Technical note | Potential Performance Criteria for Combat Ration Packs - Colour

Abstract

The Australian Department of Defence standard DEF(AUST) specifications for combat ration pack (CRP) food components include functional and performance criteria to ensure that components procured are suitable for their intended purpose. Sensory analysis of appearance does not provide an objective basis for decisions to be made on product colour acceptability. The human perception of colour is subjective and varies among individuals, whereas instrumental methods provide objective data. Instrumental colour analysis information collected during storage trials has been reviewed and considered as an alternative for developing performance criteria for CRP components. There were significant changes in the colour values of some CRP components during the two year storage period. Correlation of this data with the results of sensory evaluations could support the development of CRP performance criteria based on colour.

Executive Summary

The Australian Department of Defence standard, DEF(AUST), specifications for combat ration pack (CRP) food components include functional and performance criteria to ensure components procured are suitable for their intended purpose. However, DEF(AUST) specifications do not currently include criteria for measured colour. There is potential to include CIE (International Commission on Illumination) L*a*b* colour analysis performance criteria.

The purpose of this report is to review colour measurement data for its usefulness in establishing performance criteria for CRP food components.

Conclusions:

• The L*a*b* TCD value can be used to establish performance criteria for certain CRP components
• Further research is required to establish TCD performance criteria
• Baseline acceptance criteria are needed to support the use of TCD performance criteria
• Colour charts could be established (using sensory panellists) to reflect a more objective score for component colour acceptability.

Recommendations:

We recommend that CASG adopt CIE L*a*b* TCD values as a measure to ensure colour changes of CRP components remain within acceptable limits.

Implementation of this recommendation should be based on further research to:

• establish baseline L*a*b* values and colour tolerance ranges for new and existing CRP components
• adopt the CIE L*a*b* TCD value as a measure to ensure colour change of CRP components remains within acceptable limits during the warranty period
• develop visual colour assessment charts to establish colour tolerances for use during sensory analysis for components that exhibit large colour changes
• investigate correlation of perceived sensory colour change with instrumentally measured colour data for light coloured components.