IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i14p6241-d1440090.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Olfactory and Gustatory Perception among Plant-Based vs. Omnivorous Dieters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Yunfan Mo

    (Department of Food Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
    Riddet Institute, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand)

  • Stephanie C. McLeod

    (Department of Food Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
    Riddet Institute, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
    Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand)

  • Jessica C. McCormack

    (Department of Food Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand)

  • Sze Ying Leong

    (Department of Food Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
    Riddet Institute, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand)

  • Tamlin S. Conner

    (Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand)

  • Indrawati Oey

    (Department of Food Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
    Riddet Institute, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand)

  • Mei Peng

    (Department of Food Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
    Riddet Institute, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand)

Abstract

Driven by heightened awareness of environmental sustainability, personal health, and animal welfare, there has been a rapid surge in adoption of plant-based diets (PBDs) by global consumers. Despite the important implications of potential links between PBDs and chemosensory (e.g., olfactory and gustatory) perception, the empirical evidence has yet to be comprehensively reviewed. This systematic review aims to synthesise existing data comparing olfactory and gustatory perceptions among individuals following plant-based (including vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian) and omnivorous diets. Seven databases produced 1038 publications for screening against the pre-registered criteria. Eleven studies were included in this review, with three focusing on olfaction and eight on gustation. Of these, three gustatory studies provided sufficient data for meta-analysis, revealing little difference between plant-based and omnivore dieters on an overall level. The PBD group exhibited a significantly lower threshold (i.e., higher sensitivity) to sweetness compared to the omnivore group (ES = −0.336, 95% CI between −0.630 and −0.042, p < 0.05). Additionally, olfactory studies indicated that PBD followers perceived meat-related odours to be less pleasant compared to omnivores. Overall, this review points to a sensory–diet relationship, highlighting the potential role of sensory perception in sustainable plant-based dietary behaviours. The findings also encourage food manufacturers to consider potential chemosensory alterations among plant-based consumers.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunfan Mo & Stephanie C. McLeod & Jessica C. McCormack & Sze Ying Leong & Tamlin S. Conner & Indrawati Oey & Mei Peng, 2024. "Olfactory and Gustatory Perception among Plant-Based vs. Omnivorous Dieters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:14:p:6241-:d:1440090
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/6241/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/6241/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shila Minari Hargreaves & António Raposo & Ariana Saraiva & Renata Puppin Zandonadi, 2021. "Vegetarian Diet: An Overview through the Perspective of Quality of Life Domains," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-23, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marian Gil & Mariusz Rudy & Paulina Duma-Kocan & Renata Stanisławczyk & Anna Krajewska & Dariusz Dziki & Waleed H. Hassoon, 2024. "Sustainability of Alternatives to Animal Protein Sources, a Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-27, September.
    2. Karolina Krupa-Kotara & Mateusz Grajek & Mateusz Rozmiarek & Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko & Wiktoria Staśkiewicz & Patxi León-Guereño & Aitor Martínez Aguirre-Betolaza & Arkaitz Castañeda-Babarro, 2023. "The Role of Social Media in Internalizing Body Knowledge—A Cross-Sectional Study among Women with Different Food Preferences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-10, January.
    3. Won Seok Lee & Joonho Moon, 2023. "The Impacts of Subjective Health and Life Expenses on Quality of Life for Korean Elderly People," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-11, November.
    4. Estela M. Díaz & Núria Almiron & Olatz Aranceta-Reboredo, 2024. "Compromised values: a comparative response during the COVID-19 crisis by ethical vegans and vegetarians," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Martina di Corcia & Nicola Tartaglia & Rita Polito & Antonio Ambrosi & Gaetana Messina & Vincenzo Cristian Francavilla & Raffaele Ivan Cincione & Antonella della Malva & Maria Giovanna Ciliberti & Ago, 2022. "Functional Properties of Meat in Athletes’ Performance and Recovery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, April.
    6. Ahmed M. El-Sherbeeny & Bassam Samir Al-Romeedy & Mohamed Hani Abd elhady & Samar Sheikhelsouk & Omar Alsetoohy & Sijun Liu & Hazem Ahmed Khairy, 2023. "How Is Job Performance Affected by Ergonomics in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry? Mediating Roles of Work Engagement and Talent Retention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-24, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:14:p:6241-:d:1440090. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.