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Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults
09:17

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults

Published on: July 16, 2016

Sweet and sour preferences during childhood: role of early experiences

Djin Gie Liem1, Julie A Mennella

  • 1Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3308, USA.

Developmental Psychobiology
|November 14, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Early infant formula type impacts children's taste preferences. Protein hydrolysate formulas led to a preference for sourer juice, while sweet preferences were linked to dietary sugar exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Sensory Science
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Early life experiences significantly shape lifelong dietary habits and flavor preferences.
  • Infant feeding practices, including formula type, may influence sensory development.
  • Understanding factors affecting taste preferences is crucial for child health and nutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of early infant formula exposure on children's preferences for sweet and sour tastes.
  • To determine if specific formula types influence the acceptance of different flavor intensities in juice.
  • To explore the relationship between early experiences and current sweet and sour taste preferences in children.

Main Methods:

  • Eighty-three children participated, grouped by infant formula type and age.
  • A forced-choice, sip-and-swallow procedure was employed to assess taste preferences.
  • Preference levels for sweetness and sourness in juice were quantitatively measured.

Main Results:

  • Children fed protein hydrolysate formulas (sour/bitter taste) showed a preference for higher citric acid levels in juice compared to controls.
  • No significant differences in sweet preference were found based on formula type.
  • Sweet preference correlated with the sugar content of preferred cereals and maternal sugar addition habits.

Conclusions:

  • Early exposure to specific taste profiles, like those in protein hydrolysate formulas, can shape later flavor preferences.
  • Dietary experiences, including sugar intake from cereals and habitual sugar addition, influence sweet taste preferences.
  • Childhood flavor preferences are a complex interplay of early sensory experiences and ongoing dietary factors.

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