Search

Bottled water has become a popular beverage choice worldwide, with consumers increasingly seeking healthier options. However, label elements can significantly influence consumer perception and purchasing decisions. The research aimed to assess how label elements affect the liking, purchase intention, preference and concept of healthy bottled water. Two stages involved 180 and 100 participants aged between 18 and 40, provided sociodemographic information. The first stage used a hedonic scale and ranking test to perception of nine labels with different elements. The second stage selected a consensus label from prior tests. Four labels were designed, differing in brand color and nutritional information placement. In this last stage, the acceptability, preference ranking and concept of healthy were re-evaluated and eye tracking via the Pupil Lab program. Findings showed varied responses in acceptability and purchase intention among consumers. However, significant differences were observed in preferences and healthiness perceptions based on label characteristics. The label with the highest preference and perceived healthiness featured a sky-blue design with nutritional information on the right side. Combining sensory testing and eye tracking offers valuable insights for designing labels that positively impact consumer perception. The results provide important implications for bottled water manufacturers and marketers in developing effective labeling strategies to meet consumer preferences and promote healthier choices.

This research focused on analyzing the biometric, colorimetric and morphological characteristics of thirty seeds, covering legumes, cereals and oilseeds. Thirteen legumes, fourteen cereals and three oilseeds were collected from three different locations. The methodology used was descriptive, applying multivariate multiple factorial and cluster analysis. The results showed variability between biometric, chromatic and morphological characteristics among the seeds. Predominant shapes include circular, oval, oblong, less frequently kidney and lanceolate. Significant differences in biometric parameters stand out, evidencing similarities in colorimetric parameters. Specifically, Pallar and Bean exhibited greater equatorial dimensions, length, weight, 100 g weight, area and perimeter, While peanut and Chickpea presented greater thickness. In terms of colorimetry - luminosity, Pallar, Yellow corn and Tarwi presented higher values unlike Black lentils, Purple corn and Black beans, being less luminous. Multivariate tests revealed the formation of four groups based on the parameters studied. This study provides valuable information about the different seeds, establishing a basis for their propagation and improvement in the Peruvian context.

The aim of the present research was to determine if the developed ovo−vegetarian sausage (SO), which was made with 15% chickpea flour, 51% albumin and 34% soy protein concentrate, exhibited improved physicochemical and sensory characteristics compared to vegetarian sausages available on the local market (classic vegan sausage, SC; vegan fine herb sausage, SH; and quinoa sausage, SQ). According to the physicochemical results, the developed sample, SO, presented significant differences (p < 0.05) compared to the others, including higher protein content, lower pH and a higher a* value. Three types of sensory analyses were conducted—flash profile, overall liking and purchase intention (to determine consumers’ willingness to purchase the product)—with the first involving 15 consumers and the second and third involving 60 participants each. Descriptors for each sample were determined using the vocabulary provided by consumers in the flash profile analysis. Descriptors for SO included ‘elastic’, ‘smell of cooked corn’, ‘characteristic flavor’, ‘pasty’, ‘soft’ and ‘pastel color’, contributing to its greater overall liking and purchase intention compared to the others. Through the hierarchical multiple factor analysis, a positive correlation was observed between the texture and sensory descriptors of the flash profile. Conversely, a correlation was found between the physicochemical characteristics (pH, aw, color) and overall liking and purchase intention.

In recent years, the consumption of gluten-free products has increased due to the increasing prevalence of celiac disease and the increased preference for gluten-free diets. This study aimed to make cookies using a mixture of cañihua flour, whey, and potato starch. The use of a Box–Behnken design allowed for flexible ingredient proportions and physicochemical properties, centesimal composition, color, texture, and sensory attributes to be evaluated through consumer tests (Sorting and acceptability). The results highlighted significant variations in physicochemical data, composition, color, and texture across formulations. The blend with 38.51% cañihua flour, 10.91% sweet whey, 25.69% potato starch, 8.34% margarine, 11.10% sugar, 0.19% sodium chloride, 0.51% baking powder, 0.51% vanilla essence, and 4.24% egg exhibited superior sensory appeal. This formulation boasted excellent texture, aroma, flavor, color, and appearance, indicating high sensory and physicochemical quality. The use of cañihua flour, sweet whey, and potato starch not only provides a gluten-free option but also delivers a nutritious and sensorily pleasing choice for those with dietary restrictions. Future research could explore the commercial viability of producing these cookies on a larger scale, as well as investigating the potential health benefits of these ingredients.

