A preliminary investigation into participants' reactions to a sensory trial investigating a cannabis edible

Abstract

For the food industry to successfully develop foods and beverages enriched with cannabis or cannabinoids, sensory analysis trials must be conducted. This study used open‐ended comments to evaluate a consumer acceptability trial of a cannabis edible. The participants (n = 64) were presented with an outline of a proposed consumer acceptability trial evaluating a cannabis edible and then answered questions about the sensory trial. Results suggest that conventional methodology used in sensory analyses may need to be reframed when evaluating edible cannabis products. The use of take‐home sample kits needs to be considered, and consumer acceptability trials may want to include questions about the psychoactive effects induced after consumption. As more edible cannabis products are developed, they present a unique opportunity for researchers to explore other levels of sensory characterization of these novel food products. Practical applications Sensory analysis is a key component of the food product development process, and as such, it is essential to determine how sensory methods can be best utilized to evaluate edible cannabis products. This study investigated what participants thought about a proposed consumer acceptability trial being applied to an edible cannabis product. The participants identified that (a) they wished to evaluate the full product (not a sample), (b) thought they should have been asked about the psychoactive effects, (c) wished to try the product at home and lastly, (d) did not enjoy testing the products within sensory booths. As such, researchers within the food industry working on edible cannabis products should investigate the employment of home‐use tests and questions about psychoactive effects. More studies are needed to identify which sensory methods can be best applied to evaluate edible cannabis products.