Taste perception is a complex multisensory experience, with visual cues playing a critical role in shaping expectations. This study investigates how the expected taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and hot) of bell peppers in new colors – brown and purple – is influenced by the presence of quality labels: organic, local, or none. Using a between-subjects design, data were collected from an online sample of 396 Romanian consumers. A two-way MANOVA examined the interaction between pepper color and label condition on taste expectations. Findings reveal that consumers' expectations of taste vary significantly depending on pepper color. Moreover, the presence of an organic label moderates this effect. Specifically, when labeled organic, brown peppers are expected to have a more intense taste profile (sour, salty, bitter, and hot) than purple peppers. Interestingly, sweetness expectations were not influenced by color or label condition. The local label did not exhibit a moderating effect. These results offer valuable insights into how consumers interpret novel visual cues and quality labels. The findings have implications for public health and environmental policy, particularly in promoting plant-based diets, as well as for farmers and retailers who use color and labeling strategies to market fresh produce.
{"title":"“Seeing taste”: How new vegetable colors and organic labels shape consumer taste expectations","authors":"Dacinia Crina Petrescu , Iris Vermeir , Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag , Damaris Fabiana Pocol","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105781","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105781","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Taste perception is a complex multisensory experience, with visual cues playing a critical role in shaping expectations. This study investigates how the expected taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and hot) of bell peppers in new colors – brown and purple – is influenced by the presence of quality labels: organic, local, or none. Using a between-subjects design, data were collected from an online sample of 396 Romanian consumers. A two-way MANOVA examined the interaction between pepper color and label condition on taste expectations. Findings reveal that consumers' expectations of taste vary significantly depending on pepper color. Moreover, the presence of an organic label moderates this effect. Specifically, when labeled organic, brown peppers are expected to have a more intense taste profile (sour, salty, bitter, and hot) than purple peppers. Interestingly, sweetness expectations were not influenced by color or label condition. The local label did not exhibit a moderating effect. These results offer valuable insights into how consumers interpret novel visual cues and quality labels. The findings have implications for public health and environmental policy, particularly in promoting plant-based diets, as well as for farmers and retailers who use color and labeling strategies to market fresh produce.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"137 ","pages":"Article 105781"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145518689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Growing consumer interest in food traceability and sustainability has led to a greater focus on product certifications, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in the agri-food market. In this context, it is important to understand how consumers perceive these certifications and how influential they are in terms of purchasing decisions. This study analysed the impact of traceability, sustainability, and organic certifications on the food choices and perception of certified products among Italian consumers. It also examined consumer interest in five certified sustainable supply chains. The influence of two sociodemographic characteristics (gender and geographic affiliation) on the perceived value of certifications was examined, too. Data were collected through an online survey of 1250 Italian consumers. The Combination of Uniform and Shifted Binomial (CUB) model was used to evaluate perceptions across two key dimensions: feeling and uncertainty. The results showed that certifications play a central role in purchasing decisions and are strongly associated with safety and quality. Both geographic origin and gender were found to significantly affect consumers' perceptions and the importance they attach to certifications. This research contributes to the existing literature by investigating how gender and geographical identity interact to shape certification preferences and perceptions, considering both the strength of preference and the degree of uncertainty in final responses.
{"title":"Exploring the influence of traceability and sustainability certifications on consumers choices: A CUB model analysis with gender and geographical affiliations-based insights","authors":"Giulia Mastromonaco , Antonina Sparacino , Valentina Maria Merlino , Stefano Massaglia , Danielle Borra , Emanuela Vassallo , Fabrizio Massimelli , Simone Blanc","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105729","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105729","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Growing consumer interest in food traceability and sustainability has led to a greater focus on product certifications, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in the agri-food market. In this context, it is important to understand how consumers perceive these certifications and how influential they are in terms of purchasing decisions. This study analysed the impact of traceability, sustainability, and organic certifications on the food choices and perception of certified products among Italian consumers. It also examined consumer interest in five certified sustainable supply chains. The influence of two sociodemographic characteristics (gender and geographic affiliation) on the perceived value of certifications was examined, too. Data were collected through an online survey of 1250 Italian consumers. The Combination of Uniform and Shifted Binomial (CUB) model was used to evaluate perceptions across two key dimensions: feeling and uncertainty. The results showed that certifications play a central role in purchasing decisions and are strongly associated with safety and quality. Both geographic origin and gender were found to significantly affect consumers' perceptions and the importance they attach to certifications. This research contributes to the existing literature by investigating how gender and geographical identity interact to shape certification preferences and perceptions, considering both the strength of preference and the degree of uncertainty in final responses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105729"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-21DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105760
Elisa Cadena , Gastón Ares , Carlos Gantiva
Warning labels (WLs) are increasingly implemented as front-of-package nutrition labeling tools designed to help consumers make more informed food choices. While a growing body of evidence supports their effectiveness, there remains limited research on how other competing elements on food packaging may influence or undermine their impact. This study examined how health-related packing cues and individual-level characteristics influence attention to front-of-pack WLs, as well as perceived healthfulness and purchase intention among young Colombian consumers after policy implementation. Using an experimental within-subjects design, 102 participants (aged 18–27) viewed food packages containing WLs with and without health-related cues (HC). Eye-tracking technology was used to measure visual attention to WLs, followed by a rating task assessing perceived healthfulness and purchase intention. Individual characteristics, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were also collected. Results showed that participants fixated on WLs significantly fewer times when HC were present. Women, individuals with higher education, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds showed greater attention to WLs. Perceived social norms and behavioral control were also positively associated with attention. Interestingly, those who rated WLs as easy to understand fixated on them more quickly and briefly, suggesting more efficient cognitive processing. Packages with HC were rated as healthier and more desirable to purchase, even when WLs were present. WLs can attract attention, but their impact may be diluted by underregulated health-related packaging cues and shaped by individual differences. Policy efforts should consider limiting misleading design elements that compete with WLs. Results also suggest that communication strategies could leverage social norms and perceived label clarity to enhance WLs use, especially among less engaged populations.
{"title":"Effects of health-related packaging cues and individual factors on attention to front-of-pack warning labels: An eye-tracking study among young Colombian consumers","authors":"Elisa Cadena , Gastón Ares , Carlos Gantiva","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105760","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105760","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Warning labels (WLs) are increasingly implemented as front-of-package nutrition labeling tools designed to help consumers make more informed food choices. While a growing body of evidence supports their effectiveness, there remains limited research on how other competing elements on food packaging may influence or undermine their impact. This study examined how health-related packing cues and individual-level characteristics influence attention to front-of-pack WLs, as well as perceived healthfulness and purchase intention among young Colombian consumers after policy implementation. Using an experimental within-subjects design, 102 participants (aged 18–27) viewed food packages containing WLs with and without health-related cues (HC). Eye-tracking technology was used to measure visual attention to WLs, followed by a rating task assessing perceived healthfulness and purchase intention. Individual characteristics, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were also collected. Results showed that participants fixated on WLs significantly fewer times when HC were present. Women, individuals with higher education, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds showed greater attention to WLs. Perceived social norms and behavioral control were also positively associated with attention. Interestingly, those who rated WLs as easy to understand fixated on them more quickly and briefly, suggesting more efficient cognitive processing. Packages with HC were rated as healthier and more desirable to purchase, even when WLs were present. WLs can attract attention, but their impact may be diluted by underregulated health-related packaging cues and shaped by individual differences. Policy efforts should consider limiting misleading design elements that compete with WLs. Results also suggest that communication strategies could leverage social norms and perceived label clarity to enhance WLs use, especially among less engaged populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105760"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145360106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-17DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105754
Zining Wang , Yanzhe Yuan , Jaewoo Park
As the global population continues to grow, sustainable protein alternatives like insect-based foods are receiving increasing attention. However, despite their nutritional and environmental advantages, low consumer acceptance remains a major barrier to the successful commercialization and widespread adoption of insect-based foods. Given this challenge, the current research investigates whether scarcity appeals can enhance consumer acceptance of insect-based foods. Across three experiments (Study 1a, 1b, and 2) conducted with Chinese consumers, we demonstrate that demand-based scarcity messages (e.g., “limited due to high demand”) consistently increase acceptance of insect-based foods, primarily through enhanced perceptions of popularity. While supply-based scarcity also occasionally showed positive effects, its impact was less consistent across studies. Additionally, exploratory moderation analyses revealed that individual differences, such as food neophobia, need for uniqueness, and prior entomophagy experience, moderate the effectiveness of scarcity appeals. Specifically, the effects of demand-based scarcity were particularly pronounced among consumers who were more neophobic, less uniqueness-seeking, or inexperienced with insect consumption.
