Too much? The effect of colour saturation and food perception and preference

Abstract

We are often contacting with chromatic stimuli, either by the objects we see or by everything that nature has been busy painting, such as food. Our first contact with food is through vision, therefore, it makes colour an important indicator for food assessment and selection. This research aimed to study how a specific colour attribute – the saturation – of vegetables/fruits and animal food products, both natural and confectioned, has an influence on their likeability for the products. For this, 32 images of edible and inedible products were taken from the Food-Pics database, of the subset already validated for the Portuguese population. For each image a high and low saturation version was created. Both versions of the 32 images were randomly presented to 48 participants who reported their likeability for the products’ shown. The results reported that colour saturation of foods, but not of objects, significantly affects their likeability for the products. A greater likeability is found for both vegetable/fruit and animal foods that present a higher level of colour saturation, irrespectively of being natural or confectioned products. These findings have major implications for the promotion of healthy and environmentally-friendly food consumption. This can be accomplished by promoting the use of more saturated colours in the communication of organic fruits and vegetables, whereas, in contrast, animal products should be presented with low colour saturation. With this, we can thrive for consumer responsibility and a more sustainable food consumption, by encouraging healthier eating habits and behaviours supporting a more sustainable food production system.