Distinct Sensory Hedonic Functions for Sourness in Adults.
Sara Spinelli1,2,3, Helene Hopfer2,3, Victor Moulinier2,3
1Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy.
Food Quality and Preference
|April 15, 2024
Summary
Adults show varied responses to sourness, challenging the assumption of universal aversion. Individual differences in hedonic responses to sour stimuli suggest distinct consumer segments exist.
Area of Science:
- Sensory Science
- Consumer Behavior
- Food Psychology
Background:
- Hedonic responses to sweetness show distinct patterns, but data on sourness in adults is limited.
- Sourness is often assumed to be aversive in adults, with liking decreasing as acidity increases.
- Previous research indicates some children may like sourness more at higher concentrations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hedonic responses to sourness in adult populations.
- To test the assumption that sourness is universally aversive to adults.
- To identify if distinct liking patterns for sour stimuli exist in adults.
Main Methods:
- Convenience samples of adults in the US and Italy participated.
- Experimental beverages with varying citric acid concentrations were presented.
- Participants rated the intensity and liking of the sour stimuli.
Main Results:
- Three distinct hedonic response patterns to sourness were identified in both cohorts.
- A strong negative group (liking decreased with sourness), an intermediate group, and a strong positive group (liking increased with sourness) were observed.
- Proportions of these response patterns were similar across US and Italian participants, with ~63-70% in the strong negative group and 11-12% in the strong positive group.
Conclusions:
- Adults exhibit diverse hedonic responses to sour stimuli, not a uniform aversion.
- Individual differences in sourness perception and liking are significant.
- Understanding these distinct consumer segments is crucial for food product development and marketing, moving beyond group averages.
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