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* Biosystems Engineering, UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, Ireland
Teagasc, Ashtown Food Research Centre, Dublin 15, Ireland
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Department of Food Science, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9015, New Zealand
|| Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
1 Corresponding author: colette.fagan{at}ucd.ie
| ABSTRACT |
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Key Words: descriptive sensory analysis processed cheese mid-infrared spectroscopy chemometrics
| INTRODUCTION |
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Consumer preference for a food product is principally determined by its sensory characteristics. Accurate monitoring and control of sensory properties will facilitate the production of high-quality products. A number of factors determine the final quality and sensory properties of processed cheese (Cari
and Kaláb, 1993). These include the processing conditions used during manufacture, the composition of the ingredients, and the proportions of those ingredients added to the blend.
Sensory profiling allows various quality attributes to be identified and their intensity determined (Brown et al., 2003). Sensory attributes are traditionally assessed by descriptive sensory evaluation using trained panelists. However, this is a time-consuming and expensive process that may lack objectivity (Blazquez et al., 2006). Although instrumental techniques such as texture profile analysis (TPA) and the 3-point bend test are available for determining the texture attributes of food products, these laboratory-based techniques are time-consuming and require the use of skilled personnel in their execution (Blazquez et al., 2006). Therefore, considerable interest exists in the development of instrumental techniques to enable more objective, faster, and less expensive assessments of cheese quality to be made, including sensory aspects (Downey et al., 2005). Such a technique would assist producers to maximize yields, increase throughput and efficiency, reduce labor costs, and optimize product quality, consistency, and customer satisfaction. Critical points in the manufacturing process could be monitored to ensure that the final product would meet required specifications.
Recently, Kealy (2006) examined cream cheese using TPA, one of the main instrumental techniques for texture measurement, and compared the results with those of a trained taste panel. Although a reasonably strong correlation was found between the taste panel results and TPA-derived hardness and adhesiveness parameters, the correlation for cohesiveness was not straightforward. Everard (2005) also investigated the prediction of sensory attributes of processed cheese from instrumental texture attributes derived from TPA, a compression test, and a 3-point bend test. He could predict the texture attributes of firmness, rubbery, creamy, chewy, fragmentable, and mass-forming with a good level of accuracy (Everard, 2005).
Spectroscopic analysis in combination with predictive mathematical models, developed using multivariate data analysis techniques such as partial least squares (PLS) regression, have potential use in controlling and monitoring the quality of raw materials through to the final product in food processing. In particular, infrared spectroscopy has been applied as an objective and nondestructive technique to provide a rapid and real-time analysis of both composition and quality (Downey, 1998; Lefier et al., 2000; Ozen and Mauer, 2002; Blazquez et al., 2004). Blazquez et al. (2006) modeled the sensory attributes of processed cheese using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and PLS regression. They found that it was possible to model a number of attributes including firmness, melting, rubbery, and creamy. Two other studies have investigated the prediction of sensory attributes in natural cheese. Downey et al. (2005) and Sørensen and Jepsen (1998) successfully demonstrated that near-infrared spectroscopy in conjunction with PLS regression can be used to predict several sensory attributes of Cheddar and Danbo cheeses, respectively. Mid-infrared spectroscopy has been most widely used for determination of the fat and protein contents of cheese (Chen and Irudayaraj, 1998). Irudayaraj et al. (1999) also investigated the use of mid-infrared spectroscopy to follow texture development in Cheddar cheese during ripening. They demonstrated that springiness could be successfully correlated with a number of bands in the mid-infrared spectra. Research has shown that mid-infrared spectroscopy is a useful technique for characterizing the changes in proteins during cheese ripening (Mazerolles et al., 2001). Pillonel et al. (2003) also found that mid-infrared spectroscopy may be successfully applied to the discrimination of Emmental cheese based on geographic origin.
No data are currently available on the application of mid-infrared spectroscopy to determine the sensory attributes in processed cheese, or regarding evaluation of mid-infrared spectroscopy in comparison with other technologies in such an application. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the use of mid-infrared spectroscopy in predicting sensory texture attributes using a range of experimentally manufactured processed cheese samples and to compare the models developed with those recently modeled using near-infrared spectra and instrumental texture attributes. These newly presented data allow for the critical evaluation of mid-infrared spectroscopy as a rapid, nondestructive technique for predicting the sensory texture attributes of processed cheese.
