Reaction to boar odour by different South African consumer groups

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Sensory Analysis
• Consumer Behavior

Background:

• Boar taint, caused by skatole and androstenone, is a significant concern in pork production.
• Understanding consumer perception of boar odour is crucial for market acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of gender and ethnicity on South African consumers' reactions to boar odour compounds (skatole and androstenone).
• To assess consumer dissatisfaction levels with pork containing detectable boar odour compounds.

Main Methods:

• A consumer sensory study involving 300 South African pork consumers (equal males/females, three ethnic groups).
• Consumers evaluated the odour of boar fat samples with varying concentrations of skatole and androstenone.
• Hedonic ratings were analyzed in relation to consumer demographics and general pork liking.

Main Results:

• The majority of consumers expressed dissatisfaction with pork containing detectable skatole levels.
• Females generally reacted more negatively to androstenone than males; some males showed a liking for medium androstenone levels.
• Significant ethnic differences were observed, with white females and coloured consumers showing higher negative responses. Black males were more critical than black females.

Conclusions:

• Consumer acceptance of pork is significantly influenced by boar odour compounds, with skatole being a primary concern.
• Gender and ethnicity play crucial roles in modulating consumer sensitivity and response to boar taint.
• Findings predict reduced consumer willingness to purchase pork with detectable boar odour, necessitating mitigation strategies.