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Stuldreher IV, Van der Burg E, Velut S, Toet A, van Os DE, Hiraguchi H, Hogervorst MA, Zandstra EH, Van Erp JBF, Brouwer AM. Electrodermal activity as an index of food neophobia outside the lab. FRONTIERS IN NEUROERGONOMICS 2024; 4:1297722. [PMID: 38234468 PMCID: PMC10790829 DOI: 10.3389/fnrgo.2023.1297722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Understanding how food neophobia affects food experience may help to shift toward sustainable diets. Previous research suggests that individuals with higher food neophobia are more aroused and attentive when observing food-related stimuli. The present study examined whether electrodermal activity (EDA), as index of arousal, relates to food neophobia outside the lab when exposed to a single piece of food. Methods The EDA of 153 participants was analyzed as part of a larger experiment conducted at a festival. Participants completed the 10-item Food Neophobia Scale. Subsequently, they saw three lids covering three foods: a hotdog labeled as "meat", a hotdog labeled as "100% plant-based", and tofu labeled as "100% plant-based". Participants lifted the lids consecutively and the area-under-the-curve (AUC) of the skin conductance response (SCR) was captured between 20 s before and 20 s after each food reveal. Results We found a significant positive correlation between food neophobia and AUC of SCR during presentation of the first and second hotdog and a trend for tofu. These correlations remained significant even when only including the SCR data prior to the food reveal (i.e., an anticipatory response). Discussion The association between food neophobia and EDA indicates that food neophobic individuals are more aroused upon the presentation of food. We show for the first time that the anticipation of being presented with food already increased arousal for food neophobic individuals. These findings also indicate that EDA can be meaningfully determined using wearables outside the lab, in a relatively uncontrolled setting for single-trial analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivo V. Stuldreher
- Human Performance, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, Netherlands
- Human Media Interaction, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Erik Van der Burg
- Human Performance, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, Netherlands
- Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sebastien Velut
- Human Performance, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, Netherlands
| | - Alexander Toet
- Human Performance, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, Netherlands
| | - Demi E. van Os
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Maarten A. Hogervorst
- Human Performance, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth H. Zandstra
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- Consumer Science Insight, Unilever Foods Innovation Centre Wageningen, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Jan B. F. Van Erp
- Human Media Interaction, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
- Human Machine Teaming, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marie Brouwer
- Human Performance, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Pierguidi L, Spinelli S, Prescott J, Monteleone E, Dinnella C. Responsiveness to warning sensations and anxiety-related psychological traits modulate individual differences in preference for vegetable foods with varied sensory properties. Food Res Int 2023; 173:113342. [PMID: 37803693 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The innate aversion to warning sensations is an important barrier to the acceptance of vegetable food often characterized by bitter and sour tastes, and astringency. Large individual variations exist in preference for this food category. The present study aimed at exploring differences in demographics, anthropometrics, taste responsiveness, personality traits and attitudes in consumers differing in their preference for vegetable food with varied levels of warning sensations. A panel of Italian consumers (n = 718; 53.6% women, age 18-74 years) self-reported familiarity with, preference for and choice of vegetables with high and low levels of warning sensations. Two clusters were identified: High Warning-Vegetable Consumers (HWVC, n = 464) and Low-Warning Vegetable Consumers (LWVC, n = 254). HWVC showed higher familiarity with and preference for vegetables as a whole and higher choice of vegetables characterized by warning sensations than LWVC. HWVC were more represented by older and normal weight individuals as compared to LWVC. Differences among clusters in liking for and perception of a phenol-enriched plant-based food model specifically developed to induce different levels of bitterness, sourness and astringency were found. HWVC rated bitterness, sourness, and astringency lower and liking higher than LWVC. Scores in anxiety-related psychological traits were lower while attitudes to healthy and high-quality food choice were higher in HWVC than in LWVC. The results of the present study depicted a coherent interplay among several person-related dimensions in modulating preference for vegetable foods. Higher responsiveness to warning sensations, higher level of anxiety-related traits, lower importance assigned to food healthy/quality aspects and younger age all acted as barriers to exposure and acceptance of vegetable food and call for a multidimensional approach to promote the consumption of this food category.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Pierguidi
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy.
| | - S Spinelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy
| | - J Prescott
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy; TasteMatters Research & Consulting, Sydney, Australia
| | - E Monteleone
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy
| | - C Dinnella
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy
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Jaeger SR, Hedderley D, Prescott J. High arousal as the source of food rejection in food neophobia. Food Res Int 2023; 168:112795. [PMID: 37120240 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Food neophobia (FN) at moderate to high levels is very common among adult populations in all cultures and is usually defined in terms of rejection of unfamiliar foods. However, food rejection in FN is only partly related to food familiarity. Experimental and survey studies have suggested that unpleasantly high arousal may be induced by food novelty, but also be produced by foods with intense or complex flavours, that are perceived as dangerous or foreign, or that have unusual ingredients. Liking for foods with these characteristics have recently been shown to be strongly negatively associated with FN. Thus, induced high arousal may underlie food rejection in FN. Here, we collected familiarity, liking and arousal ratings, and scores on the standard Food Neophobia Scale from more than 7000 consumers in four countries - Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia - for a series of food names that were manipulated to produce standard and 'high arousal' (variant) versions of the same foods. Consistent across all four countries, arousal ratings increased, and liking decreased, with decreases in food familiarity. Variant food names were always associated with ratings of higher arousal than the standard names. The variant foods were generally less familiar than the standard foods, although this was not a necessary condition for their higher arousal ratings, suggesting that the other arousal-inducing factors (e.g., flavour intensity) also played a role. Across all foods, arousal ratings increased, and liking ratings decreased, as FN increased, but these effects were accentuated for the variant foods. The consistency of these effects across multiple countries supports a view that arousal is universally a strong determinant of liking for foods and that this underlies the rejection of foods, familiar and novel, in FN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara R Jaeger
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, 120 Mt Albert Road Private Bag 92169, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; Vescor Research, Hellerup, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Duncan Hedderley
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, 120 Mt Albert Road Private Bag 92169, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
| | - John Prescott
- TasteMatters Research & Consulting, PO Box Q1150, QVB Post Office, Sydney, NSW 1230, Australia; Dept DAGRI, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy.