{"title":"Missing out is a loss: Investigating the effectiveness of scarcity appeals in promoting insect-based foods","authors":"Zining Wang , Yanzhe Yuan , Jaewoo Park","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105754","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105754","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the global population continues to grow, sustainable protein alternatives like insect-based foods are receiving increasing attention. However, despite their nutritional and environmental advantages, low consumer acceptance remains a major barrier to the successful commercialization and widespread adoption of insect-based foods. Given this challenge, the current research investigates whether scarcity appeals can enhance consumer acceptance of insect-based foods. Across three experiments (Study 1a, 1b, and 2) conducted with Chinese consumers, we demonstrate that demand-based scarcity messages (e.g., “limited due to high demand”) consistently increase acceptance of insect-based foods, primarily through enhanced perceptions of popularity. While supply-based scarcity also occasionally showed positive effects, its impact was less consistent across studies. Additionally, exploratory moderation analyses revealed that individual differences, such as food neophobia, need for uniqueness, and prior entomophagy experience, moderate the effectiveness of scarcity appeals. Specifically, the effects of demand-based scarcity were particularly pronounced among consumers who were more neophobic, less uniqueness-seeking, or inexperienced with insect consumption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105754"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-14DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105749
J.W. Vermetten , M.J.E. Urlings , E. van den Heuvel , L. Domínguez , V. Fernández-Ruiz , M. Cámara , A. de Boer
As the global population grows and environmental concerns intensify, adopting more sustainable protein sources becomes increasingly crucial. This study examines the influence of food neophobia (FN) and food technology neophobia (FTN) on consumers' willingness to try (WTT) novel alternative proteins, specifically insect- and plant-based proteins (mealworm and mung bean protein) and whey, as a familiar control protein. In this context, it also examines the impact of protein-related health claims and compares the responses of residents in two European countries, Spain and the Netherlands. Through an online survey, the WTT of whey, mung bean and mealworm protein were measured in 200 Dutch and 202 Spanish young adults (18–40 years). Results indicated that WTT was inversely correlated with FN for plant protein and insect protein and FTN for plant and insect protein. While this relationship is significant, it only explains between 5.3 and 12.3 % of the variance. A lower WTT was reported for insects than for plant protein (mean 3.0 vs 5.0 on a 7-point Likert scale). A protein-related health claim did not affect WTT. Spanish consumers showed similar results to Dutch consumers but had lower WTT for insect protein (mean 2.7 vs 3.3). This study reveals a promising opportunity for mung bean protein as a preferred dietary protein source for young adults in the European Union, while also highlighting the challenges in accepting mealworm protein. Transitioning to alternative proteins seems to require a source-specific approach.
随着全球人口的增长和环境问题的加剧，采用更可持续的蛋白质来源变得越来越重要。本研究考察了食品新恐惧症（FN）和食品技术新恐惧症（FTN）对消费者尝试新型替代蛋白（WTT）意愿的影响，特别是昆虫和植物蛋白（粉虫和绿豆蛋白）和乳清，作为一种熟悉的对照蛋白。在此背景下，它还研究了蛋白质相关健康声明的影响，并比较了西班牙和荷兰两个欧洲国家居民的反应。通过一项在线调查，测量了200名荷兰和202名西班牙年轻人（18-40岁）的乳清、绿豆和粉虫蛋白的WTT。结果表明，WTT与植物蛋白和昆虫蛋白的FN、植物蛋白和昆虫蛋白的FTN呈负相关。虽然这种关系很重要，但它只能解释5.3%到12.3%的差异。据报道，昆虫的WTT低于植物蛋白（在7点李克特量表上平均3.0 vs 5.0）。与蛋白质有关的健康声明对WTT没有影响。西班牙消费者的结果与荷兰消费者相似，但昆虫蛋白的WTT较低（平均2.7 vs 3.3）。这项研究揭示了绿豆蛋白作为欧盟年轻人首选的膳食蛋白质来源的一个有希望的机会，同时也强调了接受粉虫蛋白的挑战。过渡到替代蛋白质似乎需要一种特定于源的方法。
{"title":"Food neophobia affects willingness to try novel alternative proteins in young adults in Spain and the Netherlands","authors":"J.W. Vermetten , M.J.E. Urlings , E. van den Heuvel , L. Domínguez , V. Fernández-Ruiz , M. Cámara , A. de Boer","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105749","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105749","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the global population grows and environmental concerns intensify, adopting more sustainable protein sources becomes increasingly crucial. This study examines the influence of food neophobia (FN) and food technology neophobia (FTN) on consumers' willingness to try (WTT) novel alternative proteins, specifically insect- and plant-based proteins (mealworm and mung bean protein) and whey, as a familiar control protein. In this context, it also examines the impact of protein-related health claims and compares the responses of residents in two European countries, Spain and the Netherlands. Through an online survey, the WTT of whey, mung bean and mealworm protein were measured in 200 Dutch and 202 Spanish young adults (18–40 years). Results indicated that WTT was inversely correlated with FN for plant protein and insect protein and FTN for plant and insect protein. While this relationship is significant, it only explains between 5.3 and 12.3 % of the variance. A lower WTT was reported for insects than for plant protein (mean 3.0 vs 5.0 on a 7-point Likert scale). A protein-related health claim did not affect WTT. Spanish consumers showed similar results to Dutch consumers but had lower WTT for insect protein (mean 2.7 vs 3.3). This study reveals a promising opportunity for mung bean protein as a preferred dietary protein source for young adults in the European Union, while also highlighting the challenges in accepting mealworm protein. Transitioning to alternative proteins seems to require a source-specific approach.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105749"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Consumers encounter various visual cues while shopping, which influence their food choices. Additionally, concerns related to the use of nitrites in cured meats and the overall impact of animal breeding on the environment are transforming the European cured meat market. