La consommation répétée permet-elle de dépasser la néophobie alimentaire ? Application chez des enfants français soumis à des produits salés

Concerning foods, children are particulary neophobic: they reject and distate new foods more than adults do. The effectiveness of repeated exposure on the dissipation of neophobia was investigated in two experiments with french children aged 8 to 11. In both experiments, hedonic score for a new food was obtained before and after an exposure series in a natural setting. In experiment 1, 40 children received four exposures of a piece of Jerky beef twice a week. In experiment 2, 40 other children received six exposures of a fish mouss once a week. The results showed a positive exposure effect in experiment 1, whereas ratings for a control stimulus did not change. No evolution is observed in experiment 2. This contrast between studies is enlightened with experimental modalities that are described in the food exposure literature as possible moderators of the exposure effect.