ASTM E2299-11

Standard Guide for Sensory Evaluation of Products by Children

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
It is necessary and useful to test with children because they represent the real end-users for many products. Some products are developed specifically for children, and some are dual-purpose products that are intended for adults and children. Examples include: baby foods, diapers, ready-to-eat cereal, juices, food or lunch kits, candy, toys, vitamins and other pharmaceuticals, music and videos, interactive learning tools, and packaging.
Children have influence over their parents' purchase decisions. They also have more money than in the past, and are responsible for more of their own purchase decisions at an earlier age. As a result, many manufacturers advertise specifically to children.
Creating a product for children requires input from children because their wants and needs differ from those of adults. For example, they may differ from adults in preferences or sensory acuity, or both, for sweetness, saltiness, carbonation, and texture. It is impossible to predict the nature of these differences without actual input from the intended target audience, and for that reason, testing with children continues to grow in the consumer product industry.
SCOPE
1.1 This standard guide provides a framework for understanding the issues relating to conducting sensory and market research studies with children. It recommends and provides examples for developing ethical, safe, and valid testing methods. It focuses specifically on the concerns relevant to testing with children from birth through preadolescence. The guide assumes that teens older than 15 years of age are generally capable of performing sensory tests like adults, and therefore, all standard procedures used with adult subjects apply. The one exception, however, is legal consent where parental permission should be obtained for anyone under 18 years of age.
1.2 The guide will take into account the wide range of children's physical, emotional, and cognitive levels of development. It will prove useful for developing tasks that are understandable to children. It recommends alternative modes for children to communicate their opinions or perceptions back to the researcher, such as appropriate scales and measures.
1.3 The ethical standard presented in this document should be viewed as a minimum requirement for testing with minors. The safety and protection of children as respondents, as well as an attitude of respect for the value of their input should be of primary concern to the researcher.
1.4 The considerations raised in this document may also be useful when testing with the elderly or with adults who have developmental handicaps.
1.5 This document is not intended to be a complete description of reliable sensory testing techniques and methodologies. It focuses instead on special considerations for the specific application of sensory techniques when testing with children. It assumes knowledge of basic sensory and statistical analysis techniques.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Nov-2011
• ICS: 67.240 - Sensory analysis
• Technical Committee: E18 - Sensory Evaluation
• Drafting Committee: E18.05 - Method Applications - Specific Uses or Assessors

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E2299-03 - Standard Guide for Sensory Evaluation of Products by Children
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E3041-17 - Standard Guide for Selecting and Using Scales for Sensory Evaluation
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E2943-15(2021) - Standard Guide for Two-Sample Acceptance and Preference Testing With Consumers
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2011

