Poll Vaulting

This chapter provides a set of real-world examples of how the process used for decision-making dramatically affected the outcome and shows how different voting rules would have led to different choices. Examples include the 2000 U.S. presidential election (Bush vs. Gore, with Nader intervening) and the choice of finalist candidates in the 2016 U.S. presidential election (Clinton vs. Trump). It also includes a famous vote by 11 wine judges in France in 1976 (sometimes called “Judgment of Paris”), where we have the actual preferences of the judges. American wines won the blind taste-testing, shocking the French and eventually leading to the “democratization of the wine world . . . a watershed in the history of wine.” This chapter shows that even votes by small numbers of people can have significant effects and that the choice of voting method in part determined which wine “won” the contest.

Taste Ratings of Healthier Main and Side Dishes among 4-to-8-Year-Old Children in a Quick-Service Restaurant Chain

Restaurants are regular eating environments for many families. Children’s consumption of restaurant foods has been linked with poorer diet quality, prompting emerging research examining strategies to encourage healthier eating among children in restaurants. Although taste is a primary determinant of restaurant meal choices, there is a lack of research considering children’s perspectives on the taste of different healthier kids’ meal options. The current study sought to examine, via objective taste testing, children’s liking of and preference for healthier kids’ meal options at a quick-service restaurant (QSR) and to describe bundled kids’ meals with evidence of both taste acceptability and consistency with nutrition guidelines. Thirty-seven 4-to-8-year-old children completed taste tests of ten healthier main and side dish options. Liking and preference were assessed using standard methods after children tasted each food. Children also reported their ideal kids’ meal. Results show the majority of children liked and preferred three main (turkey sandwich, chicken strips, peanut butter/banana sandwich) and side dishes (yogurt, applesauce, broccoli), with rank order differing slightly by age group. Accepted foods were combined into 11 bundles meeting nutritional criteria. Results highlight healthier kids’ meals with evidence of appeal among children in a QSR. Findings can inform future research and may increase the success of healthy eating interventions in these settings.

Implementation and outcome evaluation of a team nutrition intervention: increasing knowledge, attitudes, and preferences

Low-income, rural children are at a greater risk for poor dietary intake. Schools offer a venue to deliver appropriate interventions. Our aim was to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of Healthy Schools, Healthy Students (HSHS). We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation using a cluster-randomized trial design with 20 schools in a rural, Midwestern state. HSHS included education sessions, cafeteria coaching and taste testing. We interviewed implementers (n = 13) and nutrition educators (n = 8), conducted six focus groups with cafeteria coaches, and surveyed fourth graders (n = 1057) about their nutrition knowledge, attitudes toward and preferences for fruits and vegetables (F&V), F&V consumption and MyPlate awareness. We used multi-level linear models to estimate the intervention effect and qualitative data were coded. There were very few challenges to implementation. HSHS participation was positively associated with knowledge, attitudes toward F&V, preferences for vegetables from the taste tests, MyPlate awareness and vegetable consumption. HSHS was viewed as beneficial and easy to deliver, suggesting this type of intervention could be widely implemented. Improving knowledge and attitudes through nutrition education and preferences through taste testing have the potential to improve dietary intake among rural students. Low-cost nutrition interventions can be successfully implemented in rural elementary schools with positive outcomes.

The Brazilians’ sensorial perceptions for novel food – cookies with insect protein

The efforts for entomophagy and the consumption of food products containing insect protein to become mainstream need to overcome a number of consumer barriers in western countries. A low willingness to purchase a novel food product containing alternative protein sources, particularly insects, requires a clear understanding of a product’s attributes to improve its acceptance. A sensory analysis of a cookie made with mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) flour was carried out. A mixed methods approach was used to collect and analyse data from a group of 25 panellists who participated in a taste testing session at the sensory laboratory in Brazil. Gender did not appear to determine the product’s preference regarding the sensory descriptors colour, smell, texture and taste. Yet, taste attracted the most positive attitude towards the cookie and also generated the most customer willingness to try. This was followed by texture (crunchiness). Familiarity with existing products on the market seemed also to be relevant for potential consumers. The participants generally demonstrated a willingness to eat a novel food such as an insect-based cookie when it reaches the market.

