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CONSUMER AWARENESS OF AND ATTITUDES TO FOOD TEXTURE: I: Adults.
Alina S Szczesniak1, Earl L Kahn1
1General Foods Corp. Technical Center, White Plains, N. Y., U. S. A.Social Research Inc., Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
Journal of Texture Studies
|April 4, 2017
Summary
Food texture significantly impacts consumer perception and attitudes, influenced by various sensory, psychological, and cultural factors. Awareness of texture heightens when expectations are unmet or negative oral sensations occur, linking texture to food quality.
Area of Science:
- Food science
- Consumer psychology
- Sensory analysis
Background:
- Food texture plays a crucial, often subconscious, role in consumer food perception.
- Numerous factors influence how individuals perceive and react to food textures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the multifaceted influences on consumer awareness and attitudes towards food texture.
- To identify conditions that heighten textural awareness.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on food texture perception.
- Analysis of factors affecting consumer attitudes towards food texture.
Main Results:
- Consumer texture awareness is influenced by flavor intensity, cultural expectations, psychological state, demographics, and food image.
- Heightened texture awareness occurs with violated expectations, non-food associations, or unpleasant oral experiences.
- Textural qualities are frequently associated with overall food quality and wholesomeness.
Conclusions:
- Food texture is a critical determinant of consumer acceptance and preference.
- Understanding textural influences is vital for food product development and marketing.
- Sensory and psychological factors significantly modulate the perception of food texture.