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E2299 − 11
StandardGuide for
1
Sensory Evaluation of Products by Children
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2299; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This standard guide provides a framework for under- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
standing the issues relating to conducting sensory and market E253 Terminology Relating to Sensory Evaluation of Mate-
research studies with children. It recommends and provides rials and Products
examples for developing ethical, safe, and valid testing meth- E1958 Guide for Sensory Claim Substantiation
ods. It focuses specifically on the concerns relevant to testing
3. Summary of Guide—Specific Applications for Testing
with children from birth through preadolescence. The guide
With Children
assumes that teens older than 15 years of age are generally
capable of performing sensory tests like adults, and therefore,
3.1 The primary use of children in sensory studies is to
all standard procedures used with adult subjects apply.The one
measure the acceptability of foods, beverages, pharmaceutical
exception,however,islegalconsentwhereparentalpermission
colors and flavors, and other products designed to be marketed
should be obtained for anyone under 18 years of age.
to, consumed by, or used by children.
1.2 The guide will take into account the wide range of
3.2 In this sense, they answer many of the same questions
children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive levels of devel-
posed by effective sensory tests with adults. Children are used
opment. It will prove useful for developing tasks that are
to measure overall acceptance, liking, or preference between
understandable to children. It recommends alternative modes
samples. The resulting information can be used to aid in
for children to communicate their opinions or perceptions back
formulationchangesortochoosebetweenalternativeproducts.
to the researcher, such as appropriate scales and measures.
3.3 Sensory testing with children can also be used to
1.3 The ethical standard presented in this document should
identifyuniquecharacteristicsorfunctionsofproducts,suchas
be viewed as a minimum requirement for testing with minors.
the effectiveness of childproof safety caps. Other applications
Thesafetyandprotectionofchildrenasrespondents,aswellas
include advertising research or identification of unfilled needs
an attitude of respect for the value of their input should be of
orwantsaspartoftheproductdevelopmentprocess(seeGuide
primary concern to the researcher.
E1958).
1.4 The considerations raised in this document may also be
3.4 Finally, some organizations are using children for basic
useful when testing with the elderly or with adults who have
research into the effectiveness of different scaling methods or
developmental handicaps.
sensory testing methodologies with children of varying ages.
1.5 This document is not intended to be a complete descrip-
4. Significance and Use
tion of reliable sensory testing techniques and methodologies.
4.1 It is necessary and useful to test with children because
It focuses instead on special considerations for the specific
applicationofsensorytechniqueswhentestingwithchildren.It they represent the real end-users for many products. Some
products are developed specifically for children, and some are
assumes knowledge of basic sensory and statistical analysis
dual-purposeproductsthatareintendedforadultsandchildren.
techniques.
Examples include: baby foods, diapers, ready-to-eat cereal,
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E18 on Sensory
Evaluationand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E18.05 on Sensory
2
Applications--General. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2011. Published January 2012. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as E2299 – 03. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E2299-11. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E2299 − 11
juices, food or lunch kits, candy, toys, vitamins and other consumption,frequencyanddurationofuse,lengthofattention
pharmaceuticals, music and videos, interactive learning tools, span, or the condition of the product before, during and after
and packaging. use. In addition, an adult can fill out a
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:E2299–03 Designation:E2299–11
Standard Guide for
1
Sensory Evaluation of Products by Children
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2299; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This standard guide provides a framework for understanding the issues relating to conducting sensory and market research
studies with children. It recommends and provides examples for developing ethical, safe, and valid testing methods. It focuses
specificallyontheconcernsrelevanttotestingwithchildrenfrombirththroughpreadolescence.Theguideassumesthatteensolder
than 15 years of age are generally capable of performing sensory tests like adults, and therefore, all standard procedures used with
adult subjects apply.The one exception, however, is legal consent where parental permission should be obtained for anyone under
18 years of age.
1.2 The guide will take into account the wide range of children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive levels of development. It
will prove useful for developing tasks that are understandable to children. It recommends alternative modes for children to
communicate their opinions or perceptions back to the researcher, such as appropriate scales and measures.
1.3 The ethical standard presented in this document should be viewed as a minimum requirement for testing with minors. The
safety and protection of children as respondents, as well as an attitude of respect for the value of their input should be of primary
concern to the researcher.
1.4 The considerations raised in this document may also be useful when testing with the elderly or with adults who have
developmental handicaps.
1.5 This document is not intended to be a complete description of reliable sensory testing techniques and methodologies. It
focuses instead on special considerations for the specific application of sensory techniques when testing with children. It assumes
knowledge of basic sensory and statistical analysis techniques.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E253
E253 Terminology Relating to Sensory Evaluation of Materials and Products
E1958
E1958 Guide for Sensory Claim Substantiation
2.2 Other Publications
Manual 26Sensory Testing Methods: Second Edition
3
STP758Guidelines for the Selection and Training of Sensory Panel Members
3. Summary of Guide—Specific Applications for Testing With Children
3.1 The primary use of children in sensory studies is to measure the acceptability of foods, beverages, pharmaceutical colors
and flavors, and other products designed to be marketed to, consumed by, or used by children.
3.2 In this sense, they answer many of the same questions posed by effective sensory tests with adults. Children are used to
measure overall acceptance, liking, or preference between samples. The resulting information can be used to aid in formulation
changes or to choose between alternative products.
3.3 Sensory testing with children can also be used to identify unique characteristics or functions of products, such as the
effectiveness of childproof safety caps. Other applications include advertising research or identification of unfilled needs or wants
as part of the product development process (see Guide E1958).
3.4 Finally, some organizations are using children for basic research into the effectiveness of different scaling methods or
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E18 on Sensory Evaluation of Materials and Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E18.05
on Sensory Applications—General.
Current edition approved June 10, 2003. Published July 2003. DOI: 10.1520/E2299-03.on Sensory Applications--General.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2011. Published January 2012. Originally approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as E2299 – 03. DOI:
10.1520/E2299-11.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. ForAnnualBookofASTMStandards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2299–11
sensory testing methodologies with children of varying ages.
4. Signific
...