ASTM E2299-03

Standard Guide for Sensory Evaluation of Products by Children

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: 09-Jun-2003
• ICS: 67.240 - Sensory analysis
• Technical Committee: E18 - Sensory Evaluation
• Drafting Committee: E18.05 - Method Applications - Specific Uses or Assessors

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E2299-11 - Standard Guide for Sensory Evaluation of Products by Children
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E2943-15(2021) - Standard Guide for Two-Sample Acceptance and Preference Testing With Consumers
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E3041-17 - Standard Guide for Selecting and Using Scales for Sensory Evaluation
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2003

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:E2299–03
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 E253 Terminology Relating to Sensory Evaluation of Ma-
terials and Products
1.1 This standard guide provides a framework for under-
E1958 Guide for Sensory Claim Substantiation
standing the issues relating to conducting sensory and market
2.2 Other Publications
research studies with children. It recommends and provides
3
Manual 26 Sensory Testing Methods: Second Edition
examples for developing ethical, safe, and valid testing meth-
STP 758 Guidelines for the Selection and Training of Sen-
ods. It focuses specifically on the concerns relevant to testing
3
sory Panel Members
with children from birth through preadolescence. The guide
assumes that teens older than 15 years of age are generally
3. Summary of Guide—Specific Applications for Testing
capable of performing sensory tests like adults, and therefore,
With Children
all standard procedures used with adult subjects apply.The one
3.1 The primary use of children in sensory studies is to
exception,however,islegalconsentwhereparentalpermission
measure the acceptability of foods, beverages, pharmaceutical
should be obtained for anyone under 18 years of age.
colors and flavors, and other products designed to be marketed
1.2 The guide will take into account the wide range of
to, consumed by, or used by children.
children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive levels of devel-
3.2 In this sense, they answer many of the same questions
opment. It will prove useful for developing tasks that are
posed by effective sensory tests with adults. Children are used
understandable to children. It recommends alternative modes
to measure overall acceptance, liking, or preference between
for children to communicate their opinions or perceptions back
samples. The resulting information can be used to aid in
to the researcher, such as appropriate scales and measures.
formulationchangesortochoosebetweenalternativeproducts.
1.3 The ethical standard presented in this document should
3.3 Sensory testing with children can also be used to
be viewed as a minimum requirement for testing with minors.
identifyuniquecharacteristicsorfunctionsofproducts,suchas
Thesafetyandprotectionofchildrenasrespondents,aswellas
the effectiveness of childproof safety caps. Other applications
an attitude of respect for the value of their input should be of
include advertising research or identification of unfilled needs
primary concern to the researcher.
or wants as part of the product development process.
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-
tion of reliable sensory testing techniques and methodologies.
4. Significance and Use
It focuses instead on special considerations for the specific
4.1 It is necessary and useful to test with children because
applicationofsensorytechniqueswhentestingwithchildren.It
they represent the real end-users for many products. Some
assumes knowledge of basic sensory and statistical analysis
products are developed specifically for children, and some are
techniques.
dual-purposeproductsthatareintendedforadultsandchildren.
2. Referenced Documents Examples include: baby foods, diapers, ready-to-eat cereal,
2 juices, food or lunch kits, candy, toys, vitamins and other
2.1 ASTM Standards:
pharmaceuticals, music and videos, interactive learning tools,
and packaging.
4.2 Children have influence over their parents’ purchase
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E18 on Sensory
decisions.Theyalsohavemoremoneythaninthepast,andare
Evaluation of Materials and Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcom-
responsible for more of their own purchase decisions at an
mittee E18.05 on Sensory Applications—General.
earlier age. As a result, many manufacturers advertise specifi-
Current edition approved June 10, 2003. Published July 2003. DOI: 10.1520/
E2299-03.
cally to children.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from ASTM Interna
...