EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT COMERCIAL YOGURT BRANDS USING THE FREE SORTING TASK METHOD
The free sorting task (free grouping) is a new technique of sensorial characterization that analyzes and interprets the sensory response that consumers generate when evaluating a food. This type of test is quick and useful since it reduces the selection and training stages of panelists. The objective of this research was to identify the similarities and differences of yogurts expended in Lima city. We worked with six brands of peach-flavored yogurt: Milkito (709), Gloria (429), Laive (630), Metro (276), Soy vida (532) and Yoleit (910). The sorting task method was applied and a multifactorial analysis (MFA) was used with R software. The trial was performed with a group of 100 people between 18 - 28 years old (58% female and 42% male). The data analysis showed the formation of 4 groups, the first group conformed to samples 429, 910 and 709. The second group by 276, the third by 630 and the fourth by 532. The constitution of the first group was due to panelists described that the samples showed in common an orange, homogeneous appearance, fruity aroma and sweet taste. The second group was different since it presented an orange and homogeneous appearance, acid taste, and thick texture. The third group showed an orange and thick appearance, an aroma of milk and yogurt, and thick texture, and finally, the fourth group was described as different because it had an homogeneous appearance and orange dots, fermented aroma, residual flavor and liquid texture. The sorting task method is adequate to identify the similarities and/or differences of various brands of yogurt by evaluating them with consumers. Of the six brands evaluated, three were grouped as similar (429, 910 709) and different to the others. On the other hand. The three remaining samples Soy vida, Metro and Laive, were grouped individually.