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News 2024
Blas na hÉireann food tasting system is now international judging benchmark
A judging system for food tasting originally developed at University College Cork (UCC) for Blas na hÉireann, The Irish Food Awards has now become the benchmark for awards worldwide
Blas na hÉireann, The Irish Food Awards, now in its 17th year is a prestigious competition that celebrates top quality Irish produce across the island of Ireland.
The awards were founded to establish quality benchmarks for Irish food, creating a level playing field for producers. Winning a Blas award can significantly impact a business, providing recognition and encouraging consumer trust.
The judging system for the awards includes the largest blind food tasting in the country and the criteria on which the product is judged, as well as the system itself, was developed in collaboration with UCC’s School of Food and Nutritional Sciences. These standards are now recognised as an international industry benchmark.
As the judging system is divided into headings and score numbers it gives the producer the opportunity to be area specific when working with academia on product improvements.
Explaining the judging system led by UCC, Professor Joseph Kerry said:
“We developed the SENSE system here at the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences at UCC to meet a very particular challenge. It had to be a sensory scoring system that was scientifically sound. Yet it also had to be simple to ensure it could be implemented fairly while also having the ability to distinguish quality and flavour between products both within categories and across categories.
“The power of this system is in its ability to capture numerical information, which can then be analysed when required to explain quality differences. These differences can be between products, product quality fluctuations over time, changes in human behaviour and tastes, and more.
“For all of the reasons outlined, in addition to its operational existence for 17 years, it is not surprising that the system developed is now considered to be the global standard. I still get a thrill of seeing the all-island impact of the UCC developed scoring system on Irish food and beverage producers through Blas na hEireann at the Irish Food Awards in Dingle each year. There is no better demonstration of an example of science for society”.
UCC's long-standing partnership with Blas na hÉireann exemplifies the university’s commitment to fostering excellence in food innovation and research by working closely with the Irish food industry.
Research indicates that Blas accreditation enjoys significant recognition among Irish consumers - 80% of consumers recognise the symbol and 72% will make a purchase decision based on the symbol.
Artie Clifford, Chairperson, Blas na hÉireann commented:
“Blas na hÉireann’s judging system and the people behind Blas have made it into the most trusted accreditation on the island of Ireland”.
In 2024, over 3,000 products were entered in Blas na hÉireann from every county in Ireland. Producers competed for bronze, silver, or gold awards across 176 food and drink categories, including prestigious titles such as Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer.
The Awards culminate each year with the Blas Village event in Dingle, Co. Kerry, a highlight for Irish food producers. Held in the heart of Dingle, this pop-up village brings together producers from across the country to celebrate the best of Irish food and drink. Finalists and winners not only receive awards but also get the chance to showcase their products, engage with customers, and meet industry buyers.
The Blas Village holds a prominent place in the Irish food industry’s annual calendar and is regarded as a must-attend weekend. It stands out as one of the industry’s largest gathering and networking events.
Neven Maguire, award-winning chef and restaurateur added:
“As a past judge for the Blas na hÉireann awards, I can confidently say that the experience is both rigorous and rewarding. The judging process is meticulously designed to highlight the finest in Irish food and drink, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of producers across the island.”