Emotional response to fruit salads with different visual quality

Fruit salads were stored for increasing time up to 10 days and submitted to emotion analysis by using 300 Italian mother language consumers. Samples were assessed for their quality level by analyzing fruit browning, microbiological count, and overall visual acceptability. Less liked or disliked fruit salads changed the emotional status of the participants. Participants felt significantly less peaceful, friendly and eager but more aggressive, sad and disgusted in the presence of the spoiled fruit salads. The correlation between food quality and elicited emotions suggests their potential use as indicators in shelf life testing.

► Fruit salads with different visual quality change the emotional status of consumers.
► Spoiled fruit salads make consumer less peaceful, friendly and eager.
► Spoiled fruit salads make consumer more aggressive, sad and disgusted.
► Emotions could be used as critical indicators in shelf life testing.