Tag Archives: consumer behavior

Episode 24:The Sweet Side of Toxicology: Exploring the Safety of Artificial Sweeteners



Low and no-calorie artificial sweeteners have a long and controversial history. Originally developed to reduce caloric intake, these sugar substitutes have become a hot topic for consumers. Join host Bruce Perkins and guest experts, Drs. Gavin Thompson, Ray Matula, and Jim Coughlin, as they unravel the intricacies of artificial sweetener safety.

Beginning with a look at what artificial sweeteners are, the experts provide a brief historical overview of key sweeteners, including saccharine, aspartame, sucralose, and stevia, among others, and their presence in our food. Then, they will review the regulatory approval process for artificial sweeteners as food additives/ingredients in the United States. The discussion will conclude with a conversation regarding the assessment of sweeteners for safety vs. studies evaluating their potential health benefits.

By the end of this podcast, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the nature of artificial sweeteners and the complexities of safety evaluation.


Episode 23: DEI’s Role in Supporting a Sustainable Food Ecosystem



Join host Matt Teegarden and guest speakers Erica Jenkins, Emma Topps, and Kurt Callaghan as they explore the interconnections between accessibility and the future of the food ecosystem. Discover how Ingredion leverages diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), supplier diversity and well-being, pipeline programs, and community-driven initiatives to drive innovative solutions within their organization, helping create a more accessible, safer, and sustainable global food system for everyone.


Episode 21: Sensory Science Series- “Fast & Early” – An approachable path to the valuable consumer voice- Part 2



This is the second podcast in a sensory sciences series in collaboration with the Sensory & Consumer Sciences Division. Host Bruce Perkin and guest speakers Becky Bleibaum and Anna Leachman will be discussing tools to get rapid and reliable consumer feedback on products. This conversation highlights the advantages of consumer research, what consumer acceptance is and why it is important, how tight timelines and budgets impact outcomes, and more. 


Episode 20: Sensory Science Series- “Culinary Quantitative Description Analysis QDA” – New data from an old tool- Part 1



This podcast is the first episode in a Sensory Sciences series in collaboration with the Sensory & Consumer Sciences Division. Join host Bruce Perkin and speakers Becky Bleibaum and Heather Thomas as they discuss Quantitative Description Analysis (QDA.) QDA is a sensory tool that was developed in the mid-1970s to correct perceived problems with flavor profile analysis. During this conversation, the speakers will be covering what QDA is and how it works, QDA strengths compared to other tools, taking QDA into a new space, making sure consumer voices are not lost when using culinary professionals and more. 


Episode 4: Consumers Don’t Want to Change, So Why Are They?



With up to 40,000 products in a grocery store, many consumers are on autopilot when deciding what products to buy. Most management consultants would say their greatest challenges are the ones that involve change management. When consumers find a set of products and foods they like, they typically don’t want those things to change. Yet we are seeing more change in the space of consumer wants and needs than ever before. This podcast we hear from a food scientist and anthropologist about what the plantbased food industry can learn from Tesla, or about the importance of understanding the ‘Job’ consumers are hiring your product to do.

 

Speaker: Kevin Ryan, CEO & Founder, Malachite Strategy and Research, LLC