Diabetic and non-diabetic consumers' perception of an apple juice beverage supplemented with a Fraxinus excelsior L. seed extract having potential glucose homeostasis benefits

•Diabetic and non-diabetic consumers' perception evaluated for an enriched beverage.•Fraxinus excelsior L. extract enrichment has potential glucose homeostasis benefits.•Both populations accepted the benefits, with no differences between their perceptions.•Specific product information provides a better functional benefits understanding.•Bitterness affected extract-added beverage acceptance and should be corrected.

To be successful, an innovative functional food must be perceived by the consumer to present a clear concept and significant health benefit. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception of diabetic and non-diabetic populations to a newly developed beverage containing a Fraxinus excelsior seed extract with previously demonstrated effects on glucose homeostasis in an apple juice. Both the diabetic and non-diabetic populations accepted the health benefits of the functional beverage and no differences were found between their perceptions. No difference was found between perception of both population and specific product information provides a better functional benefits understanding. The consumers made a strong connection between F excelsior seed extract and diabetes in agreement with provided information. Sensory evaluation of the developed functional beverage compared with the apple juice matrix showed that perceived bitterness affected product acceptance and should be corrected.