ASTM International

Physical Requirement Guidelines for Sensory Evaluation Laboratories - 2nd Edition; Includes Access to Additional Content
 N MNL60

Annotation

Introduction

This document has been developed to update a previous ASTM document Physical Requirement Guidelines for Sensory Evaluation Laboratories—ASTM STP 913. This manual is intended to assist the sensory professional who is undertaking the development of a new facility, or remodeling of an existing laboratory.

The field of sensory evaluation has evolved over the past several decades into a scientific discipline of considerable importance to business, university, and government research programs. As a behavioral science, sensory evaluation is designed to evoke, measure, analyze, and interpret reactions to product characteristics as they are perceived by the senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. While early applications of this technique were directed primarily toward studies of foods, beverages, and packaging materials, its more current uses have expanded to include a broad range of consumer and industrial products such as fragrances, tobacco, chemicals, personal care, and household items. Important to the success of any sensory evaluation program is the laboratory setting and environmental conditions in which these studies are conducted. If the appropriate controls are not employed, reduced sensitivity or biased results, or both, are the general outcomes.

In addition to discussions on general and specific preplanning considerations, the manual includes descriptions and layouts of various types of sensory laboratories. The compact disc format allows for the user to locate information applicable to both general and specific types of situations.