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Consumer perception of Cheddar cheese color
C M Racette1, K Homwongpanich1, M A Drake1
1Southeast Dairy Foods Research Center, Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606.
Journal of Dairy Science
|April 12, 2024
Summary
Consumers prefer light orange Cheddar cheese, but white Cheddar is perceived as most natural by many. Orange hues are linked to sharper flavors, influencing natural cheese perceptions.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Consumer Behavior
- Sensory Analysis
Background:
- Cheddar cheese color is primarily determined by annatto, a colorant.
- Regulatory bodies are reviewing the definition of
- natural
- on food labels.
- Changes may restrict colorant use in natural cheeses.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate consumer perception of Cheddar cheese color.
- Understand potential impacts of colorant legislation on consumption.
- Determine relationships between Cheddar color and perceived characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Conducted two online surveys on color and flavor attributes (n=1,226 and n=1,183).
- Performed consumer acceptance testing on 6 commercial Cheddar cheeses (n=196).
Main Results:
- Consumers preferred light orange Cheddar over dark orange or white.
- White and light orange Cheddars were perceived as more natural than dark orange.
- A bimodal distribution existed for naturalness perception, with some finding white Cheddar least natural.
- Orange Cheddar was associated with a sharper flavor.
Conclusions:
- Consumer preference for Cheddar cheese color is segmented.
- Perceptions of "naturalness" vary, with white and light orange Cheddar often seen as most natural.
- Colorant regulations could impact consumer choice and perception of natural Cheddar cheese.
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