During her PhD studies, Line Pedersen investigated how sweetness and fattiness influence our sensory perception and liking of milk-based beverages. Line Pedersen also investigated how individual differences in people, such as taste sensitivity and sweetness liking, can influence people’s perception and liking of milk-based beverages.

The new research findings contribute to the understanding of how reformulating the sweetness and fattiness of milk-based beverages influences perception and liking.

The PhD study was completed at the Department of Food Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 21 November 2025 at 10:30
Place: Building Agro Food Park 48, room 5910-116, Agro Food Park 26, 8200 Aarhus N.
Title of PhD thesis: Perception of Sweetness and Fattiness: Sensory Interactions and the Role of Individual Differences
Contact information: Line Pedersen, e-mail: linep@food.au.dk, tel.: +45 23274701
Members of the assessment committee:
Associate Professor Qian Janice Wang, Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Professor Lisa Methven, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, England
Associate Professor Merete Edelenbos (chair), Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Associate Professor Ulla Kidmose, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor: 
Professor Derek V. Byrne, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Senior Sensory Scientist Anne Sjørup Bertelsen, Arla Foods Innovation Centre, Arla Foods AMBA, Denmark
Senior Consumer Scientist Nikoline Bach Hyldelund, Arla Foods Innovation Centre, Arla Foods AMBA, Denmark
Assistant Professor Yan Zeng, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Professor Sun Yuanxia, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.