Characteristics of successful primary school-based experiential nutrition programmes: a systematic literature review

Objective: Diet and nutrition in childhood has been associated with the risk of chronic disease later in life. The aim of this review was to identify key characteristics of successful experiential nutrition interventions aimed to change nutrition-related cognitive and behavioural outcomes in primary schoolchildren. Design: A systematic literature review was undertaken using search terms (‘food security’, ‘school’, ‘nutrition’ and ‘program’) applied to five scientific databases (CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline and Academic Search complete), with outcomes defined as nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and/or dietary behaviours. Participants: Primary school-aged children exposed to interventions conducted, at least partially, on school grounds. Results: A total of 3800 articles were identified from the initial search and manual searching, of which sixty-seven articles were eligible for inclusion. Forty-two articles met the criteria of being successful, defined as achieving significant differences in outcomes of interest, accompanied by a demonstrated reach. Interventions included school gardens (n 9), food provision (n 5), taste testing (n 8), cooking classes (n 10) and multicomponent programmes (n 10). Nutrition education (when combined with taste testing), cooking-related activities and gardening interventions increased children’s willingness to taste unfamiliar foods including new fruits and vegetables, improved their cooking and food preparation skills and increased nutritional knowledge. Conclusions: This review provides evidence that nutrition education programmes in primary schoolchildren that are experiential in nature are most likely to be successful if they include multiple strategies, have parental involvement and focus specifically on vegetable intake.

Examining taste testing and point-of-purchase prompting as strategies to promote healthier food selection from food trucks

Objective: To examine the feasibility of taste testing and point-of-purchase prompting to promote healthier food choices at a food truck event. Design: A pre-/post-study was conducted where food trucks provided samples of healthy food items to patrons and implemented point-of-purchase prompting (promotional signage; verbal cues). Implementation fidelity, acceptability and initial effectiveness were assessed via observation, patron surveys and sales data. A linear mixed model with a random effect for subject (food truck) and fixed effect for time point (baseline, intervention and post-intervention) was used to assess changes in relative sales of promoted healthy items as a percentage of food items sold. Setting: Weekly food truck event in Buffalo, New York. Participants: Seven food trucks; 179 patrons. Results: Implementation fidelity data illustrated that all food trucks complied with manualised procedures. Approximately one-third of surveyed patrons accepted a healthy sample, with the majority rating the sample positively. There was no main effect of time when examining changes in relative sales of promoted healthy items across all periods (P = 0·32); however, effect sizes representing changes between individual time points are consistent with an increase from baseline to intervention (d = 0·51), which was maintained through post-intervention (d = 0·03). The change from baseline to post-intervention corresponded to a medium effect size (d = 0·55). Conclusions: Findings generally support the feasibility of implementing taste testing and point-of-purchase prompting to increase the selection of healthy food items from food trucks; implications for future research in this novel setting are discussed.

Effect of chemical preservatives on the shelf life of tomato juice

This research conducted with the fully fresh, ripe and sound tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was collected then washed, peeled, seeds removed and transferred to the juice extractor. Sugar, preservatives were added to the extracted filtrated juice. Then the juice was heated, cooled and bottled for preservation. Tomato juice was prepared with three different treatments. Among the three treatments T1, T2 and T3 sample were prepared with no preservative, Na-benzoate preservative and potassium meta-bisulphite (KMS) preservative respectively. The organoleptic observation of this tomato juice was studied for 60 days storage period. Chemical analysis and sensory tests were carried out during the 30 days at an interval of 15 days to assess the effect of chemical additives on the shelf life of tomato juice. Negligible Change in chemical constituents except vitamin C was observed in the prepared juice throughout the 30 days storage period. Color was gradually faded and slightly off flavor develops at the end of the storage periods. The treatment T2 secured highest score for color, flavor, taste and overall acceptability and ranked as “Like very much” by a taste testing panel. Tomato juice prepared with no preservative (T1) spoiled after 45 days storage and juice prepared with KMS preservative (T3) spoiled after 60 days storage. Total number of viable bacteria was highest in tomato juice treated with no preservative (T1) and KMS preservative (T3). Tomato juice with Na-benzoate preservative (T2) contained least viable bacteria which was better than T1 and T3 sample. Considering all the parameters, Na-benzoate tends to be better additives than potassium meta-bisulphite (KMS) for preservation of tomato juice.

EVALUASI NILAI CACAT DAN CITA RASA KOPI ROBUSTA (Coffea canephora L.) YANG DIPRODUKSI IKM KOPI DI KABUPATEN TANGGAMUS [Evaluation of Defect Value and Flavour Robusta Coffee (Coffea canephora L.) Produced by Small and Medium Industri Sector of Coffee in Tanggamus District]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the defects, moisture content, flavor, and overall acceptance of Robusta coffee from 20 coffee producers in Tanggamus Regency. Taste testing involved some expert panelists. The data were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that as much as 70% of coffee quality was following SNI 01-2907-2008. The defect value of coffee was at the quality level of 5 until the inferior original quality (“kopi asalan”). The main percentages of the defects were broken seeds, brown beans, black seeds and then followed by hollow seeds. The water content of the coffee was varied between 5.07-7.27. The taste of coffee was dominated by green/grassy, the average taste was slightly bitter, the colors ranged from brown, black and cinnamon-like color, while, the overall acceptance was somewhat like. This results indicated that standard operating procedure is required to be implemented by coffee producers (IKM) in Tanggamus Regency to improve the quality of the coffee.