Abstract

In the framework of the OLEUM project, the present study represents the conclusion of the activities carried out on reference materials (RMs) to validate their performance in the OLEUM project; specifically, the two artificial olfactory RMs, for rancid and for winey-vinegary defects, were assessed in an inter-laboratory study performed with the collaboration of twelve internationally recognized panels for validation of their appropriateness in resembling the natural defects (compared to authentic virgin olive oil, VOO, samples with corresponding defects) and their intensity values. The data set contains raw sensory data (intensity from single assessor or median value from panel) from twelve sensory panels/laboratories (coded as LAB1-LAB9, and LAB11-LAB13), that participated in this international study. The DISTAL panel (OLEUM partner and method developer, coded as LAB 10) assessed RMs and samples but, being responsible for selecting samples, organization of trial proper tests and elaboration of data, did not contribute with its data to the results of interlaboratory validation. Each participating panel evaluated: a) 2 reference materials (RM1, Reference Material 1 resembling the winey-vinegary defect; RM2, Reference Material 2 resembling the rancid defect); b) 10 test materials (2 training VOO samples, coded SA-6, and SA-13); c) 8 validation VOO samples (four authentic VOO samples split into two aliquots to obtain replicates of samples, blind pairs coded as 1=8, 2=4, 3=11,10=12).