In Peru, the consumption of panettone has increased, highlighting the importance of its sensory aspect, quality and price for its acceptance. This study evaluated sensory, physicochemical, texture and color attributes in commercial and traditional panettones. The RATA descriptive test and the discriminative sorting task were used, with 168 and 92 consumers, respectively. In addition, acceptability and purchase intention were evaluated. Significant differences were found between the samples; the traditional panettone showed lower weight, pH and fat content. Regarding the color of the crust and crumb, differences were also observed between both types. Regarding texture, traditional panettone showed less hardness and chewiness compared to commercial ones. The sorting method allowed us to differentiate the samples, where consumers differentiated the traditional panettone from the commercial ones, although within the commercial ones, they also found differences. The RATA test showed a similar behavior, traditional panettones were described as spongy, with fruits and a strong smell, unlike the commercial ones characterized as greasy, brown and fibrous. It is concluded that sensory methods are useful to understand the quality of panettone along with the physicochemical parameters, which influence consumer preferences according to the sensory characteristics and the quality of the ingredients.

The increasing prevalence of celiac disease and gluten intolerance has led to an increased demand for gluten-free food products in Peru. The research objective was to develop gluten-free cookies from substitute flours, evaluating their physicochemical and sensory parameters. Eight formulations were developed using 100% broad bean, chickpea, pea, kiwicha, quinoa, lentil, corn, and bean flour. One hundred consumers participated in this evaluation (59% women and 41% men). A completely randomized design (CRD) and a randomized complete block design (RCBD) were used for physicochemical analysis and acceptability, respectively. To describe the sensory characteristics of the cookies, Cochran’s Q-test and correspondence analysis (CA) were performed. From the results obtained, the lentil cookie presented the highest amount of protein and fiber but lower fat and carbohydrate contents compared to the other samples. In terms of color, the corn cookie was the lightest, with greater luminosity (L*), less redness (a*), and greater yellowness (b*). Regarding the sensory analysis, the CATA questions allowed us to form six groups, and the samples with the greatest acceptability were the corn and chickpea cookies, which were rated as “I like them.” Lentil flour crackers are a nutritionally adequate option, and corn flour crackers are highly sensorially acceptable, suggesting commercial opportunities for softer and more flavorful gluten-free products. However, it is crucial to continue researching and developing innovative products to meet changing market demands and offer healthier and more attractive options to consumers.

Wheat flour is a common raw material in the food industry; however, Andean grains, such as quinoa and kiwicha, are gaining popularity due to their quality proteins, fiber, and bioactive compounds. A trend has been observed toward the enrichment of products with these Andean flours, with them even being used to develop gluten-free foods. However, evaluating interactions between raw materials during industrial processes can be complicated due to the diversity of inputs. This study focused on evaluating the technofunctional and rheological properties of wheat, quinoa and kiwicha flours using a simple lattice mixture design. Seven treatments were obtained, including pure flours and ternary mixtures. Analyses of particle size distribution, water absorption index, subjective water absorption capacity, soluble material index, swelling power, apparent density and physicochemical properties were performed. Additionally, color analysis, photomicrographs and Raman spectroscopy were carried out. The results indicate significant differences in properties such as particle size, water absorption and rheological properties between the flours and their mixtures. Variations in color and microstructure were observed, while Raman spectroscopy provided information on molecular composition. These findings contribute to the understanding of the behavior of Andean flours in baking and pastry making, facilitating their application in innovative food products.

In Peru, there are more than four thousand plants with medicinal properties, including muña, which helps digestion and improves health. The way to preserve these plants is drying up. The objective of this research was to investigate the coefficient of diffusion, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy in the drying kinetics of muña leaves. Different pretreatments were carried out on the samples (without pretreatment, as well as treated by immersion in 1% ascorbic acid and bleaching at 60 °C for 30 s), and they were dehydrated at three temperatures (40, 50, and 60 °C). The drying kinetics were modeled using eight mathematical models to represent the drying curve. The water content was reduced by the drying process. The logarithmic model was selected, as it showed the best fit to represent the drying kinetics of the muña. Activation energy values were similar between treatments (p > 0.05). The increase in temperature decreases the enthalpy and entropy and increases the Gibbs free energy with the effective diffusion coefficient. The drying kinetics allows one to determine the drying time for the storage of the product and the thermodynamic properties for the design of the equipment.