| MATERIALS AND METHODS |
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Multivariate Data Analysis
Multivariate data analysis was carried out using The Unscrambler software (v. 8.0; Camo A/S, Oslo, Norway). Principal component analysis of the spectra was used to examine the spectral data set for any possible outliers. Models for the prediction of sensory attributes were developed using PLS regression and confirmed by cross-validation. Prior to PLS regression, spectra were pre-treated using multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), first derivative (Savitzky-Golay, 2 data points each side), second derivative (Savitzky-Golay, 4 data points each side), and each derivative plus MSC (Geladi et al., 1985). The potential of the models to predict the sensory attributes was evaluated using the root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV), correlation coefficient (r) and the number of PLS loadings (#L). The range error ratio (RER) was used to determine the practical utility of the models (Williams, 1987). It was calculated by dividing the range in the reference data of a given attribute by the prediction error for that attribute. The ratio of prediction error to deviation (RPD) was calculated by dividing the standard deviation of the reference data by RMSECV.
| RESULTS AND DISCUSSION |
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Previous research has recommended that prior to analysis, a portion of the mid-infrared spectra (1,800 to 2,700 cm1) might be omitted because of its low signal-to-noise ratio (Pillonel et al., 2003). This approach was used in this study, with the region 1,775 to 2,830 cm1 having a low signal-to-noise ratio, and was therefore omitted from analysis. In a preliminary investigation of the spectra, the region 640 to 923 cm1 was found to be of limited use in predicting sensory attributes and was also omitted. Therefore, only spectral data in the ranges of 930 to 1,767 cm1 and 2,839 to 4,000 cm1 were used for the multivariate data analysis.
Predication of Sensory Texture Attributes by Mid-infrared Spectroscopy
A summary of the values scored by the taste panel for each of the 9 sensory attributes is shown in Table 3
. The table highlights the high degree of variability in the data, which should support the development of robust models. Models were developed using 1) the combined spectral ranges of 930 to 1,767 cm1 and 2,839 to 4,000 cm1, and 2) 930 to 1,767 cm1. The spectra were used in a number of forms: raw, MSC, first derivative, second derivative, and MSC plus each derivative step, giving 12 models for each sensory attribute. A second derivative step offered no improvement in model accuracy for any attribute; hence, those prediction results are not shown. The RMSECV, r, and #L values obtained from the models developed are given in Table 4
for the combined spectral range or the 930 to 1,767 cm1 range. These parameters allow for assessment of model strength. The preferred predictive model for an attribute (highlighted in bold in Table 4
) was that which produced the lowest RMSECV and highest r values. It was also desirable for the preferred model to incorporate the lowest #L possible.
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In conjunction with the RMSECV, r, and #L, the practical utility of the models can also be assessed using the RER. Models with RER of less than 3 have little practical utility; RER values of between 3 and 10 indicate limited to good practical utility; and values above 10 show that the model has a high utility value (Williams, 1987). The preferred models for predicting the firmness, rubbery, creamy, chewy, mouth-coating, fragmentable, melting, and mass-forming attributes (shown in bold in Table 4
) had RMSECV values of between 3.1 and 7.4 and resulted in corresponding RER values of between 7.2 and 9.6, indicating that the models had good practical utility. Therefore, these attributes had the potential to be predicted by mid-infrared spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis. The greasy/oily attribute was not successfully modeled (RER = 4.8), possibly because of the small range displayed by the samples analyzed, and will therefore not be discussed further. A graphical display of the preferred regression model for each attribute (highlighted in bold in Table 4
) is shown in Figure 2A to 2H
. Figure 2
shows that there is minimal scatter in the plots, as indicated by the high r values (0.83 to 0.96), and that the regression lines also have slopes close to 1 (0.77 to 0.96) and low intercepts (1.0 to 5.9), demonstrating a good fit (Figure 2
). The accuracy of each model can be evaluated using the coefficients of determination (R2) between the predicted and measured values, as stated by Williams (2003). The models for mass-forming and mouth-coating both provided approximate quantitative predictions because their R2 lay in the range of 0.66 to 0.81. Good predictions were achieved for the attributes firmness, rubbery, creamy, and chewy, with R2 values of between 0.82 and 0.90. The fragmentable model was considered to be excellent, having an R2 greater than 0.91. The #L must also be taken into account. This ranged from 5 to 11 for the selected models. The models for firmness, fragmentable, mouth-coating, and mass-forming incorporated a relatively high number of loadings (9 to 11), which may have implications for their robustness, because the lower #L, the more robust the model.