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in consumer (n = 66) visual attention to three sausages (conventional, nitrite-free, and plant-based) under both blind and informed (health risk, health benefit, and health plus environmental benefit) conditions in Ireland and Finland, using a wearable eye-tracker in combination with a food choice task and Flash Profile. Significant differences were observed in consumer visual attention between the countries. Consumers in Ireland were navigating between products, whereas those in Finland tended to focus on each product (or text) for longer periods without revisiting it. In both countries, most consumers in the blind condition chose the conventional product, followed by the plant-based alternative. In the informed condition, the conventional product remained the most preferred in Ireland, while in Finland, the plant-based alternative became the most popular. In Ireland, visual attention differences between products were minimal, but the nitrite-free sausage information text attracted the most attention. In Finland, however, under the blind condition, the plant-based alternative had significantly more dwells with fixation and revisit count. Lastly, dwell time, was the only measure found to be significant in predicting product choice. These results highlight the need for culture-specific approaches underscoring aspects of visual attention and information provision in driving healthier and sustainable food choices among consumers.
{"title":"Visual attention to nitrite-free and plant-based sausages alternatives: Effect of information and cross-cultural differences between Ireland and Finland","authors":"Stergios Melios , Emily Crofton , Fabio Tuccillo , Tuomo Häikiö , Mari Sandell","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105737","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105737","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Consumers encounter various visual cues while shopping, which influence their food choices. Additionally, concerns related to the use of nitrites in cured meats and the overall impact of animal breeding on the environment are transforming the European cured meat market. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in consumer (<em>n</em> = 66) visual attention to three sausages (conventional, nitrite-free, and plant-based) under both blind and informed (health risk, health benefit, and health plus environmental benefit) conditions in Ireland and Finland, using a wearable eye-tracker in combination with a food choice task and Flash Profile. Significant differences were observed in consumer visual attention between the countries. Consumers in Ireland were navigating between products, whereas those in Finland tended to focus on each product (or text) for longer periods without revisiting it. In both countries, most consumers in the blind condition chose the conventional product, followed by the plant-based alternative. In the informed condition, the conventional product remained the most preferred in Ireland, while in Finland, the plant-based alternative became the most popular. In Ireland, visual attention differences between products were minimal, but the nitrite-free sausage information text attracted the most attention. In Finland, however, under the blind condition, the plant-based alternative had significantly more dwells with fixation and revisit count. Lastly, dwell time, was the only measure found to be significant in predicting product choice. These results highlight the need for culture-specific approaches underscoring aspects of visual attention and information provision in driving healthier and sustainable food choices among consumers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105737"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145326559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105773
Siyue Zhang , Lexin Su , Yuanxin Hu , Chunyan He , Siyuan He , Yonghui Hou , Hao Hong , Fuqun Liang , Wei Zhang , Xianyou He , Chenjing Wu
Food waste behavior is shaped by multiple factors, yet the role of family structure—particularly intergenerational rearing—has been largely overlooked. Intergenerational rearing, where grandparents take on primary (though not exclusive) caregiving responsibilities during childhood, is increasingly common and culturally relevant in many societies. This research examines whether intergenerational rearing influences food waste behavior and explores self-control as a potential psychological mechanism. Through four experiments, we compared participants with and without intergenerational rearing experience using both subjective (self-reported) and objective (behavioral) measures of food waste. Experiment 1 examined the relationship between self-control and self-reported food waste using a questionnaire employing a Likert-scale format. Experiment 2 replicated the findings with a larger sample. Experiment 3 introduced a real-world behavioral measure of food waste, in which uneaten food (oatmeal) was weighed after a naturalistic eating task. Experiment 4 controlled for household economic status and used diverse self-control measures to verify the robustness of the results, employing the same self-reported measure of food waste (a Likert-scale questionnaire) as in Experiments 1 and 2. Across all experiments, individuals who experienced intergenerational rearing during childhood demonstrated significantly lower self-control, which was associated with greater food waste—both in self-reports and objectively measured outcomes. These findings reveal a possible psychological pathway linking early caregiving environments to food-related behaviors. The study offers theoretical insight into how family structure shapes consumption outcomes and provides practical implications for parenting interventions and targeted food waste reduction strategies.
