Food preferences among the Polish young adults

Preferences for various food were investigated among university students in northern Poland. Cucumbers and tomatoes from the vegetable category, and peaches, sweet cherries, strawberries, grapes and apples, all fruit of sweet taste, were the most preferred items. From the meats, chicken was selected by almost half the subjects, and cod and herrings were mostly chosen among fish. Of the dairy products, hard cheese was ranked in the highest position, followed by low-fat cottage cheese and low-fat milk. For beverages, fruit juices, and for desserts, fresh fruit, ice cream and cheesecake, were best liked. The significant choice factors for both vegetables and fruit included freshness and taste; and the least important were advertising and fashion. The rankings of items and choice factors among male and female students were highly correlated, but significant gender influence on degree of liking for many vegetables and fruit and scores of their choice factors was also observed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.