Salt content impacts food preferences and intake among children

This work was supported by a PhD grant from the Nutrition, Chemical Food Safety and Consumer Behavior Division of INRA (French National Institute for Agronomical Research, France) and the Regional Council of Burgundy (France) received by SB; and by a research grant (Gustolf) from Regional Council of Burgundy (France) received by SN. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Decreasing dietary sodium intake, which can be achieved by reducing salt content in food, is recommended. Salt contributes to the taste of foods and makes them more enjoyable. Whether a food is liked or disliked is an important determinant of food intake, especially among children. However, the role of salt in children's food acceptance has received little attention. The impact of salt content on children's hedonic rating and intake of two foods was investigated in children. Using a within-subject crossover design, we recruited 75 children (8–11 years) to participate in five lunches in their school cafeteria. The target foods were green beans and pasta. The added salt content was 0, 0.6 or 1.2 g/100 g. The children's intake (g) of all lunch items was measured. The children provided their hedonic rating of the food, a preference ranking and a saltiness ranking in the laboratory. Children could rank the foods according to salt content, and they preferred the two saltier options. A food-specific effect of salt content on intake was observed. Compared to the intermediate level (0.6 g salt/100 g), not adding salt decreased green bean intake (−21%; p = 0.002), and increasing the salt content increased pasta intake (+24%; p<0.0001). Structural Equation Modeling was used to model the relative weights of the determinants of intake. It showed that the primary driver of food intake was the child's hunger; the second most important factor was the child's hedonic rating of the food, regardless of its salt content, and the last factor was the child's preference for the particular salt content of the food. In conclusion, salt content has a positive and food-specific effect on intake; it impacted food preferences and intake differently in children. Taking into account children's preferences for salt instead of their intake may lead to excessive added salt

Drivers of overweight mothers' food choice behaviors depend on child gender

National data suggest a higher prevalence of obesity among boys. One possible cause could be the food choices made by parents on behalf of their children

Conséquences des variations de teneur en sel, sucre, et matière grasse sur les préférences et les consommations alimentaires des enfants

Background: In France, the National Nutrition and Health Programme (“Programme National Nutrition Santé” or “PNNS”) is in charge of implementing the recommendations aiming at reducing salt, sugar and fat quantities in foods. However, the extent to which this might impact children’s food preferences and intake is limited. Objective: The present work aimed at understanding the impact of varying salt, sugar and fat variations in foods, on toddlers and children’s food preferences and intake. Methods: Studies were conducted in toddlers’ and children’s natural eating environment (nursery and school canteen), at their usually scheduled lunch and/or snack times. Results: Concerning sucrose, the addition of a low amount seems enough to trigger intake; thus, sucrose can be reduced without affecting food preferences and intake. As far as fat is concerned, suppressing or adding butter did not have an immediate impact on toddlers’ green beans or pasta intake. Besides, low-fat products seem to be well accepted by toddlers and adults. Concerning salt, its reduction seems more puzzling and should be considered cautiously. Our results highlighted dissociation between the direct positive effect of salt on food preferences and intake, and its role on learning. Conclusions: Food sensory qualities are important for eating behaviour. Although it seems that reductions of sugar and fat in foods are possible, thus helping to reduce energy intake, those concerning salt should be considered cautiously.Contexte : En France, le Programme National Nutrition Santé (PNNS) est en charge d’appliquer les recommandations visant à diminutions les quantités de sel, de sucre et de matières grasses dans les aliments. Cependant, l’effet de ces réductions sur les préférences et les consommations est mal connu. Objectifs : Ce travail vise à comprendre l'impact des variations de sel, de sucre et de matières graisses dans les aliments, sur les préférences et les consommations alimentaires des enfants.Méthodes : Des études ont été menées dans l’environnement habituel du repas des enfants (crèche ou cantine scolaire), aux heures normalement prévue pour le déjeuner et / ou le goûter.Résultats : Concernant le saccharose, l'ajout d'une faible quantité paraît suffisant pour induire un prise alimentaire; ainsi, le saccharose peut être réduit sans affecter les préférences ni les consommations alimentaires. Dans la mesure où le gras est concerné, la suppression ou l’ajout de beurre n'a pas eu un impact immédiat sur la consommation des haricots verts ou celle des pâtes. Quant aux produits allégés en matière grasse, ils semblent être bien acceptés par les enfants et les adultes. Concernant le sel, sa réduction semble plus délicate et devrait donc être considérée avec prudence. Par ailleurs, nos résultats mettent en évidence la dissociation entre l'effet positif et directe du sel sur les préférences et les consommations d’un côté, et son rôle sur l'apprentissage de l’autre.Conclusions : Les qualités sensorielles des aliments sont importantes pour le comportement alimentaire. Cependant, alors qu’il semblerait que des réductions de sucre et de gras sont possibles, contribuant ainsi à réduire l'apport énergétique, celles concernant le sel doivent être considérées avec prudence

Does toddlers' food intake differ according to variations in fat, salt or sugar in foods?

National audienc

How does fat content of a snack food impact toddlers’ and adults’ intake?

International audienc

Mysterious fat. The different impact of fat content on toddlers' and adults' food intake

International audienc

The impact of salt, fat and sugar levels on toddler food intake

International audienceUnderstanding the early determinants of food intake, in particular the role of food sensory quality, is a necessary step to improve the prevention of unhealthy food habits. However, the extent to which food intake varies according to salt, fat and sugar content is imperfectly known. The present study aimed at evaluating whether toddler food intake varied during lunches or snacks in which salt, fat or sugar contents had been modified in common foods. Seventy-four children (30 (se 0.5) months old) participated in the study in their usual day-care centres. Every other week, they were served lunches composed, among other items, of green beans and pasta with varying salt (0, 0.6 and 1.2 % added salt) or fat (0, 2.5 and 5 % added butter) levels and afternoon snacks composed of fruit puree varying in sugar level (0, 5 and 10 % added sugar). During each meal, children could eat as much as they wanted from the target foods. Each food was weighed before and after the meal. Salt level had a positive impact on the intake of the target foods. On the contrary, no impact of added fat or added sugar levels was observed. This implies that fat and sugar addition could be avoided in foods for children without having an impact on palatability, allowing the energy density of children's diet to be limited. Salt addition should be limited, but its suppression in vegetables, whose intake is to be promoted, should be considered cautiously

The impact of salt level on children's food intake and preferences

International audienc

Just a pinch of salt’: conditioning vegetable acceptance in toddlers with salt or spice

International audienc

Sugar content impacts food intake in toddlers, but could be reduced

International audienc