Sensory Claim‐Experience Congruence Index in Reduced‐Sugar Beverages: A Consumer Sensory Evaluation

ABSTRACT

Front‐of‐pack sensory claims can create expectations before tasting, but reduced‐sugar beverages may not deliver those expectations after consumption. This study analyzed a mixed consumer sensory dataset with claim condition as a between‐subject factor and three reduced‐sugar tropical fruit beverage samples as within‐subject products. After quality‐control exclusions, 273 consumers contributed 819 participant‐by‐product observations. Pre‐tasting expectations, post‐tasting perceptions, liking, CATA descriptors, signed expectation‐experience gaps, and a formula‐defined Sensory Claim‐Experience Congruence Index (SCECI) were analyzed. Claim condition significantly changed targeted expectations for sweetness, fruit aroma, freshness, and naturalness. Product effects were stronger for post‐tasting perception and liking. Claim condition did not show a significant main effect on SCECI, whereas product and the claim condition × product interaction were significant but small. Overall liking was highest for Product C and lowest for Product B. In this dataset, sensory claims shaped expectations, but liking depended more on delivered sensory quality than on claim‐experience congruence alone.