Infants' preference for salt in food: Its dependence upon recent dietary experience

Abstract

Abstract Infants were tested at six and 12 months of age for their preference for salt in a familiar food. The relationship was examined between preference for the salted food and the infant's dietary experience of high-sodium foods in the week prior to testing. At both ages infants consumed more of the salted test food. At six months a positive correlation was found between preference for the salted test food. At six months a positive correlation was found between preference for the salted test food and the number of experiences of high-sodium foods prior to testing. However, at 12 months this relationship was affected by the order of presentation of the food samples and the infants' familiarity with the taste of the test food.