Ontogeny of taste preferences: basic biology and implications for health

Summary

Mennella's narrative review examines the biological basis of taste preference development in children, establishing that innate preferences for sweet and salty tastes and rejection of bitter tastes create vulnerability to modern food environments high in sugar and sodium. The review demonstrates that early sensory experiences—including maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation, breastfeeding versus formula feeding, and repeated exposure to diverse complementary foods—can substantially shape children's dietary preferences and long-term eating patterns. Early intervention through exposure to healthy flavours may therefore be a key lever in addressing childhood obesity and diet-related chronic disease.

Regional applicability

The biological findings on taste ontogeny are universal and directly applicable to United Kingdom children. The implications for public health policy—encouraging breastfeeding, maternal dietary quality, and early exposure to vegetables and low-salt, low-sugar complementary foods—align with UK infant feeding guidance (NICE, NHS), though the review highlights that current food environments in both the US and UK present significant challenges to implementing these recommendations.

Key measures

Taste preference development across ontogeny; sensory acceptance of sweet, salty, and bitter tastes in children versus adults; flavour transmission through amniotic fluid and breast milk; infant acceptance of foods post-weaning

Outcomes reported

The review examined how children's innate taste preferences differ from adults' and how sensory experiences during critical developmental periods shape long-term dietary preferences and health outcomes. It synthesised evidence on flavour transmission through maternal diet, breastfeeding, formula feeding, and complementary feeding on children's acceptance of healthy foods.

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