To evaluate sensory quality differences between meat stored on PET
and on PET-CIT trays, sensory evaluation of the cooked turkey meat was
carried out using triangle, paired preference and quantitative response
scale tests. Eighteen untrained panellists (students and staff of the School
of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin) were recruited.
For each sensory test, the meat samples were put in white,
opaque containers and coded using three-digit numbers chosen randomly
for each test. The sensory analysis was performed at day 0, day 2 and
day 4 of storage, for which meat was removed from trays and kept at
room temperature for 30 min before being served to the panel. All sessions
were carried out in a sensory analysis laboratory equipped with individual
testing booths and controlled lighting to neutralize any possible
differences in colour or appearance of the meat. A single turkey breast
was used for each sensory test to avoid differences not related to the packaging.
Each sensory test was repeated three times, using three different
turkey breasts. The triangle test (ISO 4120: 2004)was carried on olfactory
and taste parameters. Assessors were asked to smell and taste one different
and two identical samples of meat in the same session and instructed
to indicate the odd sample. Results were compared with tables of minimum
number of correct responses required for significance (ISO 4120:
2004). The paired preference test (ASTM E2263, 2012)was used to determine
an overall preference between meat stored on the PET and on the
PET-CIT trays. For this, assessors were asked to smell and taste the two
meat samples and forced to indicate which one they preferred. The presentation
order, as well as the numbering of the samples, was
randomized for each assessor