Children prefer natural food, too.

Abstract

Adults often prefer things that they believe are natural, including natural foods. This preference has serious implications, such as the rejection of cultured meat and other sustainable technologies. Here we explore whether children also prefer natural foods. We conducted two preregistered studies with 374 adults and children from the United States. In Study 1, children’s (N = 120) ages ranged from 6–10 years, with 57% of the sample identifying as female identifying as White/European American, whereas adults (N = 120) had a mean age of 30 years and 4 months, with 48.7% identifying as female, and 69.2% identifying as White/European American. In Study 2, children’s (N = 63) aged ranged from 5–7 years, with 57% identifying as female and 66% identifying as White/European American, whereas adults (N = 64) had a mean age of 29 years and 11 months, with 60.7% of the sample identifying as female and 59% of participants identifying as White/European American. We found that, like adults, American children of these ages prefer natural over unnatural foods. This was found across two domains (fruit, juice) and a range of measures (tastiness, safety, unnaturalness, desire to consume). This preference was found in children as young as 5 years of age. Overall, we provide evidence that, at least in the United States, our tendency to prefer natural food is present even in childhood.

The Inauthentic Online Self: Perceptions of Naturalness Drive Judgments of Authenticity

“…Participants rate identical products as healthier and lower in calories when they are labeled as natural (Skubisz, 2017). The preference for natural foods was found already in children as young as five years old (Wilks & Bloom, 2022). Adults consider cultured meat, for instance, as "unnatural" which seems to induce affective feelings like disgust and fear rather than analytical processes (Wilks et al, 2021).…”

The Naturalness Bias Influences Drug and Vaccine Decisions across Cultures

“… 9 Furthermore, some work reveals that the preference extends to children aged 5 to 10 y when considering foods and drinks. 10 …”

“…9 Furthermore, some work reveals that the preference extends to children aged 5 to 10 y when considering foods and drinks. 10 Researchers have proposed a couple of reasons for the naturalness bias. 2,11 One is the general belief people hold that natural things are inherently more positive than nonnatural or synthetic things.…”