The main aim of this study is to examine the influence of chicken nugget color and appearance on the overall acceptance rates and responses of a panel of consumers. Fifty blindfolded and fifty-two non-blindfolded panelists tasted the nuggets. They evaluated their Overall Liking (OL) and their perceptions of the sensory properties of chicken nuggets with no seasoning and chicken nuggets coated in breadcrumbs with 10% and 25% of a red pomace seasoning, a by-product of red winemaking. Just-About-Right (JAR) scales and Penalty Analysis (PA) were then used to determine the adequacy of the sensory attributes that the consumers had attributed to the products. Furthermore, purchase intention was also studied. The red pomace seasoning, regardless of the quantity that was used, darkened the nugget coatings. No effect of color on OL was observed when comparing the responses of the blindfolded and the non-blindfolded consumers. Their purchase intention decreased in proportion to the increased amount of seasoning added to the breadcrumbs. However, PA suggested that nuggets coated in breadcrumbs with 10% red pomace seasoning could after some reformulation be successfully marketed.
