Flavour programming
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Flavour programming: Fruit and vegetable format palatability
IRAS ID
218628
Contact name
Jacqueline M Wallace
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 2 days
Research summary
Infants have an inborn preference for sweet and umami flavours and dislike sour and bitter, but there is evidence that sensory experiences beginning early in development can modify these preferences in favour ultimately of healthier food choices. Babies are first exposed to flavour in utero and then later through breast/formula milk. This can be manipulated to influence liking and consumption of individual foods with specific high-intensity flavours postnatally. There are no prospective studies evaluating the impact of increasing maternal fruit and vegetable intake during late pregnancy on a child’s subsequent acceptance of fruit and vegetables, particularly those with a sour/bitter taste. The hypothesis is that an intervention to increase maternal intake of fruit and vegetables in late pregnancy will enhance fetal flavour exposure and make infants more likely to accept a wide variety of fruit and vegetables (F&V) in childhood. Before testing this hypothesis we need to evaluate the general acceptance of the fruit and vegetable formats that we intend to offer to pregnant women. Accordingly this application is primarily a palatability trial to establish the taste profile and general acceptability of the diverse F&V presentation formats in two groups: non-pregnant women of childbearing age, followed by pregnant women.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/2238
Date of REC Opinion
20 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion