Skip to main content

Development of Food Preferences

Handbook of Eating and Drinking
  • 76 Accesses

Abstract

Understanding food and beverage preferences is important given the role that likes and dislikes play in our choices and, ultimately, in our health. While both genetic and environmental influences are important determinants of preferences, in this chapter, emphasis is given to the different processes that encourage and maintain preferences, commencing prior to birth and into adulthood. In particular, various forms of learning, including exposure, evaluative, and nutrient conditioning, are crucial, while culture provides the necessary specifics in terms of the actual foods that we learn to like. In turn, the learning processes and cultural influences are modified by our individual characteristics, including genetics and dimensions of our personality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Baeyens, F., Crombez, G., Bergh, O. v. d., & Eelen, P. (1988). Once in contact always in contact: Evaluative conditioning is resistant to extinction. Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy, 10, 179–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baeyens, F., Vansteenwegen, D., & De Houwer, J. (1996). Observational conditioning of food valence in humans. Appetite, 27, 235–250.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Batsell, W. R., & Brown, A. S. (1998). Human flavor-aversion learning: A comparison of traditional aversions and cognitive aversions. Learning and Motivation, 29, 383–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beauchamp, G. K., Bertino, M., Burke, D., & Engelman, K. (1990). Experimental sodium depletion and salt taste in normal human volunteers. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 51, 881–889.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bertino, M., Beauchamp, G. K., & Engelman, K. (1986). Increasing dietary salt alters salt taste preference. Physiology and Behavior, 38, 203–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birch, L. L. (1980). Effects of peer models’ food choices and eating behaviors on preschoolers’ food preferences. Child Development, 51(2), 489–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bornstein, R. F. (1989). Exposure and affect: Overview and meta-analysis of research, 1968–1987. Psychological Bulletin, 106(2), 265–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bufe, B., Breslin, P. A. S., Kuhn, C., Reed, D. R., Tharp, C. D., Slack, J. P., … & Meyerhof, W. (2005). The molecular basis of individual differences in phenylthiocarbamide and propylthiouracil bitterness perception. Current Biology, 15, 322–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavanagh, K. V., & Forestell, C. A. (2013). The effect of brand names on flavor perception and consumption in restrained and unrestrained eaters. Food Quality and Preference, 28, 505–509.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, L., Haworth, C. M. A., & Wardle, J. (2007). Genetic and environmental influences on children’s food neophobia. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 86, 428–433.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Houwer, J., Thomas, S., & Baeyens, F. (2001). Associative learning of likes and dislikes: A review of 25 years of research on human evaluative conditioning. Psychological Bulletin, 127(6), 853–869.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dermiki, M., Prescott, J., Sargent, L. J., Willway, J., Gosney, M. A., & Methven, L. (2015). Novel flavours paired with glutamate condition increased intake in older adults in the absence of changes in liking. Appetite, 90, 108–113.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Desor, J. A., & Beauchamp, G. K. (1987). Longitudinal changes in sweet preferences in humans. Physiology & Behavior, 39, 639–641.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Desor, J. A., Maller, O., & Andrews, K. (1975). Ingestive responses of human newborns to salty, sour, and bitter stimuli. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 89(8), 966–970.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, V. B., Hayes, J. E., Davidson, A. C., Kidd, J. R., Kidd, K. K., & Bartoshuk, L. M. (2010). Vegetable intake in college-aged adults is explained by oral sensory phenotypes and TAS2R38 genotype. Chemosensory Perception, 3(3), 137–148.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, J. S., Meiselman, H. L., Edwards, A. J., & Lesher, L. L. (2003). The influence of eating location on the acceptability of identically prepared foods. Food Quality and Preference, 14, 647–652.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falciglia, G. A., & Norton, P. A. (1994). Evidence for a genetic influence on preference for some foods. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 94(2), 154–158.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, J. O., & Birch, L. L. (1999). Restricting access to foods and children’s eating. Appetite, 32(3), 405–419.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, J., Lasiter, P. S., Bermudez-Rattoni, F., & Deems, D. A. (1985). A general theory of aversion learning. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 443, 8–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haller, R., Rummel, C., Henneberg, S., Pollmer, U., & Koster, E. P. (1999). The influence of early experience with vanillin on food preference later in life. Chemical Senses, 24, 465–467.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Havermans, R. C. (2011). “You say it’s liking, I say it’s wanting … ”. On the difficulty of disentangling food reward in man. Appetite, 57(1), 286–294.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Havermans, R. C., Salvy, S.-J., & Jansen, A. (2009). Single-trial exercise-induced taste and odor aversion learning in humans. Appetite, 53, 442–445.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jaeger, S. R., Rasmussen, M. A., & Prescott, J. (2017). Relationships between food neophobia and food intake and preferences: Findings from a sample of New Zealand adults. Appetite, 116, 410–422.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S. L., McPhee, L., & Birch, L. L. (1991). Conditioned preferences: Young children prefer flavors associated with high dietary fat. Physiology & Behavior, 50(6), 1245–1251.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keskitalo, K., Silventoinen, K., Tuorila, H., Perola, M., Pietilainen, K. H., Rissanen, A., & Kaprio, J. (2008). Genetic and environmental contributions to food use patterns of young adult twins. Physiology & Behavior, 93(1–2), 235–242.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J.-Y., Prescott, J., & Kim, K.