (asynchronous or synchronous) showed some differences in the associations of term consistency, due to the lack of spontaneity in the first minute. It is important to adjust the methodologies to standardize the times in both modes.

Satiety and consumers' perceptions: What opinions do Argentinian and Brazilian people have about yogurt fortified with dairy and legume proteins?

This study (1) evaluated the perceptions of Argentinian and Brazilian consumers regarding yogurt fortified with dairy proteins, legume proteins, or a combination of both, and (2) determined the satiety expectations of these foods as well as the consumers' intentions to taste and purchase protein-fortified yogurt. A total of 298 Argentinian and 100 Brazilian participants completed an online survey for this study. The free word association technique was used to investigate their perceptions about "satiety" as a verbal stimulus and 6 concepts of yogurt as visual/verbal stimuli (yogurt, set yogurt, skim set yogurt, skim set yogurt with a high content of dairy proteins, skim set yogurt with a high content of legume proteins, and skim set yogurt with a mix of dairy and legume proteins). The expected satiation and intentions to taste or purchase were evaluated using categorical scales. Regardless of their cultural background, participants from both countries expressed similar associations with the stimuli presented. Yogurt and set yogurt were associated with consumption occasions, sensory characteristics, liking, and foods, whereas skim yogurt was associated with diet food. Products fortified with proteins were associated with healthy foods, regardless of the protein source, and they yielded the highest rates for expected satiation. Brazilian participants were more likely to taste the food with a combination of proteins; however, participants from both countries were indifferent to purchasing the product. Important characteristics in the design and marketing of these products were pleasant sensations, such as "fullness," "satisfied," and snacks to eat "on the go," and the vegetarian consumers' segment. The combination with fruits or cereals, creaminess, and vanilla flavor should also be considered. The study findings could have implications for the dairy industry when designing yogurt fortified with proteins and communicating the nutritional and wholesome properties of these products.

Is it possible to obtain food consumption information through children's drawings? Comparison with the Free Listing.

The aims of this research were 1) to study the children's drawings to obtain scientific information about food consumption; 2) to compare this method with an existing one (Free Listing); and 3) to compare fruits- and vegetables-consumed by children of different cultural groups within a same country. Children (n = 105) from two Argentinian cities (Salta in the northwest and 9 de Julio in the Pampean region), reported the fruits and vegetables they consumed, with the Free Listing and the new Free Drawing methods. Contingency tables were built and cognitive saliency indexes (CSI) were calculated. Children evoked 57 fruits and 54 vegetables by both methods, which were then grouped into 31 fruit and 27 vegetable categories. The advantages and limitations of the methods are discussed. Throughout Free Drawing, each food was defined by its name, shape and colour, which allowed better discrimination between varieties. Children from Salta reported consuming more fruits (63.7%) and vegetables (68.6%) than those from 9 de Julio (p < 0.05). Differences between cultural groups were found in 10 fruits and 7 vegetables, mentioned more frequently in Salta, where regional crops arose principally by Free Listing. The CSI did not depend on the method used but, for vegetables, they were affected by the cultural group. The fruits with the greatest CSI were banana and apples followed by orange (CSI≥0.19). Tomatoes, carrot and pumpkins showed the highest CSI in 9 de Julio; while carrot, tomatoes, varieties of lettuce and potatoes had the highest CSI in Salta (0.17 ≤ CSI≤0.33). Free Drawing is a qualitative alternative to study food consumption in children populations through a fun activity without the need for assistants.

Physico-chemical and sensory properties of marmalades made from mixtures of fruits and under-exploited Andean tubers.

BACKGROUND: This work studies the added value to the Andean tuber crops through the production of jams. The objective were: (1) to study the sensory and instrumental characteristics of dietetic marmalades made with fruits and Andean tubers; (2) to research consumer's acceptability and emotional responses; (3) to assess the relationship between sensory and instrumental variables and (4) to determine sensory, instrumental and emotional variables that influence the acceptability. RESULTS: Pearson's correlations showed that spreadability was the variable better predicted by sensory and instrumental ones. The analysis of variance showed that sourness increased with the increase of strawberry and the decrease of apple contents (P < 0.05). The acceptability increased when the strawberry proportion was higher. The sweetness-sourness balance drove the hedonic response and some emotions changed from one feeling to its corresponding opposite when the strawberry proportion reached 50 or 60. According to a partial least square 2 and a principal components analysis of sensory/acceptability/emotion data, 'typical', 'autochthonous', 'urban' and 'present' resulted in positive emotions which favored the consumer liking. CONCLUSION: Formulating marmalades with mixtures of fruits and Andean tubers will allow giving value-added to these crops. The elaboration of products using innovative raw materials will be an incentive for farmers to cultivate them. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Food menus evaluation for most liked products in children from Puna, region of Argentina.

The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptability of varied food menus, preferred by children of 11-14 years located at Puna (3500 m.a.s.l.), in young urban people. The children drew "the preferred menu" which showed that the consumption of vegetables as a main course was comfortable when it was consumed in the form of soups and mixed vegetables. However, some imbalances were detected when evaluating the percentage of daily nutritional values and the caloric distribution of nutrients. Consumer's hedonic scores showed significant acceptability to the cheese empanadas, Andean potato cake and Andean mashed potato. The free word association test suggested that, because of their relationship with culture, the Andean mashed potato, verde potato stew with charqui and anchi of apple could be offered as a traditional food. The acceptability of meals was largely related to the meals having the highest input of energy, fat and carbohydrates but containing the least content of protein and dietary fiber.