{"title":"The impact of intergenerational rearing on food waste: The mediating role of self-control","authors":"Siyue Zhang , Lexin Su , Yuanxin Hu , Chunyan He , Siyuan He , Yonghui Hou , Hao Hong , Fuqun Liang , Wei Zhang , Xianyou He , Chenjing Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105773","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105773","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food waste behavior is shaped by multiple factors, yet the role of family structure—particularly intergenerational rearing—has been largely overlooked. Intergenerational rearing, where grandparents take on primary (though not exclusive) caregiving responsibilities during childhood, is increasingly common and culturally relevant in many societies. This research examines whether intergenerational rearing influences food waste behavior and explores self-control as a potential psychological mechanism. Through four experiments, we compared participants with and without intergenerational rearing experience using both subjective (self-reported) and objective (behavioral) measures of food waste. Experiment 1 examined the relationship between self-control and self-reported food waste using a questionnaire employing a Likert-scale format. Experiment 2 replicated the findings with a larger sample. Experiment 3 introduced a real-world behavioral measure of food waste, in which uneaten food (oatmeal) was weighed after a naturalistic eating task. Experiment 4 controlled for household economic status and used diverse self-control measures to verify the robustness of the results, employing the same self-reported measure of food waste (a Likert-scale questionnaire) as in Experiments 1 and 2. Across all experiments, individuals who experienced intergenerational rearing during childhood demonstrated significantly lower self-control, which was associated with greater food waste—both in self-reports and objectively measured outcomes. These findings reveal a possible psychological pathway linking early caregiving environments to food-related behaviors. The study offers theoretical insight into how family structure shapes consumption outcomes and provides practical implications for parenting interventions and targeted food waste reduction strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105773"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145463554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research has demonstrated effects of emotional music on sensory perception of food, with many findings supporting a more favourable evaluation of foods when eaten while listening to positive music over negative emotional music. As the food industry becomes more focused on testing in realistic environments, there is a greater need to investigate the effects of auditory input on consumer perception when captured with measurement tools used in consumer sensory research. Consumers attending an event in New Zealand, took part in a chocolate tasting where they consumed milk or dark chocolate in positive and negative emotional music conditions. Consumer responses included emotional and sensory associations to the samples using a speeded response task, liking and Just-About-Right evaluations. Findings showed liking of dark chocolate was significantly higher in the positive as compared with the negative emotional music condition, whereas sensory changes were restricted to milk chocolate for the sweetness attribute where it was rated as higher in the positive as compared with the negative emotional music condition. Speeded emotional and sensory associations were highly susceptible to the effects of emotional music. Furthermore, exploratory penalty analysis revealed that emotional music can impact consumer feedback on attribute importance. This study builds on current understandings of the effects emotional music can have on automatic consumer responses, specifically speeded self-reported responses and gives further clarity on how the relationship between attributes and their link with liking may change with emotional music. The findings of this study offer a new insight into how emotional music can influence consumer and sensory science study outcomes when speeded self-report and JAR are used.
