title: Information about the taste stimulates choice of unfamiliar healthful food products.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to assess whether taste information about unfamiliar low-fat and fruit and vegetable products leads to more positive taste expectations and stimulates choice for these products. The impact of level of food neophobia on such effects was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study had a two (taste information: yes/no) by four (food products: low-fat cheese/very low-fat margarine spread/fruit juice/fruit and vegetable juice) between subjects design among a convenience sample of 396 university students. Taste information was delivered by means of a poster providing information on the taste of the offered food product. Primary outcome measurements were taste expectations and product choice. Level of food neophobia, appetite level, mood states, usual intake of fruit, vegetables and fat, and demographics were taken into account as potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Taste information had no effect on taste expectations, although it had a positive effect on choosing unfamiliar healthful products. These effects were not moderated by level of food neophobia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Offering taste information on unfamiliar healthful products appears to be a promising strategy for increasing the first-time trial of such products, independent of the participants' level of food neophobia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. bilbo.schickenberg@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schickenberg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Assema
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brug
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: de Vries
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001628:Beverages; D002611:Cheese; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D058870:Food, Organic; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008383:Margarine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D008383:Margarine