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How Instagram can ruin your dinner

A new study from Brigham Young University finds that overexposure to food imagery on Instagram and other platforms increases satiation, leading to a decrease in enjoyment with repeated consumption. This phenomenon, known as sensory boredom, can result in people becoming tired of certain tastes without even eating the food.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateOct 3, 2013

Multiple genes manage how people taste sweeteners

Researchers found that genetic variations in two bitter taste receptor genes can explain differences in the perception of artificial sweeteners like Ace K. Additionally, studies on stevia extracts revealed that RebD is perceived as less bitter than RebA, suggesting potential opportunities for developing new sweeteners.

SourcePenn State·JournalChemical Senses·DateAug 20, 2013

Making fruit easier to eat increases sales and consumption in school cafeterias

A recent study by Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab found that pre-sliced fruit in school cafeterias leads to increased fruit sales and consumption, particularly among younger students. The research showed a significant increase of 73% in students who ate more than half of their apple after the introduction of fruit slicers.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateApr 17, 2013

Just a spoonful: Sweet taste comforts babies during injections

A Cochrane systematic review found that giving babies a few drops of sugary solution before injections can reduce crying time. Researchers reviewed data from 14 studies involving over 1,500 infants, with results showing a shorter crying time for those given the sugar solution.

SourceWiley·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·DateDec 11, 2012

Matching brands: Why do consumers prefer Tostitos salsa with Tostitos tortilla chips?

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers enjoy Tostitos salsa with Tostitos tortilla chips more when told they come from the same brand. The authors conclude that matching brands can enhance joint consumption experiences and provide an advantage for companies offering complementary products.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateNov 13, 2012

Making the healthy choice

Scientists at Caltech identified competing brain systems that guide decisions on healthy options. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and ventromedial prefrontal cortex play different roles in self-regulation, with the former taking control when trying to suppress cravings and the latter taking over when encouraging desires.

Bitter tastes quickly turn milk chocolate fans sour

Researchers found that dark chocolate fans have a higher tolerance to bitter tastes than milk chocolate fans. The study used rejection thresholds to test food acceptability and could lead to cost-savings for the industry by identifying product rejection levels.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Food Science·DateAug 30, 2012

Bringing style home

Researchers studied Apartment Therapy website for insights into consumer behavior, finding that reading and imitating decor can shape personal style and boundaries. Through a tripartite process of problematization, instrumentalization, and ritualization, consumers develop standards for cool design choices.

SourceConcordia University·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateAug 13, 2012

Sweet minty relief for cough

Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center discover that adding sweetness to a solution can suppress coughing, while menthol reduces the cough reflex by numbing sensory nerves. These findings have implications for understanding how popular remedies work and may inform strategies for managing cough symptoms.

SourceMonell Chemical Senses Center·JournalPulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics·DateJun 11, 2012

Knowing yeast genome produces better wine

Researchers decode Dekkera bruxellensis genome, gaining insights into its impact on wine taste. The study enables wine producers to control flavor development, leading to potential cost savings and new wine tastes.

SourceLund University·JournalInternational Journal of Food Microbiology·DateJun 4, 2012

The special scent of age

Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center found that humans can identify age based on differences in body odor, with elderly individuals' odors being recognized across cultures. Evaluators rated body odors from the old-age group as less intense and less unpleasant than those from middle-aged and young individuals.

SourceMonell Chemical Senses Center·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 30, 2012

Tomato genome becomes fully sequenced

The tomato genome sequence provides detailed information about its genes and chromosomes, enabling researchers to improve crop yields and quality. The full genome sequence allows for faster and less expensive sequencing of other varieties, with potential applications in improving taste, nutritional content and disease resistance.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateMay 30, 2012