Palatability

Assessment of palatability, the subjective pleasure associated with eating a given food, is critically important to both the animal pharmaceutical and pet-food industries. Traditionally, this has been done with the two pan-test, a procedure in which animals are allowed to eat either or both of two foods. Palatability is based on the relative amounts of food consumed.

CanCog has developed a cognitive palatability assessment protocol (CPAP), in which an animal is first trained to learn an association between a particular food and a particular object. Performance in the two-pan test, by contrast, is influenced by a variety of other non-cognitive factors, including state of satiety and the possibility that the palatability of one food affects the preference for the other. Additionally, animals that do not self limit food intake may become obese and suffer from weight-related health consequences. This is avoided with use of the CPAP.

Representative data obtained in a palatability assessment study is illustrated below . When tested with a choice of two possible foods, and a no-food alternative, the subject rapidly demonstrated a preference for one of the two foods. When the choice responses were subsequently switched, the subject appropriately reversed its behavior to maintain its preference for the same food.