Taste Perceptions of International Students
Location
CSU 253/4/5
Start Date
5-4-2010 1:00 PM
End Date
5-4-2010 3:00 PM
Student's Major
Family Consumer Science
Student's College
Allied Health and Nursing
Mentor's Name
Susan Fredstrom
Mentor's Department
Family Consumer Science
Mentor's College
Allied Health and Nursing
Description
International students may eat fewer fruits and vegetables in this country compared to when they were in their homeland because of differences in flavor. As part of a larger study comparing subjects’ perceptions of taste of organic foods, the perceptions of international subjects were analyzed separately. Twenty seven international students participated in taste tests of four foods: carrots, celery, apples and bananas. Two samples were offered, but subjects were told their second sample was an organic product.. Subjects rated each sample on a hedonic scale of 1=dislike extremely and 9=like extremely. The samples were randomly assigned with three digit code number and presented on the 15cm white plates. Ratings of the two samples of each food were compared to evaluate how well the flavor of the each sample scored. In order to determine the difference Student’s t-test was used. In addition, we gave them a short survey for the participants in order to find out their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding organic foods. No difference in the ratings of carrots, celery, apples, and bananas of the conventional and the organic products were found in this group.
This finding is slightly different from the larger group of 100 subjects, where bananas were rated significantly higher when subjects were told they were organic. Foods offered were well-liked by international students, although some had not tasted celery previously. International students’ taste perceptions were not influenced by whether or not they thought a food sample was organic.
Taste Perceptions of International Students
CSU 253/4/5
International students may eat fewer fruits and vegetables in this country compared to when they were in their homeland because of differences in flavor. As part of a larger study comparing subjects’ perceptions of taste of organic foods, the perceptions of international subjects were analyzed separately. Twenty seven international students participated in taste tests of four foods: carrots, celery, apples and bananas. Two samples were offered, but subjects were told their second sample was an organic product.. Subjects rated each sample on a hedonic scale of 1=dislike extremely and 9=like extremely. The samples were randomly assigned with three digit code number and presented on the 15cm white plates. Ratings of the two samples of each food were compared to evaluate how well the flavor of the each sample scored. In order to determine the difference Student’s t-test was used. In addition, we gave them a short survey for the participants in order to find out their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding organic foods. No difference in the ratings of carrots, celery, apples, and bananas of the conventional and the organic products were found in this group.
This finding is slightly different from the larger group of 100 subjects, where bananas were rated significantly higher when subjects were told they were organic. Foods offered were well-liked by international students, although some had not tasted celery previously. International students’ taste perceptions were not influenced by whether or not they thought a food sample was organic.
Recommended Citation
Teshite, Derartu. "Taste Perceptions of International Students." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 5, 2010.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2010/poster-session-B/6
