• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Taste perception is influenced by both nutritional factors and psychological factors. This study was undertaken to measure the 4 basic taste perceptions, nutrient intake, and mental health, and to examine the factors that affect insensitive taste perception in young Japanese women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Young women in their late teens and twenties were enrolled as subjects. Taste perception was measured by applying the filter-paper disc method over areas of the chorda tympani nerve. Nutritional status was evaluated using brief, self-administered diet history questionnaires. The index of nutritional status was based on the 2015 Japanese dietary reference intakes. Mental health was assessed using the Japanese translation of the Profile of Mood States short version. This study was approved by the ethical committee at Osaka University. RESULTS: The normal taste perception group (four basic tastes [sweet, salty, sour, and bitter] identified as normal taste perception) comprised 55.4% of the subjects, while the abnormal taste perception group (more than 1 abnormal taste perception was perceived, regardless of flavor) comprised 44.6% of the subjects. There were no significant differences in nutrient intake (except manganese) and mental health between the normal and abnormal taste perception groups. Subjects who took 5 mg to less than 7.1 mg zinc per day were at significantly decreased risk of insensitive taste perception compared to subjects who consumed less than 5 mg zinc per day [Regression coefficient 0.831, 95% confidence interval 0.694-0.996]. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that insensitive taste perception could be associated with zinc deficiency in young women in their late teens and twenties.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.267-274
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• 2016

Increasing sugar intake of population has become a nutritional issue in Korea. Sweet taste perception may be related to behaviors such as eating sweet food including high sugars and total sugar intake. This study aimed to evaluate objective and subjective sweet taste perception and the association among objective sweet taste perception, dietary behaviors related to eating sweet snack food including high sugar, and total sugar intake from the snacks. Participants were 261 healthy female college students (mean age: $21.0{\pm}1.6years$), who were divided into three subgroups based on oral sweet taste evaluation using a sweet taste assessment tool provided by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: sweet-seeker group (n=139), medium sweet-seeker group (n=54), and unsweet-seeker group (n=68). There was no significant difference in weight and body mass index (BMI) among the three groups; however, the sweet-seeker group had significantly higher sweet taste preference than that of the other groups. Though more people in the sweet-seeker group thought they tended to eat sweet foods than the medium sweet-seeker and unsweet-seeker groups, over half of the sweet-seekers did not think they tended to eat sweet foods. The sweet-seeker group was more likely to eat sweet snacks such as breads, chocolate products, sugar-sweetened milk, and so on than the unsweet-seeker group. Total sugar intake from the selected sweet snacks was 44.4 g for the sweet-seeker group, 34.4 g for the medium sweet-seeker group, and 28.0 g for the unsweet-seeker group with a significant difference. These results indicated the absence of relationship between objective sweet taste perception and the obesity index; however, significant associations were detected among objective sweet taste perception, eating sweet snacks and total sugar intake from the snacks. We also found high disagreement between objective and subjective sweet taste perception of the subjects. The present study provided the novel insight that measuring objective sweet taste perception may be useful for assessing the risk of high sugar consumption and undesirable dietary behaviors.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.344-355
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects cooking activities on the taste and perception of Korean foods in upper grade school children. The cooking class program was designed as 16 lessons for fourth, fifth, and sixth grade school children, and it was implemented as an extracurricular activity. Each lesson included the origin and meaning of Korean foods and cooking. Thirty four children were recruited for participation in cooking class from two elementary schools in Changwon. The control group was recruited from a convenient sampling in each school. The pre- and post-implementation surveys were conducted for comparison of the effects of cooking class between the educated and control group. Children answered the self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire contained measures of demographic variables, eating culture, interest and preference, taste, perception, and knowledge of Korean foods. There were no significant differences in interest and preference on traditional Korean foods, however, the taste of experimental foods was increased by education (P<0.05). Results for perception (P<0.05) and knowledge (P<0.001) of traditional Korean foods were significantly increased by education. However, no changes in taste, perception, and knowledge were observed in the control group. In conclusion, cooking activity is the most favorite activity of children, and is an effective method for positively affecting the taste and perception of Korean foods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2018

This study examined the sweet taste perception, perception of sugar reduction, and utilization of nutrition labeling according to the awareness of the self-perceived sugar intake reduction of university students in Chungbuk Area. The subjects (n=419) were divided into two groups: Awareness of Sugar Intake Reduction (ASIR) group, male=110, female=109; Non Awareness of Sugar Intake Reduction (NASIR) group, male=115, female=85. The overweight/obesity was significantly higher in the ASIR group than in the NASIR group for both male and female students. The sweet taste perception was significantly lower in the ASIR group in male students than in the NASIR group. The purchase level of a product with reduced sugar instead of the original products was significantly higher in the ASIR group in male students than the NASIR group. Beverage purchases after identifying the sugar content were significantly higher in the ASIR group in male students than in the NASIR group. The necessity of nutrition labeling education was significantly higher in the ASIR group both male and female students. Based on these results, the correct perception of sugar reduction and continuous and practical nutrition education of sugar intake reduction need to maintain healthy dietary habits in university students.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.143-152
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• 1994

To investigate the changes of taste perception by aging, sixty one healthy elderly people and sixty five young adults were participated in the study. Most preferred levels of salt sour and sweet taste were chosen in bean sprout soup radish salad and yaksing respectively. Threshold levels of each taste were also chosen in NaCl solution for salt taste in citric acid solution for sour taste and in sucrose solution for salt taste, in citric acid solution for sour taste and in sucrose solution for sweet taste. The results are as follow: 1.Most preferred salt concentration in bean sprout soup was significantly higher in the elderly than in the young adults(p$\leq$0.001). There was no difference in sour taste preference of radish salad in both age groups. Most preferred sweetness in yacksig was significantly higher in both elderly men and women(p$\leq$0.001) 2. Threshold levels of salt and sweet taste were significantly higher in the elderly (p$\leq$0.001) However there was no difference in threshold level of sour taste in both age groups.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.12-23
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• 2017

