Sensory acceptability of menus and sweet snacks among children and adults from low- and medium-income households in Argentina

Sensory acceptability of menus and snacks targeted at low-income population in Argentina as a food aid program were measured. Twenty menus (pastas with different sauces, corn-meal, stews, soups, Shepherd’s pie and breaded soy hamburger with mashed potatoes) and 15 snacks (flavored milks, rice pudding, cakes, cereals, and cookies) were tested. Three hundred and twenty subjects, balanced over low- and medium-income households, and balanced over youths (11–13 years) and adult women (25–50 years), measured the acceptability of the menus and snacks. Youth and adult medium-income subjects had similar average scores for the menus, while adult low-income subjects had higher average scores for the menus than youth low-income subjects. Some menus were preferred by adults, others by youths and others had similar acceptability. Except for rice pudding for youths, all other snacks received high acceptability scores. In future acceptability studies among low-income populations test location and expectations should receive special attention.