Pilot studies for investigation of congruency and pleasantness of aroma-test product combinations for use in future studies.

It is commonly known that the problems concerning obesity and overconsumption
are increasing. Highly satiating products that induce an early meal termination
might be one of the solutions against obesity. In future studies (e.g. the
study SenSation of which the protocol is also handed in in oktober 2008) we
want to get more insight in the relationship between several characteristics of
aroma and ad libitum intake.
Before we can perform these studies we need to do some smaller scale
experiments (pilot studies),to help making the decisions for the right stimuli.
This choice of stimuli is very complicated (but important) and there are many
criteria that the aroma*s and the test products need to meet before the larger
studies can be a success.
The larger studies will give a better understanding of the influence of aroma
on satiation and food intake of healthy women.

We will perform pilot studies for three different experiments:
A) Finding two congruent combinations of aroma and base products that are
either associated with high energy dense products or low energy dense products,
which we can use in the SenSation study.
For the SenSation study we need a base products that has to combine well with
two different aromas (one that is associated with high energy dense products
and one associated with low energy dense products). The aromas need to be equal
in liking.
B) Finding an aroma that is equal in quality and liking at different
intensities.
C) Getting more insight in what consumers perceive as aroma complexity.

12 participants are recruited to participate in these pilot studies. They are
asked to visit the test location 4 times during lunch time.
Every test day the participants are asked to evaluate 12 test products, offered
in blocks of 3 products. In between they have 10 minutes to rest.
A suction catheter will be inserted in their nose, through which they will
receive aroma during the tasting of the test products. Every 30 seconds a new
sip of test product will be pumped into their mouth by a peristatic pump.
During the testing they will receive instructions via a computer screen,
telling them when the soup will flow into their mouth, when they have to
swallow and when to fill in questions.
Depending on the test day they are asked to fill in several questions about the
test product (e.g. pleasantness, congruency, intensity or complexity). At the
end of the session they will be asked to fill in an evaluation form.

In total 48 combinations of base products and aroma's will be evaluated by
every participant. The conditions are randomised per day across all subjects in
a full factorial design.

The study is non-therapeutic to the participant. This risk associated with
participation is negligble. Compared to other studies the burden can be
considered medium because of the invasive suction catheter and nose spray that
could result in stress and a running nose. A minor risk of the insertation of
the suction catheter to the nasal cavitity is nose bleed.