Gustation, initiated by the detection of taste molecules by specific receptors expressed in taste cells, plays an essential role in food selection and consequently in overall nutrition for humans. In the past decade, a remarkable amount of knowledge of taste perception in the neurology, molecular biology, and genetics has emerged, particularly in basic tastes- sweet, bitter, sour, salt and umami. Among them, sweet, bitter and umami are recognized via the specific G-protein coupled receptors. Salt and sour are primarily mediated by apically located ion channel-type receptors. Because excessive salt or sugar consumption leads to high rates of diet-associated diseases and it comes from eating prepared or processed foods, an understanding of the underlying mechanisms in salt and sweet perception is crucial in food industry. This review will focus on recent progress of the perception of salt and sweet taste to provide basic knowledge for reducing salt and sugar consumption.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.995-1008
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• 1997

This study was performed to investigate the change in taste perception during aging and its effects on dietary intake in Korean elderly. The subjects were female aged 65 through 90 in the Anyang area, and college women were included as a comparison group . Dietary intake of the elderly(n=155) and young subjects (n=38) was measured by a 3 day diet record. The taste threshold and 'just right' concentrations(JRC) for sweet and salty tastes were assessed by sensory evaluation . Sucrose solution (0.0.,0.4,0.6,0.8,1.0, 1.2%) and salt solution(0, 0.02, 0.03,0.06,0.09,0.12,0.15%) were used to establish thresholds. for JRC assessment, four suprathreshold sucrose concentrations of 5, 8, 11 and 14% in orange-pineapple flavored juice and salt concentrations of 0.20, 0.34, 0.50and 0.75% in beef stock were prepared. Mean intakes of energy, protein , vitamin A, thiamin , riboflavin, niacin ,calcium and iron of the elderly were below the Korean Recommended Dietary allowances. The elderly showed higher taste thresholds than young subjects of both sweet and salty tastes consumed less calories. Needs to bespecified. The older subjects having high threshold or JRCs for sweet and salty tastes consumed fewer calories from protein and fat. Pearson correlation coefficients was between JRC for sweet and salty tastes 0.54(p<0.01). The correlation coefficients between tastes threshold and nutrient intakes were very low for both age groups. Unlike the college women, in the elderly the JRC of sweet taste of the orange-pineapple juice were negatively correlated with intakes of energy, protein, fats, thiamin , riboflavin , niacin ,vitamin C , iron and consumption of meat and egg food groups (p<0.01). In summation age-related alterations in sweet and salty taste perception were observed in the elderly and dietary intakes of the elderly see to be influenced by these taste perception changes.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1449-1460
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• 2021

The visual design elements of packaging play an vital role in attracting consumers' attention, forming their sense of pleasure and sensory expectations, as well as having an important impact on the actual product experience. This study aims to explore whether the colors and textures in the packaging design elements of canned beer will affect consumers' senses, judgments and taste perception of canned beer. Participants in Survey I (N=193) evaluated their expectations for beer freshness, softness, bitterness and alcohol content by observing the packaging of canned beer, then recorded whether they could get the expected experience when tasting beer, and evaluated their preference and purchase intention. In the Survey II, 4 kind of colors and 2 types of texture shapes were applied, and all participants were provided with the same beer for multivariate cross contract analysis to evaluate the specific impact of color and texture of packaging design elements on consumers' taste and the interaction between sensory judgment and taste perception.The results showed that both colors and textures had a significant affect on the sensory expectation (pre-tasting score) of canned beer, but their effects on the sensory score after tasting (actual perception)were inobvious. The analysis of the influence of the interaction between color, texture and shape on taste perception shows that when the expected packaging appearance perception is similar to the actual drinking perception (i.e., straight line and B/G or arc line and Y/R), it is more likely to obtain consumers' favor and higher purchase intention evaluation than the inconsistent canned beer packaging (i.e., straight line and Y/R and arc line and B/G). This paper discusses the influence of these results on the packaging design of canned beer and the possibility of improving the brand efficiency by meeting the visual elements of packaging design expected by consumers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 1991

The effect of color, as measured on the spectrometer, on the 4 basic tastes(sweet, salty, sour & bitter) perception of a series of colored and no-flavored solutions was quantified by 16 taste panel using magnitude estimation without modulus. The regression lines for each colored series were found to differ indicating that color had a significant effect on sweetness, sourness and bitterness. A sucrose level of 4.0%, a citric acid level of 0.05%, and a nicotinamide level of 0.08% maximized the effect of color on taste's perception and its acceptability. Although color tended to confuse the perception of saltiness, this effect was not significant except for yellow solutions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2016

This study analyzed the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS) and Korean food perception status of Southeast Asian workers living in South Korea in order to build up basic data to develop a desirable diet program. From our study, we found that FNS was higher in the order of Cambodian, Myanmar, Vietnamese, and Thai workers. Influential demographic factors for FNS were cooking possibility and place of residence. The mean scores of Cambodian workers ($3.46{\pm}0.63$) regarding "positive perception of cooking method, taste & color" about Korean food were the highest among the four countries, followed by Vietnam ($3.38{\pm}0.68$), Myanmar ($3.26{\pm}0.50$), Thailand ($3.09{\pm}0.64$)workers(p<0.01). The mean scores of Myanmar workers regarding perception of "difference in cooking method, smell & texture" and "difference in taste" were the highest among the four countries. FNS had a negative correlation with the factor "positive perception of cooking method, taste & color" regarding Korean food and a positive correlation with the factors "difference in cooking method, smell & texture".