An international study on the importance of androstenone and skatole for boar taint: III. Consumer survey in seven European countries

There has long been debate over the relative importance for consumer accept ability of androstenone and skatole. The objective of this study was to inv estigate consumer reaction to pig meat of varying levels of androstenone an d skatole in seven member states of the European Union. Over 4000 entire ma le pigs land 233 gilts as a control) were produced in six European countrie s, and a subsample of 420 were selected to represent a range of androstenon e and skatole levels. Loin samples from these pigs were distributed to the seven participating countries. Samples were prepared and cooked according t o standardised procedures in each of the countries and presented to pork co nsumers. Each consumer rated samples from five pigs for liking of flavour a nd liking of odour. Although there were significant differences between cou ntry panels in their liking of meat from entire males generally, there was a greater degree of dislike as both androstenone and skatole increased. Thi s reaction was stronger for skatole than androstenone and consumers reacted more negatively in terms of odour than flavour. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.