Development of a total quality scoring system based on consumer preferenceweightings and sensory profiles: application to fruit dates (Tamr)

A scoring system for evaluating the total quality of a food product (Tamr) based on consumer preferences was developed and tested for validity. The de velopment process started with a survey among adult date consumers in the U nited Arab Emirates to identify their perception of characterizing total qu ality of date fruit among specified attributes. The consumer subjective ran king of eleven specified attributes was used to derive a quantitative weigh ted factor for each attribute. Based on the weighted factor a quantitative scoring guide was developed. A panel evaluation of five date varieties (Khl as, Barhee, Boumaan, Fard and Ruzeiz) was conducted as an application of th e developed scoring system. Panel evaluation results and consumer ranking a nd preference data of the same varieties compared well. In both panel evalu ation and consumer ranking, Khlas variety was perceived to have the best qu ality by far among the tested varieties. Barhee and Boumaan varieties showe d no significant variation between them in both panel evaluation and consum er ranking, and both were in the second order of preference. Variety Ruzeiz was in the lowest order of preference in both panel evaluation and consume r ranking. Testing of the method indicated its appropriateness in predictin g total quality of a food product as would be perceived by consumers. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.