Chris Simons

Aroma, Flavor, and Textural Drivers of Acceptance in Unflavored Pea Protein Isolates The growing popularity of plant-based proteins, particularly pea protein, is driven by health benefits and sustainability. However, despite the increasing demand, undesirable sensory attributes hind...

Have questions about the sensory properties of pea protein isolates? We have answers! We show that product acceptance is driven primarily by the avoidance of negative attributes including bitterness, cereal/grainy flavor, and astringency. Read more: dx.doi.org/10.1111/1750...

New paper alert! Operationalizing stated preferences by using product takeaway helps bridge the gap between what consumers say and what they actually choose. The correspondence between liking and takeaway choice is explored using three takeaway approaches. doi.org/10.1016/j.fo...

The second paper in our series integrating a taste variable into a discrete choice experiment is out! Led by Sam Hoffman, we show how sensory and extrinsic product properties can be evaluated simultaneously for a more holistic product evaluation. Access paper here doi.org/10.1016/j.fo...

Investigating the Impact of Gamification on Performance and Engagement of Panelists in the Descriptive Analysis of Puffed‐Rice Cakes Panelists are commonly found to be disengaged from the repetitive tasks associated with descriptive testing, leading to poor panel performance and resulting in data that lack actionable insights. One...

Descriptive analysis panels can struggle with disengagement, leading to poor data quality. Is gamification the solution? We studied how game elements impact panelist engagement & performance—with promising results! Nice job Chia Yu Kuei! The paper is here: doi.org/10.1111/joss...

Implementing a Discrete Choice Experiment Within Consumer Sensory Evaluation to Better Understand Purchase Intention Discrete choice experiments (DCE) offer a potential avenue to incorporate product specific contextual information into sensory consumer testing. This work integrates a taste variable into a DCE frame...

New paper alert! We integrate traditional consumer testing into a discrete choice experimental design to enable the simultaneous gathering of insights into sensory preferences and extrinsic product attributes. Link to the paper here: dx.doi.org/10.1111/joss...

Flora Lichtman To Host Science Friday Alongside Ira Flatow Veteran science journalist Flora Lichtman has been named a Host of Science Friday, joining Ira at the mic.

We’re proud to announce that Flora Lichtman is joining @heyira.bsky.social as a host of Science Friday!

Want the “scoop” on protein powders? Plant and animal proteins create distinct textures and mouthfeel in beverages. Turns out, protein source is more important than concentration when it comes to the mouthfeel of your smoothie! Read about it here!

authors.elsevier.com/a/1kD-I_LcwK...

You Share Your Gut Microbiome With Your Friends New research suggests that we share parts of our microbiome with people in our social networks beyond family members.

A new study found that we share parts of our microbiome with people in our social networks, beyond family members.

Dr. @nachristakis.bsky.social joins us to discuss the research and how scientists can identify your friends—just by looking at your poop.