The measurement of food preferences in humans: do taste-and-spit tests predict consumption? 1987

F Lucas, and F Bellisle

Hedonic ratings of foods, obtained by laboratory taste-and-spit tests, are often used to determine the optimal concentration of sugar in a commercial food. However, the predictive value of these tests on actual consumption has not been demonstrated. Does the optimal sugar concentration in a specific food, as determined by a short exposure taste test, induce maximum intake of that food? In the present experiment, a standard food (yogurt) was presented in five sucrose concentrations (from 2% to 29%) to 18 subjects. The five types of yogurts were first tasted and rated for pleasantness. Secondly, they were presented in ad lib consumption tests. Discrepancies appeared between taste test ratings and ingestive responses, e.g., in subjects who preferred medium to high sucrose concentrations, the optimal concentration (in terms of intake) was lower than the "preferred" one (as determined by taste-and-spit tests). The results of taste-and-spit should be taken cautiously when trying to predict ingestion.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007206 Individuality Those psychological characteristics which differentiate individuals from one another. Individual Differences,Difference, Individual,Differences, Individual,Individual Difference
D008297 Male Males
D011594 Psychometrics Assessment of psychological variables by the application of mathematical procedures. Psychometric
D003611 Dairy Products Raw and processed or manufactured milk and milk-derived products. These are usually from cows (bovine) but are also from goats, sheep, reindeer, and water buffalo. Dairy Product,Product, Dairy,Products, Dairy
D004040 Dietary Carbohydrates Carbohydrates present in food comprising digestible sugars and starches and indigestible cellulose and other dietary fibers. The former are the major source of energy. The sugars are in beet and cane sugar, fruits, honey, sweet corn, corn syrup, milk and milk products, etc.; the starches are in cereal grains, legumes (FABACEAE), tubers, etc. (From Claudio & Lagua, Nutrition and Diet Therapy Dictionary, 3d ed, p32, p277) Carbohydrates, Dietary,Carbohydrate, Dietary,Dietary Carbohydrate
D004435 Eating The consumption of edible substances. Dietary Intake,Feed Intake,Food Intake,Macronutrient Intake,Micronutrient Intake,Nutrient Intake,Nutritional Intake,Ingestion,Dietary Intakes,Feed Intakes,Intake, Dietary,Intake, Feed,Intake, Food,Intake, Macronutrient,Intake, Micronutrient,Intake, Nutrient,Intake, Nutritional,Macronutrient Intakes,Micronutrient Intakes,Nutrient Intakes,Nutritional Intakes
D005260 Female Females
D005518 Food Preferences The selection of one food over another. Food Selection,Food Preference,Food Selections,Preference, Food,Preferences, Food,Selection, Food,Selections, Food
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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