WHAT IS THE CO2 OPEN PROFICIENCY PROGRAM?
CO2 purity is a critical and often overlooked factor in beverage quality. Any off-flavour carried in carbonation gas transfers directly to the finished product, impacting taste, brand reputation, and consumer confidence.
The CO2 Open Proficiency Program is FlavorActiV’s industry-standard sensory calibration scheme, purpose-built for beverage manufacturers and quality assurance teams who need to verify and improve their panel’s ability to detect CO2-related off-flavours.
Participants complete two structured proficiency rounds per year — in April and October — using FlavorActiV’s proprietary pharmaceutical-grade GMP Flavour Standards and online proficiency software to test, score, and track individual tasting performance.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND PRICING
The annual subscription delivers the best value and fullest feature set, with two proficiency rounds per year at £300 per round compared to £350 for a single pay-as-you-go round. Annual subscribers also receive full access to the Total Vocabulary System (TVS), the proficiency platform’s benchmarking and progress-tracking module.
| Annual Program | Single Round | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Rounds | 2 (April & October) | 1 |
| Cost Per Round | £300 | £350 |
| TVS Access | Full access | Limited |
| Certification | Yes — on completion | Not included |
| Proficiency Test | IN-OUT | IN-OUT |
| Subscription Type | Annual subscription | Pay as you go |
Round 1 runs in April.
Round 2 runs in October.
Annual subscribers are automatically enrolled in both rounds.
WHO SHOULD JOIN?
This program is designed for any organisation that uses CO2 in production, including:
– Breweries, craft beer producers, and contract packers
– Soft drink and carbonated water manufacturers
– Sensory panel managers looking to benchmark and develop taster ability
– Quality managers seeking to reduce off-flavour risk and product recall
Proficiency testing is the logical next step after initial flavour training. We recommend completing FlavorActiV’s CO2 flavour training available in our online store before joining the scheme.
Flavours Covered in the CO2 Program
Each proficiency round uses FlavorActiV GMP Flavour Standards to test participants’ ability to identify the ten key flavours most commonly associated with CO2 contamination and quality failure. These are not generic flavour exercises — each compound was selected for its direct relevance to carbonated beverage production.
| GMP Flavour Standard | Why It Matters for CO2 Quality |
|---|---|
| Acetaldehyde | Green apple / acetone note; common fermentation by-product |
| DMS (Dimethyl Sulphide) | Cooked vegetable/sweetcorn aroma; cellar contamination marker |
| H2S (Hydrogen Sulphide) | Rotten egg; sulphur compound from yeast stress or contamination |
| Nonanal | Fatty / tallowy; lipid oxidation indicator in food-grade CO2 |
| Onion (Swampy) | Pungent sulphurous off-note associated with microbial activity |
| Rotten Vegetable | Decay-type aroma; signals biological contamination in beverages |
| Rancid Fish Oil | Oxidised fat odour; indicates hydrocarbon or oil carry-over |
| Motor Fuel | Petroleum / hydrocarbon; traces from compression equipment |
| Fermented | Ethanol / yeasty note; contamination from fermentation sources |
| Plastics | Polymer / packaging migration; pipe or vessel material off-note |
All FlavorActiV Flavour Standards are manufactured at pharmaceutical GMP quality, encapsulated, blister-packaged, and individually marked with our authenticity seal. The same flavour standards used in the proficiency program are available to purchase separately for in-house training.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS — STEP BY STEP
– Enrol via the FlavorActiV online store and choose the annual subscription.
– Receive your GMP Flavour Standards kit ahead of each round (shipped globally).
– Complete the blind tasting using the included flavour capsules.
– Log your results on the CO2 Open Proficiency Program software platform — mobile-friendly and accessible worldwide.
– Review your IN-OUT proficiency score, identify areas for improvement, and track progress across rounds.
– Receive formal certification on successful completion of the full annual program.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF JOINING CO2 OPEN PROFICIENCY PROGRAM?
Some of the benefits of joining:
– Reduce risk of undesirable product release
– Reduced specialised sensory training costs for panellists
– Learn taster’s strengths and weaknesses to hone skills accordingly
– Encourages staff retention and attracts new talent
– Improves your product and brand awareness
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Do I need prior training before joining the proficiency program?
A : Yes. Proficiency testing is the step after training. We recommend completing FlavorActiV’s CO2 flavour training first, which covers the recognition of all 10 flavours included in the scheme. Training materials are available in our online store.
Q: How is the proficiency test scored?
A : Results are scored using an IN-OUT method — each participant is assessed on whether they correctly identify a flavour (IN) or miss it (OUT). Annual subscribers receive full TVS access to track scores, view trends, and identify specific weaknesses across rounds.
Q: Is the certification formally recognised?
A : Certification is issued by FlavorActiV to all participants who successfully complete both rounds of the annual program. It documents panellist proficiency against pharmaceutical-grade sensory standards and is suitable for inclusion in audit files and quality management systems.
Q: Can participants join from outside the UK?
A : Yes. The program is open globally. FlavorActiV ships GMP Flavour Standards worldwide, and the proficiency software platform is accessible from any location and device.
Q: What is the difference between the annual program and a single round?
A : The annual subscription includes two rounds (April and October) at £300 per round, full access to the TVS platform, and formal certification. A single round costs £350 and includes limited platform access and no certification. For teams building ongoing sensory capability, the annual program offers significantly better value.
