JELLINIiK. a..d STANSBY: MASKING FLAVORS IN FISH OILS 



Figure 1. — Score sheet for the consumer test. 



two to three flavored samples on a hedonic scale, 

 using the score sheet shown in Figure 1. 



Five ml of oil was rated by the panel 5 days 

 a week for about 3 months. It was necessary 

 to determine whether a flavor, liked initially, 

 was still liked after continuous intake. Likes 

 and dislikes were expressed on an hedonic scale 

 of 5 points (Fig. 1). 



RESULTS 



Table 3 summarizes the consumer ratings over 

 the period of test. 



Some consumers were consistent in their ra- 

 ting throughout the entire period of the test. 

 Other consumers were consistent only with some 

 flavors but were inconsistent with others. 



DISCUSSION 



Table 3 shows that all of the tested flavors 

 received high ratings (1 or 2) as main ratings 

 by the consumer-type panel. It should be noted 

 that these high ratings were not given by the 

 consumer panel as a whole but rather by groups 



within the panel. It also should be noted that 

 there is a split of like and dislike for the same 

 flavor. 



This split is understandable, and it may be 

 due to different causes. Individuals with var- 

 ious background show widely different flavor 

 preferences. For example, Europeans who are 

 used to methyl salicylate being used primarily 

 for flavoring medicinal products or in disinfect- 

 ants would doubtlessly have rated this substance 

 lower for fish-oil masking than did our Amer- 

 ican panel. In parts of Asia where anise seed 



Table 3. — Consumer ratings for different flavored fish oil. 



Flavoring moteriol 

 added to fish oil 



Hedonic ratings' 



Anelhol I, 2, (4) 



Anise oil (I) 2, (4) 



Cinnamon oil 1, 2, (3) 4 



Lemon oil (I) 2, (3) (4) 



Imitation Lemon Juice Flavor #5I.124A 1, 2, (4) 



Methyl salicylate 1, 2, 3, 



Orange oil (I) 2, 3, (4) 



Root beer oil 1, 2, (3) (4) 



Imitation Oil Rum #017 (I) 2, (3) (4) 



Imitation Oil Wild Cherry #12009 1, (2) 3, (4) 



Tutti Fruiti Oil I, 2, (4) 



' Rating numbers not in parentheses were the ones given by most 

 consumers; those in parentheses were the ones given by fewer members— 

 for example, lemon oil was liked moderately (Rating 2) by most con- 

 sumers, but some gave a higher rating (1) and some gave a lower rating 

 (3) or (4). 



(5) 



(5) 



221 



