Professors Katherin Castro Ríos and Ana Paola Mora Vergara, affiliated with the School of Nutrition and Dietetics of the Faculty of Health at the Industrial University of Santander, participated in the 16th Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium, the most important international event in the field of sensory science. The meeting was held in Philadelphia, United States, from August 17 to 21, 2025, bringing together more than a thousand researchers, academics, and representatives from the food industry.
During the event, Professor Katherin Castro Ríos presented the study entitled “Influence of Packaging Color on Coffee Purchase Intention: Findings from a Consumer Study in Santander, Colombia,” co-authored with Edna Magaly Gamboa-Delgado and Ana Paola Mora Vergara. The research showed that the color of coffee packaging directly influences confidence and purchase intention: gold generates greater credibility and purchase decisions, while black arouses curiosity. These findings also reveal how color shapes expectations about flavor, effects, and quality, providing key information to strengthen marketing strategies for Colombian coffees.
For her part, Professor Ana Paola Mora Vergara shared two research papers at the symposium: “Effect of culinary as a means of repeated exposure on vegetable intake in schoolchildren. A pilot study,” a paper focused on shaping healthy eating behaviors. The results of this research showed the potential of culinary education to increase vegetable intake and preference among schoolchildren. The second study, “Physicochemical and sensory evaluation of a tamarind macerated liquor,” concluded that alcoholic beverages made from tropical fruits such as tamarind, with balanced acidity and sweetness, tend to be highly acceptable.
The professors emphasized that the event was an enriching experience that allowed them to learn about the latest trends in sensory science and its application in the food industry. They also highlighted the cultural value of Philadelphia, an emblematic city in the history of the United States.
The professors’ participation was made possible thanks to the support of the Mobility Program of the Vice-Rectorate for Research and Extension of the UIS, which promotes the internationalization of research and the visibility of the university in high-impact academic settings.