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Consumer segmentation based on product-elicited emotional associations: Case studies using the circumplex-inspired valence × arousal emotion word questionnaire (CEQ). Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Gauthier I, Fiestan G. Food neophobia predicts visual ability in the recognition of prepared food, beyond domain-general factors. Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Prescott J, Chheang SL, Jaeger SR. Food neophobia: Higher responsiveness to sensory properties but low engagement with foods generally. J SENS STUD 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/joss.12771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John Prescott
- TasteMatters Research & Consulting Sydney Australia
- Department DAGRI University of Florence Florence Italy
| | - Sok L. Chheang
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited Mt Albert Research Centre Auckland New Zealand
| | - Sara R. Jaeger
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited Mt Albert Research Centre Auckland New Zealand
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Food Neophobia, Familiarity with French Cuisine, Body Mass, and Restaurant Food Choices in a Sample of Polish Women. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14071502. [PMID: 35406115 PMCID: PMC9003310 DOI: 10.3390/nu14071502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Food neophobia, a condition characterized by a reluctance or avoidance of unknown foods and meals, may influence food choice, and is also associated with body mass and familiarity with food items. This study aimed to analyze the associations between food neophobia, familiarity with French cuisine, body mass, and French restaurant menu food choices in a sample of 203 young Polish women. The Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method was used in the study. The food choice questionnaire used for assessment was based on a model French restaurant menu, with dishes planned using a 2 × 2 factorial design for the components of neophobic potential (unfamiliar to Polish consumers) and animal-based components. Food neophobia, familiarity with French cuisine, and body mass were considered independent variables. The food neophobia scale (FNS) developed by Pliner and Hobden was used to assess food neophobia among respondents. The results showed an association between food neophobia and familiarity with French cuisine and French restaurant menu food choices (p ≤ 0.05), but no association with body mass was observed (p > 0.05). The respondents with a high level of food neophobia chose dishes with neophobic components (for soups and desserts) less often compared to those with a low neophobia level, and in the absence of such an association, they chose dishes with animal-based components (for starters and main courses) less often (p ≤ 0.05). The respondents who declared that they were familiar with French cuisine chose dishes with animal-based components (for starters and desserts) more often than those with no familiarity, but a reverse association was observed for soups (p ≤ 0.05). Based on the findings of the study, it may be concluded that food neophobia and familiarity with French cuisine may be important determinants of food choice within a French restaurant menu. The study did not show any association between body mass and the choice of dishes from the model French restaurant menu. The findings suggest that the presence of unfamiliar and animal-based ingredients may reduce the frequency of choosing specific dishes within a French restaurant menu, which may reduce the diversity of individuals’ diets.
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Jaeger SR, Prescott J, Worch T. Food neophobia modulates importance of food choice motives: Replication, extension, and behavioural validation. Food Qual Prefer 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Lim TJ, Okine RN, Kershaw JC. Health- or Environment-Focused Text Messages as a Potential Strategy to Increase Plant-Based Eating among Young Adults: An Exploratory Study. Foods 2021; 10:foods10123147. [PMID: 34945698 PMCID: PMC8701197 DOI: 10.3390/foods10123147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous plant-based diet (PBD) adoption strategies have primarily focused on health rather than environmental rationale and meat reduction rather than plant-based protein promotion. In this study, we explored the effect of a theory-informed text-message intervention on dietary intentions and behaviors in young adult omnivores and the potential explanatory role of PBD beliefs, subjective norm, self-efficacy, moral norm, and health and environmental values. Participants completed baseline questionnaires and reported dietary intake before being randomly assigned to receive 2–3 health- or environment-focused text messages per week for eight weeks and then repeated baseline assessments. Although we did not see significant changes in meat or plant protein intake, we did observe a marked decrease in intentions to consume animal protein and a marginal increase in fruit and vegetable consumption intention. We identified subjective norms, self-efficacy, and moral satisfaction as the strongest predictors of changes in intention to consume animal or plant protein. Although few group differences were observed, those receiving environment-focused text messages experienced a greater change in values and were more likely to increase vegetable intake. Messages that improve sustainability awareness and provide practical adoption strategies may be part of an effective strategy to influence PBD intake among young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tze Joo Lim
- Department of Public and Allied Health, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA;
| | - Richard Nii Okine
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA;
| | - Jonathan C. Kershaw
- Department of Public and Allied Health, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-419-372-4579
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