Evaluation of a simple and sensitive sensory method for measuring rancidity in soybean oils

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the 2 Alternative Forced Choice (2-AFC) sensory method in detecting rancidity in soybean oils. Additionally, correlations between the physico-chemical quality and the sensory attributes of edible soybean oils were studied. Soybean oil samples from four different plants were analyzed for their fatty acid profile, Free fatty acid (FFA), Anisidine Value (AV), Peroxide Value (PV), Conjugated Dienes (CD), Colour, Rancimat and TOTOX. The sensory attributes of the oils were measured using The American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) sensory method and additionally, rancidity was assessed using the 2-AFC sensory method. All oil samples fit the quality control criteria for edible soybean oil. The 2-AFC method was sensitive to small differences in rancidity. Differences in anisidine value and Rancimat were correlated to the difference in rancidity (d') among oils.