New paper: Significant sugar-reduction in dairy products targeted at children is possible without affecting hedonic perception

Dairy products are an important part of children’s diet. However, a large proportion of the products targeted at them contain an excessive amount of added sugar. ESR1, Ana Laura Velázquez, conducted a study with 126 Uruguayan children (8 to 13 years old) to study how children react to sugar reduction in three popular dairy products: chocolate flavoured milk, vanilla milk dessert and vanilla yogurt. Results showed that children liked products with large reductions in their added sugar content as much as the regular ones. Changes in children’s liking were not observed in chocolate flavoured milks or vanilla yogurts with a 27% reduction in added sugar, and in vanilla milk desserts with a 19% sugar reduction.  This information is extremely valuable for the food industry as it confirms that sugar reduction in products targeted at children is feasible and does not involve major risks of losing market share.

The paper is published in International Dairy Journal:

Velázquez, A. L., Vidal, L., Alcaire, F., Varela, P., & Ares, G. (2021). Significant sugar-reduction in dairy products targeted at children is possible without affecting hedonic perception. International Dairy Journal, 114, 104937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idairyj.2020.104937

 

Children, ESR11, food industry, sugar reduction, Uruguay