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The regions of the spectra that were most important in predicting the attributes of rubbery (Figure 3B
) and creamy (Figure 3C
) were all associated with lipids (1,739, 1,743, 2,846, 2,858, 2,916, 2,919 cm1). Minor peaks were also observed in the 1,079 to 1,173, 1,542, and 3,556 to 3,907 cm1 spectral regions, which are associated with the vibration of the CH, CO bonds; amide II; and moisture absorption, respectively. These peaks were of particular importance in predicting the rubbery and creamy attributes, because fat in cheese has the effect of preventing the protein network of the cheese matrix from forming a tough, dense structure (Lawlor et al., 2001).
The loadings for the melting model (Figure 3G
) explained variation in a number of different regions, including the amide I and II regions (1,547, 1,654 cm1), lipid regions (1,751, 2,927 cm1), and moisture-absorption region (3367 to 3907 cm1). All factors that influence either the content or distribution of fat, or the strength of the protein network are known to influence cheese meltability (Lefevere et al., 2000). This accounts for the significance of the moisture, amide, and lipid regions of the spectra in predicting melting.
The regions of the spectra that were the most important in predicting mass-forming were found to be 1,092 and 1,130 cm1 (CH, CO bond vibrations); 1,535, 1,547, 1,646, and 1,647 cm1 (amides I and II); and 1,736, 1,743, and 1,751 cm1 (lipids; Figure 3H
). This indicates the role that the fat content and protein structure has in determining the mass-forming potential of processed cheese.
These results highlight the importance of different regions across the entire spectral range used in predicting the sensory textural attributes of processed cheese. The importance of different spectral regions in predicting sensory attributes is related to the effects of the formulation and composition on processed cheese texture. Changes in the formulation and composition of processed cheese directly affect its molecular structure and hence its mid-infrared spectra.
Evaluation of Mid-infrared Spectroscopy vs. Other Technologies
Recently, a small number of studies have investigated the prediction of sensory texture attributes using near-infrared spectroscopy (Blazquez et al., 2006) and instrumental texture attributes (3-point bend test, compression test, and TPA-derived parameters; Everard, 2005; Everard et al., 2006). These models were developed using the same set of experimentally manufactured processed cheese samples as those in the current study. This provides a unique opportunity to compare the models developed using a number of different technologies. The models were evaluated using the RER, RPD, and R2 values, which are given in Table 5
. These values were calculated based on the data provided in Blazquez et al. (2006), Everard et al. (2006), and Everard (2005). Both the RER and RPD standardize the RMSECV value of the model against the range and standard deviation of the reference data, respectively. The RPD is desired to be greater that 2 for a good calibration, whereas an RPD value of less than 1.5 indicates incorrect predictions and an unusable model (Karoui et al., 2006).
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The aim of traditional instrumental techniques for texture analysis is to replicate the actions involved in mastication. However, large deformation tests, such as TPA, involve a combination of compression, tensile, and shear forces at the microstructural level (i.e., mainly compression and shear forces in compression tests and mainly compression and tensile forces in bending tests; Van Vliet 1999). Because of the complexity of forces, large deformation tests may not measure rheological properties precisely, but may relate more accurately to the deformations involved in chewing. Firmness has been found to be strongly correlated with 2 instrumental texture parameters: the force at a given deformation (firmnessr) and fracture stress (
f ) (r > 0.90; P < 0.0001; Everard et al., 2006). Both firmnessr and
f are related to the fracture and deformation that occur within the samples under test. Therefore, the fracture and deformation occurring in the samples during sensory analysis and instrumental texture analysis are related. This is the basis for the strong correlation between firmness and the instrumental texture attributes (firmnessr and
f) and also the strength of the firmness prediction model developed by Everard et al. (2006). Everard et al. (2006) also found that the chewy attribute was strongly correlated with 3 different instrumental texture attributes, including firmnessr and
f (r > 0.87; P < 0.0001). As a result, the chewy model was one of the strongest models developed using the combined compression test and TPA data. However, Everard et al. (2006) observed that not all of the sensory attributes were strongly correlated with a number of instrumental texture attributes. Three of the remaining sensory attributes (i.e., rubbery, creamy, fragmentable) were strongly correlated (r > 0.89) with just one instrumental texture attribute, whereas melting, mass-forming and mouth-coating displayed only weak significant correlations with the instrumental texture attributes (Everard et al., 2006). Kealy (2006) noted that each of the traditional laboratory-based instrumental methods for texture analysis has strengths and weaknesses in terms of the closeness of approximation to the actions of the human mouth, in the relativity or absoluteness of their measurements, and in the degree of repeatability between consecutive measurements. This indicates a limitation of the method proposed by Everard et al. (2006), because such large deformation tests cannot accurately profile the entire sensory textural experience, which would be critical in predicting the mouth-coating and mass-forming attributes. Brown et al. (2003) noted that mimicking the human sensory experience would require simulating physical changes that occur during mastication caused by saliva interactions, phase changes, and temperature changes. Therefore, one benefit of using mid-infrared spectra is that the prediction models developed are based on molecular differences among samples, which is critical in determining a range of textural attributes. Mid-infrared spectra can therefore predict sensory attributes that are either straightforward or challenging to evaluate using traditional instrumental texture analysis. This accounts for the data presented in Table 5
, which show that the mid-infrared models predicted the firmness and chewy attributes with an accuracy similar to that of the TPA models. However, the rubbery, mouth-coating, fragmentable, melting, and mass-forming attributes were most successfully predicted using mid-infrared spectroscopy.
