Overview
EN ISO 11136:2017 (ISO 11136:2014) provides general guidance for conducting hedonic tests with consumers in a controlled area. Adopted by CEN from ISO/TC 34 (Food products), the standard describes approaches for measuring how much consumers like or relatively like products using direct consumer responses (paper, keyboard, touch screen). It explicitly excludes behavioural tests that record quantities consumed ad libitum.
Keywords: sensory analysis, hedonic tests, consumer testing, controlled area, ISO 11136, EN ISO 11136:2017.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Guidance for hedonic (liking) tests performed in a controlled test area; methods based on consumers’ responses, not on behavioural consumption measures.
- Consumer sample: Recruitment, assembling, segmentation and characteristics of the target population; practical recommendations for obtaining representative consumer samples.
- Sample size and design: Principles for determining the size of the consumer sample, handling subgroups, number of product samples and experimental design considerations.
- Test area and product handling: Requirements for the controlled test environment, anonymous presentation, preparation and presentation of samples.
- Test procedures: Standard hedonic methods covered include rating tests, paired comparison, and ranking tests; guidance on additional questions and consumer instructions.
- Session organization: Practical limits on number and nature of products per session, timing, repetition and pre-testing.
- Analysis and reporting: Statistical and inferential analysis approaches for ratings, paired comparisons and rankings; structure and content of the study report.
- Annexes: Supplementary guidance (recruitment questionnaire example, sample-size influence, plans for assigning products, and data-analysis examples).
Practical applications
- Use EN ISO 11136 to design, run and report controlled-area consumer liking studies for product development, reformulation, quality control and market research.
- Applicable across food and related consumer goods where sensory liking is a key success factor.
- Helps ensure consistent, reproducible hedonic testing that supports decision-making (e.g., product acceptance, preference ranking, formulation choices).
Who should use this standard
- Sensory scientists and sensory laboratories
- Product developers and R&D teams (food and consumer products)
- Quality assurance and regulatory teams
- Market researchers conducting consumer hedonic studies
Related standards
EN ISO 11136 is part of ISO sensory analysis work from ISO/TC 34. For comprehensive sensory programmes, consult other ISO sensory-method standards and national guidance on sensory testing (refer to standards bodies for exact cross-references).
Using EN ISO 11136:2017 helps ensure robust, comparable consumer hedonic testing in a controlled area, improving the reliability of liking and preference data used in product decisions.
