EFFECTS OF COLOR AND SWEETENERS ON THE SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF SOFT DRINKS

Abstract

ABSTRACTCollege age panelists, 129 in number, evaluated an artificially cherry flavored soft drink which varied in color level, sweetener level and sweetener type, for overall liking, sweetness, color, flavor, tartness, and aftertaste intensity. Three two‐factor, second order central composite designs were developed which contained either sucrose, aspartame, or aspartame acesulfame‐K in a 60:40 ratio as the sweetener. Each design yielded nine drinks which had five color levels and five orthogonal sweetener levels centered around a commercial sample. Mean panel reponses for each sensory characteristic were subjected to regression modeling, producing a regression equation and a three dimensional prediction surface. Response patterns were then compared both within, and between sweetener types.Sensory responses were sensitive to manipulations of the two independent variables, color and sweetener. Increasing levels of sweetener increased sensory ratings for overall liking, sweetness, flavor and aftertaste, and decreased ratings for tartness. These effects were similar across sweetener types. Non significant effects of color were seen only on flavor, tartness, and aftertaste intensity, and were not found for all sweeteners.