Medway scientist tests mince pies
Date of release: Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Which is the best mince pie available this Christmas? Keith Tomlins, a Food Scientist at the University of Greenwich at Medway's Natural Resources Institute, conducted sensory tests to find out for the consumer magazine, Which?
Keith explains: “We normally test products such as sweet potato in some of the poorest communities in Africa so eating mince pies in this country was a complete change for us.”
A total of 150 people of mixed occupations and ages rated the mince pies on taste, aroma, appearance and overall impression. Each pie was rated by 60 people on a nine-point scale from ‘dislike very much’ to ‘like very much’.
The results of the research appeared in the December issue of Which? magazine and had some surprises. The highest rated mince pies were the Marks & Spencer Luxury Deep Filled ones although the ones from Netto were described as exceptional value. The latter along with ones from the Co-op and Aldi were preferred over the more upmarket brands such as Harrods, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s.
A Reader in Food Safety & Quality at NRI, Keith Tomlins, usually conducts research in developing countries on behalf of government departments, charities and international agencies. Projects seeking to introduce products need to know if they are acceptable to local consumers. His most recent work is in Ghana where he is looking at the consumer acceptance of a new type of maize called Orange Maize that can relieve malnutrition. Orange Maize contains pro-vitamin A that can relieve malnutrition and help save lives, especially in children under the age of 5 years old.
Keith adds: “Sensory and consumer testing is a surprisingly neglected area of research. We’ve also examined the consumer acceptability of cassava, rice, sorghum pastes, peanut butter, tea and cocoa in Africa.”
For more information and images please contact:
Nick Davison, Press Officer
University of Greenwich
Tel: 0208 331 8092