News

Taste team back on location

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June 13, 2022

The taste research of the Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture of Wageningen University & Research takes place again at the WUR research location in Bleiswijk. During the corona crisis, the flavour testing by the panel members of the taste panel were forced to take place in their home situations. Luckily the number of panel members has hardly decreased during the corona period. But WUR is still looking for new members for the taste panel.

Flavor is important for horticultural products. That is why WUR started taste research decades ago. The Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture of Wageningen University & Research has two types of taste panels for food products. First of all, the consumer panel: the approximately 250 panel members of this panel test the liking of a product. In addition, there are trained sensory panels: these assess the presence of different taste attributes.

During the corona crisis, the consumer and sensory panel flavour testing took place at home, as did the tests for new panel members. This had hardly any effect on the number of panel members of the panel. In fact, some panel members had more time during the corona crisis (and therefore did not have to cancel a test) or even brought test packages for family members who are also a member of the panel. This increased diversity within the consumer and sensory panel.

Because corona can have a possible effect on someone's taste experience, all panel members of the panel have been screened again. During a flavour test, the panelists had to recognize the basic flavour tastes. Some panel members they did not pass the basic flavour taste test. They will be eligible for a second chance to hopefully still be able to participate in the taste panel.

More information and registration:

WUR Bleiswijk is looking for new panel members for the taste panel. As a participant, you will take part once every 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the season. In addition, once a year there is a pleasant and informative evening for panel members of the taste panel.