Poster - Is there a need for "healthy" chocolate?: Systematic Literature Review and Consumer Research in Belgium and in Denmark

Vintimilla Alvarez, Maria Cecilia

4. term

Integrated Food Studies (cand.tech.), Master

2015

2015-06-10

This project examines whether there is a need for healthy chocolate by combining a systematic literature review with consumer research in Belgium and Denmark. The study explored chocolate and health, sensory characteristics and acceptance, and attitudes toward chocolate. A questionnaire among 215 university students included a sensory test of five chocolates with varying sugar levels (sugar-reduced, no added sugar, and a reference). The literature indicates health-related effects of chocolate consumption, including cardiovascular benefits and reductions in stress and tiredness. Results show notable country differences: 46.7% in Belgium and 68.2% in Denmark consider dark chocolate part of a healthy lifestyle; Danes prefer dark chocolate, while Belgians prefer milk chocolate. Liking of the five samples differed significantly across countries but not by gender. Consistent with prior literature, attitudinal contrasts by gender emerged, with women more likely to report strong desire for chocolate and feelings of guilt after eating it. The project concludes there is a need for healthy chocolate, and consumers are willing to purchase chocolate with reduced sugar and calories.

Dette projekt undersøger, om der er behov for sund chokolade, ved at kombinere en systematisk litteraturgennemgang med en forbrugerundersøgelse i Belgien og Danmark. Fokus var på chokolades relation til sundhed, sensoriske egenskaber og accept samt holdninger til chokolade. Et spørgeskema blandt 215 universitetsstuderende omfattede en sensorisk test af fem chokolader med varierende sukkerindhold (sukkerreducerede, uden tilsat sukker og en reference). Litteraturen peger på sundhedsmæssige virkninger af chokoladeindtag, herunder kardiovaskulære fordele samt reduktion af stress og træthed. Resultaterne viser markante landeforskelle: 46,7 % i Belgien og 68,2 % i Danmark anser mørk chokolade som en del af en sund livsstil; danskere foretrækker mørk chokolade, mens belgiere foretrækker mælkechokolade. Liking af de fem prøver varierede betydeligt mellem lande, men ikke mellem køn. I overensstemmelse med litteraturen fremkom kønsforskelle i holdninger, hvor kvinder oftere rapporterede stærk trang til chokolade og følelser af skyld efter indtag. På baggrund af projektet konkluderes, at der er et behov for sund chokolade, og at forbrugere er villige til at købe chokolade med reduceret sukker og kalorier.

[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]

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Vintimilla Alvarez, Maria Cecilia:

• IS THERE A NEED FOR "HEALTHY" CHOCOLATE?: SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONSUMER RESEARCH IN BELGIUM AND IN DENMARK (2015)