{"title":"The effect of emotional music on Just-About-Right and speeded-responses to chocolate","authors":"Jennifer Wagner , Simone Poggesi , Robyn Maggs , Joanne Hort","doi":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105746","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105746","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research has demonstrated effects of emotional music on sensory perception of food, with many findings supporting a more favourable evaluation of foods when eaten while listening to positive music over negative emotional music. As the food industry becomes more focused on testing in realistic environments, there is a greater need to investigate the effects of auditory input on consumer perception when captured with measurement tools used in consumer sensory research. Consumers attending an event in New Zealand, took part in a chocolate tasting where they consumed milk or dark chocolate in positive and negative emotional music conditions. Consumer responses included emotional and sensory associations to the samples using a speeded response task, liking and Just-About-Right evaluations. Findings showed liking of dark chocolate was significantly higher in the positive as compared with the negative emotional music condition, whereas sensory changes were restricted to milk chocolate for the sweetness attribute where it was rated as higher in the positive as compared with the negative emotional music condition. Speeded emotional and sensory associations were highly susceptible to the effects of emotional music. Furthermore, exploratory penalty analysis revealed that emotional music can impact consumer feedback on attribute importance. This study builds on current understandings of the effects emotional music can have on automatic consumer responses, specifically speeded self-reported responses and gives further clarity on how the relationship between attributes and their link with liking may change with emotional music. The findings of this study offer a new insight into how emotional music can influence consumer and sensory science study outcomes when speeded self-report and JAR are used.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":322,"journal":{"name":"Food Quality and Preference","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 105746"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145359660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-17DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105755
Ana Giménez , Florencia Alcaire , Leticia Vidal , Lucía Antúnez , Joanna Lado , Maximiliano Dini , Gastón Ares
This work intended to contribute to the literature on food waste by examining how consumers perceive fruits that deviate from conventional quality standards due to visual imperfections, through the lens of expectation-disconfirmation theory. Three specific objectives were addressed: (i) to explore consumers' sensory and hedonic expectations, as well as their purchase intentions and willingness to pay, based solely on the appearance of suboptimal fruit; (ii) to analyze consumers' sensory and hedonic perception, as well as purchase intentions and willingness to pay during blind tasting; and (iii) to assess whether expectation disconfirmation is assimilated when consumers are informed about the product's suboptimality. Two studies were conducted using apples and mandarins, two of the most consumed fruits in Uruguay. Each study compared optimal with suboptimal fruits exhibiting external visual defects that were not expected to affect internal quality. Participants evaluated the fruits under three conditions: (a) blind, (b) visual/expected, and (c) informed. Across both studies, fruits with visual imperfections received significantly lower ratings for appearance, expected liking, purchase intention, and willingness to pay than their optimal counterparts. However, in the blind condition, only minor differences were found between optimal and suboptimal samples, indicating a strong disconfirmation of expectations. In the informed condition, this disconfirmation was not fully assimilated, suggesting that sensory experience has the potential to override negative expectations. These findings highlight the potential of strategies such as in-store tastings and informative messaging about taste and quality to mitigate visual bias and enhance the acceptability of suboptimal fruits. Such approaches may serve as effective tools to reduce consumer-driven food waste.
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Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-25DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105771
Moonbin Jo , Soo-Hyun Lee , Jae-Hee Hong
Amid rising emotional stress, individuals increasingly turn to food as a coping mechanism. This study investigated the sensory, emotional, and imagery attributes of foods chosen under stress, and how sensory cues influence emotional and mental imagery responses that guide food selection. An online survey was conducted with 1000 Koreans to identify stress-relieving foods and evaluated their sensory, emotional, and imagery qualities using a check-all-that-apply format. Multiple factor analysis and K-means clustering were conducted. Results show that stress-relieving foods were not limited to sweet or fatty snacks but included spicy and savory dishes (e.g., ramen, fried chicken), and notably, beverages such as coffee and tea. Strong flavors and resistant textures were linked to high-arousal emotions (e.g., enthusiasm, adventurousness) and stimulating and unhealthy imagery, whereas mild, soft characteristics were associated with low-arousal, soothing emotions (e.g., calm, satisfied) and comforting imagery. Interestingly, sweetness, though frequently selected, showed weak associations with emotional or imagery attributes, suggesting context-dependent meaning. Sour and fizzy attributes were tied to health-related imagery, while bitter and coffee-flavored profiles evoked calming and luxurious imagery. These sensory-emotional-imagery clusters suggest that food-based stress coping is shaped not only by hedonic pleasure but also by learned and embodied associations. The findings expand the conceptualization of “comfort foods” to include a broader range of emotionally meaningful sensory experiences. This integrative understanding provides valuable implications for developing tailored dietary interventions, promoting emotionally adaptive food choices, and designing stress-relieving food products. Future studies should address individual differences and cultural contexts in stress-related eating to deepen practical applications.
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