Using Generalized Procrustes Analysis for Evaluation of Sensory Characteristic Data of Lamb Meat

Abstract

Generalized Procrustes Analysis (GPA) is a multivariate statistic method that is used at the evaluation of sensory analyses in the food industry. GPA provides benefit in terms of decreasing the difference between the panellists and bringing the data obtained from different panellists together. In this study, the aim was to determine the effect of a pre-slaughter fasting period on sensory characteristics of lambs fed with different rations using GPA. Semi-trained panellists formed from twenty-six persons were requested for evaluation of the meat samples such as tenderness, juiciness, flavour and overall liking rated on a scale of 1(extremely dislike) to 9 (extremely good). The first two factors obtained by GPA explained 66.74% of total variability. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that 12 h and 24 h fasting of lambs fed barley supplemented with alfalfa hay were less preferable when compared to lambs fed alfalfa hay only. In addition, lambs in both groups with 48 h fasting were preferred less by the panellists. In conclusion, GPA analysis provides useful data concerning the sensitivity of each panellist in a sensory panel test.