Acceptability of Guadeloupean consumers to improve the nutritional quality of sugary drinks: an experimental study

The increase in the prevalence of obesity and chronic diseases in the French West Indies and the identification of an advanced nutritional transition require a detailed understanding of the mechanisms of consumer trade-offs regarding to the food supply. We propose an experimental study to estimate the extent to which Guadeloupean consumers are willing to pay for an improvement in nutritional quality. As the acceptability of such an improvement has consequences (perceived or assumed) on sensory characteristics, we propose an analysis combining sensory evaluation with the revelation of willingness to pay for sweetened drinks. The results show a marked preference of Guadeloupean consumers for sugar as soon as they can taste the product. The sensory criterion thus seems to take precedence over nutritional information, even though nutritional information, when it is the only one available, does not lead to a rejection of the less sweetened products. (C) 2021 Societe francaise de nutrition. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.