The R2, RER, and RPD values for the models developed by Blazquez et al. (2006) are shown in Table 5
. In comparison with mid-infrared spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy was particularly good at predicting creamy, chewy, and melting, with the R2 values of the near-infrared models indicating excellent predictions as opposed to the good predictions of the mid-infrared models. The RER values for the near-infrared reflectance models indicated a high utility value (Blazquez et al., 2006), whereas the RER values obtained in this study had a good practical utility. However, the mid-infrared-derived fragmentable model had better accuracy than the near-infrared model, with excellent and good predictions, respectively. The remaining mid-infrared models compared favorably with the results obtained by Blazquez et al. (2006) using near-infrared spectroscopy, and had RER values that differed by less than 1 when compared with those developed by Blazquez et al. (2006). The relatively high number of loadings (11) associated with the firmness model was noted previously, and this result was in contrast to the near-infrared model, which incorporated just 2. This indicates that the near-infrared model may be more robust and provide greater accuracy in the future. The remaining models incorporated a similar #L as those reported by Blazquez et al. (2006).
It may be difficult to draw conclusions regarding the improved predictions when using one region of the electromagnetic spectrum over another. Although no information is available on the regions of the near-infrared spectra that were most important in predicting the sensory texture attributes, Blazquez et al. (2006) noted that when the near-infrared spectra were subjected to principal component analysis, samples were separated along principal component 2 on the basis of moisture content. No such clear differentiation among samples of varying moisture content was observed for the mid-infrared spectra; however, there was some separation of the samples based on the level of emulsifying salt (i.e., the level 1% group, and the level 2 and 3% groups).
The sensory attributes of other cheese products have also been predicted using infrared spectroscopy. Downey et al. (2005) and Sørensen and Jepsen (1998) modeled the sensory attributes of natural cheese using near-infrared spectroscopy. The models developed by Downey et al. (2005) using near-infrared reflectance spectra for firmness, rubbery, chewy, mouth-coating, fragmentable, melting, mass-forming, and greasy/oily attributes in Cheddar cheese had corresponding RER values of 5.1, 8.8, 6.3, 7.6, 6.8, 4.9, 8.5, and 6.6. The slopes of the regression lines in these models were also lower (0.58 to 0.80), which the authors suggested indicated the presence of significant skew in some of the prediction plots (Downey et al., 2005). The prediction accuracies of the models developed in the current work were higher than those developed by Downey et al. (2005) for Cheddar cheese. Sørensen and Jepsen (1998) applied near-infrared reflectance and transmittance to predict flavor and consistency attributes in semihard Danbo cheese. In general, they found better results using the reflectance mode rather than the transmittance mode. They obtained better results for consistency (springy, sticky, coherent, soluble, and hard) attributes (r = 0.74 to 0.88; standard error of prediction = 0.64 to 1.54; RER = 12.1 to 7.7) than for flavor (cheesy, acid, sweet, and unclean) attributes (r = 0.27 to 0.59; standard error of prediction = 0.58 to 0.84; RER = 5.5 to 7.2; Sørensen and Jepsen, 1998).
| CONCLUSIONS |
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Mid-infrared spectroscopy produced results similar to or better than the models previously developed using instrumental texture attributes. The mid-infrared models also compared favorably with previously reported near-infrared models, with 3 attributes modeled slightly better using near-infrared spectroscopy. These results suggest that mid-infrared spectroscopy has the potential to provide nondestructive, accurate, instantaneous measurements of processed cheese sensory texture. Therefore, these models merit further evaluation in a larger study involving commercially produced cheeses to validate these findings.
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
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Received for publication April 12, 2006. Accepted for publication October 30, 2006.
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, and M. Kaláb. 1993. Processed cheese products. Pages 467505 in Cheese: Chemistry, Physics and Microbiology. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. P. F. Fox, ed. Chapman & Hall, New York, NY.This article has been cited by other articles:
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