title: The Sensory Difference Threshold of Menthol Odor in Flavored Tobacco Determined by Combining Sensory and Chemical Analysis.
abstract: Cigarettes are an often-used consumer product, and flavor is an important determinant of their product appeal. Cigarettes with strong nontobacco flavors are popular among young people, and may facilitate smoking initiation. Discriminating flavors in tobacco is important for regulation purposes, for instance to set upper limits to the levels of important flavor additives. We provide a simple and fast method to determine the human odor difference threshold for flavor additives in a tobacco matrix, using a combination of chemical and sensory analysis. For an example, the human difference threshold for menthol odor, one of the most frequently used tobacco flavors, was determined. A consumer panel consisting of 20 women compared different concentrations of menthol-flavored tobacco to unflavored cigarette tobacco using the 2-alternative forced choice method. Components contributing to menthol odor were quantified using headspace GC-MS. The sensory difference threshold of menthol odor corresponded to a mixture of 43 (37-50)% menthol-flavored tobacco, containing 1.8 (1.6-2.1) mg menthol, 2.7 (2.3-3.1) µg menthone, and 1.0 (0.9-1.2) µg neomenthyl acetate per gram of tobacco. Such a method is important in the context of the European Tobacco Product Directive, and the US Food and Drug Administration Tobacco Control Act, that both prohibit cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco with a characterizing flavor other than tobacco. Our method can also be adapted for matrices other than tobacco, such as food.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands and.
authors.forename: Erna J Z
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Krüsemann
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands and.
authors.forename: Johannes W J M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Cremers
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands and.
authors.forename: Wouter F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: OP&P Product Research BV, Burgemeester Reigerstraat 89, 3581 KP Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pieter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Punter
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands and.
authors.forename: Reinskje
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talhout
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008610:Menthol / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D055815:Young Adult; D014026:Nicotiana
chemical_list: D008610:Menthol
keywords: consumer research; difference testing; headspace GC-MS; novel sensory method; odor discrimination; tobacco flavor