Summary
This systematic review examined the hypothesis that prenatal and early postnatal taste exposures programme later taste acceptance in infants and children. Analysis of 20 studies revealed clear evidence that exposure to bitter and specific tastes increases subsequent acceptance of those tastes, whilst evidence for sweet and salty taste programming was equivocal and sour taste studies were sparse. The findings suggest critical windows in early development during which taste preferences may be shaped, with implications for understanding dietary behavior formation.
Regional applicability
The review synthesises international evidence on fundamental mechanisms of taste preference development applicable across populations, including United Kingdom infant nutrition contexts. However, the heterogeneity of studies and limited evidence for some tastes (sour, salty) suggests that findings should be interpreted cautiously and that context-specific research may be warranted to inform UK complementary feeding guidance.
Key measures
Taste acceptance and preference outcomes following exposure to specific tastes during in utero and early infant periods; stratified by taste type, age, exposure medium, and duration
Outcomes reported
The study synthesised evidence on whether prenatal and early postnatal exposure to different tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami) influences later acceptance of those tastes in infants and children. Twenty studies with 38 subgroups were analysed and results presented using harvest plots.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.