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Perception and preferences of processed sweet foods: differences between diabetic and nondiabetic consumers

André Felipe Soares (Center for Food Studies and Research, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil)
Alice Raissa Honorio (Center for Food Studies and Research, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil)
Diana Clara Nunes de Lima (CEFET/RJ, Valença, Brazil)
Alline Artigiani Lima Tribst (Center for Food Studies and Research, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil)

Nutrition & Food Science

ISSN: 0034-6659

Article publication date: 18 May 2021

Issue publication date: 6 September 2021

272

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to study how diabetics/pre-diabetics (D) and non-diabetic (regular consumers of sweeteners (C) or not (NC)) perceive and consume sweetened processed food in Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study (n = 2,204) was carried out to gather information about: consumption of 14 sweetened food/beverage categories, perception of sugar/sweeteners (check-all-that-apply (CATA) test), understanding of sugar claims and socioeconomic/demographic/consume profile. Chi-square test/Fisher exact tests were used to analyze the contingency tables. CATA test results were evaluated using Cochran Q test, RV coefficient and Kruskal-Wallis test.

Findings

Results revealed that although diabetics/pre-diabetics consumed less sugary products than non-diabetics (p < 0.001), >50.0% of them preferred sugary candies, bakeries, ready-to-drink fruit juice, ice cream, chocolate and ready-to-eat desserts. D, NC and C similarly perceived (RV = 0.99) sugar (sensory desirable, but penalized due to its health impact), naturally extracted sweeteners (opposite description of sugar) and chemically synthesized sweeteners (penalized by sensory and health impacts). Regarding the claims, those that mean the absence of sugar were correctly understood for = 90.0% participants, while incorrect interpretations were observed for “containing sugars from own ingredients” (42.7%) and “light on sugar” (21.0%), without differences between consumer groups (p = 0.93).

Research limitations/implications

This study was carried out with a convenience sample.

Practical implications

Results can be applied to support food policies and educational campaigns (improving consumer information on processed sweetened foods) and to guide product development in the food industry.

Originality/value

This is the first study to evaluate the Brazilians’ behavior regarding the perception of sugar and sweeteners, the choice of different sweetened processed food, and understanding of sugar claims.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This study was approved by the ethics committee at the University of Campinas (CAAE 88032518.5.0000.5246).

Conflict of Interest: None.

Citation

Soares, A.F., Honorio, A.R., de Lima, D.C.N. and Tribst, A.A.L. (2021), "Perception and preferences of processed sweet foods: differences between diabetic and nondiabetic consumers", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 51 No. 7, pp. 1096-1112. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-01-2021-0011

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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