Highlight of important product characteristics for consumers. Comparison of three sensory descriptive methods performed by consumers

Sensory and flavor-aroma profiles of passion fruit juice fermented by potentially probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CCMA 0743 strain

Several non-dairy probiotic beverages are already available to consumers and have been considered suitable carriers for probiotic bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CCMA 0743 in single and co-culture on the volatile compounds and sensory profiles of fermented passion fruit juice. The viability of strains inoculated in juice and MRS matrices was evaluated in a simulated gastrointestinal condition. The bacterial viability after 28 days of refrigerated storage of the juices was also evaluated. L. plantarum CCMA 0743 showed high viability (6.18 Log CFU/mL) after passage throughout simulated digestion in the passion fruit juice matrix. Both juices maintained high probiotic counts (>8.0 Log CFU/mL) during storage. Also, the yellow color was stable after 28 days of storage. Volatile compounds of passion fruit juices were modified after the fermentation process, such as ketones and alcohol formation degradation. The sensory profile of passion fruit juice was modified by single and co-culture fermentations. The fermented samples were mainly correlated with the terminologies "salty, acidic and bitter tastes" and "sweetener aftertaste". Overall, passion fruit juice proved to be an adequate food matrix to deliver the evaluated strains. However, individual strains or strain-strain interactions with the food matrix affect the fermented product, demonstrating that strain and matrices evaluations are essential for developing novel products with acceptable characteristics.

Sensory methods applied to the development of probiotic and prebiotic foods

Food containing probiotics and prebiotics is one of the top-selling functional foods around the world. For the foods containing probiotics and prebiotics to be successful, their inclusion can not detract from a consumers' liking of the food product or impart negative sensory properties in the food product. Sensory analysis must be completed to ensure the inclusion of prebiotics and probiotics does not detract from the food item. Sensory analysis allows food product developers to make educated decisions and evaluate the sensory properties of new food products, including functional foods containing probiotics and prebiotics. Additionally, food product developers need a clear understanding of which method or technique should be used based on the objective of the testing, experimental design, validity and reliability of the method. This chapter focuses on the importance of sensory evaluation techniques in the development of functional food containing prebiotics and probiotics. Examples of sensory methodologies and their application to the production of food containing probiotics and prebiotics will be presented.