-O. (2014). Patterns of sweet liking in sucrose solutions and beverages. Food Quality and Preference, 36, 96–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuenzel, J., Zandstra, E. H., Lion, R., Blanchette, I., Thomas, A., & El-Deredy, W. (2010). Conditioning unfamiliar and familiar flavours to specific positive emotions. Food Quality and Preference, 21(8), 1105–1107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laureati, M., Spinelli, S., Monteleone, E., Dinnella, C., Prescott, J., Cattaneo, C., … & Pagliarini, E. (2018). Associations between food neophobia and responsiveness to “warning” chemosensory sensations in food products in a large population sample. Food Quality and Preference, 68, 113–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masi, C., Dinnella, C., Monteleone, E., & Prescott, J. (2015). The impact of individual variations in taste sensitivity on coffee perceptions and preferences. Physiology & Behavior, 138, 219–226.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mennella, J. A., Jagnow, C. P., & Beauchamp, G. K. (2001). Prenatal and postnatal flavor learning by human infants. Pediatrics, 107(6), E88.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Methven, L., Langreney, E., & Prescott, J. (2012). Changes in liking for a no added salt soup as a function of exposure. Food Quality and Preference, 26, 135–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mobini, S., Elliman, T. D., & Yeomans, M. R. (2005). Changes in the pleasantness of caffeine-associated flavours consumed at home. Food Quality and Preference, 16, 659–666.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mobini, S., Chambers, L. C., & Yeomans, M. R. (2007). Effects of hunger state on flavour pleasantness conditioning at home: Flavour-nutrient learning vs. flavour-flavour learning. Appetite, 48, 20–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nicklaus, S., Boggio, V., Chabanet, C., & Issanchou, S. (2004). A prospective study of food preferences in childhood. Food Quality and Preference, 15(7–8), 805–818.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Sullivan, H. L., Alexander, E., Ferriday, D., & Brunstrom, J. M. (2010). Effects of repeated exposure on liking for a reduced-energy-dense food. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91, 1584–1589.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prescott, J. (2012). Taste matters. Why we like the foods we do. London: Reaktion Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prescott, J., Soo, J., Campbell, H., & Roberts, C. (2004). Responses of PROP taster groups to variations in sensory qualities within foods and beverages. Physiology & Behavior, 82(2–3), 459–469.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rozin, P. (1990). Getting to like the burn of chili pepper. Biological, psychological, and cultural perspectives. In B. G. Green, J. R. Mason, & M. R. Kare (Eds.), Irritation (Vol. 2, pp. 231–269). New York: Marcel Dekker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rozin, E., & Rozin, P. (1981). Culinary themes and variations. Natural History, 90(2), 6–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rozin, P., & Schiller, D. (1980). The nature and acquisition of a preference for chili pepper by humans. Motivation and Emotion, 4(1), 77–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sclafani, A. (1997). Learned controls of ingestive behaviour. Appetite, 29, 153–158.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tornwall, O., Silventoinen, K., Kaprio, J., & Tuorila, H. (2012). Why do some like it hot? Genetic and environmental contributions to the pleasantness of oral pungency. Physiology & Behavior, 107(3), 381–389.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vazquez, M., Pearson, P. B., & Beauchamp, G. K. (1982). Flavor preferences in malnourished Mexican infants. Physiology & Behavior, 28(3), 513–519.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wald, N., & Leshem, M. (2003). Salt conditions a flavor preference or aversion after exercise depending on NaCl dose and sweat loss. Appetite, 40(3), 277–284.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wardle, J., Herrera, M.-L., Cooke, L., & Gibson, E. L. (2003). Modifying children’s food preferences: The effects of exposure and reward on acceptance of an unfamiliar vegetable. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 57, 341–348.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yeomans, M. R., Pryke, R., & Durlach, P. J. (2002). Effect of caffeine-deprivation on liking for a non-caffeinated drink. Appetite, 39, 35–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yeomans, M. R., Chambers, L. C., Blumenthal, H., & Blake, A. (2008a). The role of expectancy in sensory and hedonic evaluation: The case of smoked salmon ice-cream. Food Quality and Preference, 19(6), 565–573.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeomans, M. R., Gould, N., Mobini, S., & Prescott, J. (2008b). Acquired flavor acceptance and intake facilitated by monosodium glutamate in humans. Physiology & Behavior, 93, 958–966.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeomans, M. R., Leitch, M., Gould, N. J., & Mobini, S. (2008c). Differential hedonic, sensory and behavioral changes associated with flavor-nutrient and flavor-flavor learning. Physiology & Behavior, 93, 798–806.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeomans, M. R., Prescott, J., & Gould, N. J. (2009). Acquired hedonic and sensory characteristics of odours: Influence of sweet liker and propylthiouracil taster status. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 62(8), 1648–1664.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zellner, D. A., Rozin, P., Aron, M., & Kulish, C. (1983). Conditioned enhancement of human’s liking for flavor by pairing with sweetness. Learning and Motivation, 14, 338–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zellner, D. A., Stewart, W. F., Rozin, P., & Brown, J. M. (1988). Effect of temperature and expectations on liking for beverages. Physiology & Behavior, 44, 61–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Prescott .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Prescott, J. (2020). Development of Food Preferences. In: Meiselman, H. (eds) Handbook of Eating and Drinking. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75388-1_24-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75388-1_24-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-75388-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-75388-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Development of Food Preferences
    Published:
    21 March 2024

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75388-1_24-3

  2. Development of Food Preferences
    Published:
    23 January 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75388-1_24-2

  3. Original

    Development of Food Preferences
    Published:
    23 October 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75388-1_24-1