Presentation | Rethinking Heat: An Accuracy Update to the Scoville Heat Units (SHU) Methodology (ASTA Method 21.3)

At the 2026 Annual Meeting & Exhibits, Leonard Fong, Chair of ASTA’s Analytical Methods Subcommittee, presented an update on ASTA’s recent work related to the Scoville Heat Units (SHU) methodology. The presentation introduced a correction to the capsaicin response factor that is expected to reduce total SHU calculations by approximately 5.6–5.78%. It also examined the potential implications of this adjustment and outlined a proposed five-year implementation period for adoption across the spice industry.