Shelf-life estimation of apple-baby food

The aim of the present work was to study the evolution of the color of an apple-baby food and to estimate its sensory shelf life. Samples of apple-baby food stored at 25C were analyzed using trained assessors and a consumer panel. A zero-order reaction kinetics was found for the evolution of sensory color with storage time. Color was highly correlated with consumers' rejection percentage and overall acceptability, which indicates that consumers consider this attribute when deciding to accept or reject this product and in assigning their acceptability scores. Using this correlation, the sensory cutoff point for color, corresponding to a 25% consumer rejection, was calculated. Sensory shelf life was estimated using consumer data. Sensory shelf life estimated by survival analysis was in agreement with that calculated considering an acceptability limit of 6.0 in a 9-point hedonic scale.