Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110635

Carrie L. Washburn, MPH¹, Shirley A.A. Beresford, PhD², Ruth E. Patterson, PhD³, Marian Neuhouser³, Dale F. McLerran, MS³, Beti Thompson, PhD³, and Sonia K. Bishop³. (1) Nutritional Sciences, University of Washington, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, 305 Raitt Hall, Box 353410, Seattle, WA 98195, (206) 779-8329, carriew78@gmail.com, (2) Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 357236, Seattle, WA 98195-7236, (3) Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

Objectives: The purpose of the analysis was to assess the cross-sectional relationship between demographic characteristics and taste preferences for fruits and vegetables, and to determine whether taste preferences for fruits and vegetables are associated with their consumption.

Methods: Baseline data was collected from 3042 workers (45 worksites) participating in the Seattle 5 a Day Worksite Project from March 2000 to March 2002. Usual fruit and vegetable intake was measured with seven fruit and vegetable summary questions, developed by the National Cancer Institute. Nine questions measured fruit and vegetable taste preferences; taste scores ranged from strongly disagree to strongly agree generating a four-point scale. Linear mixed model analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Good internal consistency was found for the six vegetable taste questions (Cronbach's Ą = 0.82). Analyses suggest that females and never/former smokers have increased taste preferences for fruits and vegetables, and that non-white racial groups have increased taste preferences for fruits. Significant linear trends were found for vegetable taste preferences, where older individuals and those with more formal education had increased preferences. The association between taste preferences and consumption was found to be highly significant for both fruits and vegetables.

Conclusions: Understanding how demographics, taste, and consumption are interrelated will aid dietary intervention campaigns devise more effective strategies to promote diets rich in fruits and vegetables. It may be useful for a campaigns to emphasize or de-emphasize taste as a food selection factor, depending on the demographic group targeted.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Describe the main characteristics of the Seattle 5 A Day Worksite Project
• Understand the association between taste preferences for and consumption of fruits and vegetables in this specific population
• Discuss how the results from this study can be used to enhance the effectiveness of dietary intervention campaigns aimed at promoting fruit and vegetable consumption

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.