Enrichment is the addition of nutrients to a food that does not contain them naturally, which is conducted in a mandatory manner and in order to solve a nutritional deficiency in the population. Enriched petipan are products that contain heme iron. The objective of this research was to evaluate the physical, chemical, mechanical and sensory characteristics of petipan produced with Andean grain flours and heme iron concentrate. A completely randomized design (CRD) with five experimental treatments was used with different levels of heme iron. The results show the direct influence of the heme concentration level on the chromatic, mechanical and textural characteristics of petipan. As the heme concentrate increases, its mechanical properties are considerably affected, with there being a correlation between the color intensity and a considerable reduction in its porosity. Samples without heme iron (T0) and 1% heme iron concentrate (T1) present the best mechanical and sensory characteristics; however, the incorporation of heme concentrate directly influences its nutritional, textural, and mainly chromatic components.

El desarrollo de alimentos involucra el uso de herramientas sensoriales rápidas y que permitan explorar la percepción del consumidor. Se determinó el perfil sensorial ideal de cabanossi con carne de llamas alimentadas con tres tipos de piensos (pastura natural, alfalfa y con vitaminas) empleando el método CATA, en comparación a dos muestras comerciales (CC1 y CC2). Se evaluaron la humedad, pH, actividad de agua, color y la textura. La humedad y color externo (L*) e interno (a*, b*, C*) fueron semejantes entre los cabanossi con carne de llama, pero diferentes a los comerciales. Los parámetros mecánicos (dureza y masticabilidad) fueron superiores para las muestras de cabanossi con carne de llama. Participaron 80 consumidores en el perfil ideal basado en preguntas CATA, encontrando diferencias significativas en todos los descriptores utilizados. Los atributos sensoriales indispensables para la aceptabilidad fueron: salado, olor característico/embutido y masticable. Referente al análisis de penalidad, se encontraron atributos positivos (masticable y blando/suave) y negativos (duro, olor humo y color marrón), que se deben considerar para reformular el producto. El cabanossi procedente del sistema de alimentación con pastura natural (CS1) fue semejante al producto ideal. Esto evidencia que el origen de la materia prima repercute en las características de calidad del producto terminado (sensoriales, fisicoquímicas y mecánicas) vinculadas a las necesidades que el consumidor idealiza.

The need for partial or total substitution of animal protein sources by vegetable sources of high protein quality with good sensory acceptance is a promising alternative. The objective was to develop a hamburger with vegetable protein using a mixture design based on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), Peruvian Andean corn (Zea mays) and Andean lupine (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet). The design of these mixtures allowed obtaining eleven formulations, three of which were selected for complying with the amino acid intake for adults recommended by FAO. Then, a completely randomized design was applied to the selected samples plus a commercial product. Proximal composition was measured on a dry basis (protein, fat, carbohydrates, and ash), calculation of the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) and a sensory analysis was carried out using the Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) method with acceptability in 132 regular consumers of vegetarian products. Protein, fat, carbohydrate, and ash contents ranged from 18.5–24.5, 4.1–7.5, 65.4–72.1 and 2.8–5.9%, respectively. The use of Andean crops favored the protein content and the contribution of sulfur amino acids (SAA) and tryptophan from quinoa and lysine and threonine from lupin. The samples with Andean crops were described as easy to cut, soft, good, healthy, legume flavor, tasty and light brown, however the commercial sample was characterized as difficult to cut, hard, dark brown, uneven color, dry and grainy. The sample with 50% quinoa and 50% lupin was the most acceptable and reached a digestibility of 0.92. It complied with the lysine, threonine, and tryptophan intake, with the exception of SAA, according to the essential amino acid pattern proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

In Peru, panettones are consumed in July and December. The main ingredient of panettones is wheat flour, which can be replaced with substitute flours to improve their nutritional, textural and sensory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical, textural and sensory characteristics of panettones produced with three preferments, namely, biga (PB), sourdough (PMM) and sponge (PE), with the substitution of red quinoa flour and amaranth compared with a commercial product (PC). A completely randomized design with four experimental treatments was used to evaluate the total carbohydrate content, ash, total energy, fat, moisture, protein, color and texture profile. In addition, sensory characteristics were evaluated by 80 consumers using the CATA method; the purchase intention and preference ranking were also investigated. The results showed better sensory characteristics of panettones produced with preferments compared with a commercial product with similar characteristics. The sponge preferment presented better sensory characteristics with a profile of sweet, spongy, vanilla odor and moist texture, along with greater acceptability, preference and purchase intention, followed closely by the biga. It was concluded that the sponge preferment presented better sensory properties, which were correlated with its texture profile as manifested by an intermediate hardness, good elasticity and cohesiveness, which translated into greater acceptability, preference and purchase intention.