Week two went much smoother than week one since I am beginning to learn the ins and outs of the operation. I was able to help with my first sensory study which was fascinating to experience outside of the classroom setting. The sensory testing allowed me to really get to know the people I am working with since there were a lot of periods of waiting. I learned that during sensory days its important to wear comfortable shoes and to take lots of pictures, since there needs to be proof that the results came from actual people and were not fabricated. Most of the time a three digit code will be used but it was decided by the company we are working with that letters added simplicity which helps prevent possible confusion by the consumers tested. For sensory testing one of the most important things is uniformity, making sure that the set up on the trays and the food given are as similar to one another as possible so that the only unknown variables are the ones trying to be researched such as differences in spices used in the product. Below is a picture of the setup for each of the ten stations and a picture of one of the products worked with in this weeks study.
