A multi-county comparison of consumer acceptance and preferences towards crackers added with algae

To meet the growing global demand for food, healthy and sustainable alternative food products are needed (1). Promising ingredients are algae since they can thrive in extreme conditions with few natural resources (2). Algae also contain components that can be added to food to improve their nutritional and health benefits (3–5). However, their use in food production is often hindered by their unpleasant sensory characteristics such as off-flavors and unfamiliar colors (6,7). Therefore, this study explored the potential of incorporating different types of micro- and macroalgae in food products. Adults (n = 321; Mean age ± SD: 27.2 ± 11.0 years) from three European countries (Italy, Belgium, and Sweden) were asked to taste and provide their overall liking of five crackers enriched with 5% (w/w) of different algae powders and one control cracker without any algae content. Afterwards, the respondents performed a Check-All-That-Apply task, describing the crackers' appearance, flavor and texture. Data were also collected concerning their general attitudes on food. Findings revealed that respondents across all countries provided on average positive liking scores (range: 4.5 – 5.3, on a 7-point scale) towards all the algae-enriched crackers. Notably, Italian respondents demonstrated significantly higher liking scores compared to Belgian and Swedish subjects. Moreover, crackers enriched with Spirulina protein and Calcareum were comparable to the control sample and had the highest liking scores out of all the algae-enriched crackers. Principal coordinate analysis showed that for all countries, characteristics such as “toasted bread flavor”, “salty” and “crunchy” had positive impacts on liking. Rejection drivers were related to “off-flavors” for Belgium and Sweden, while “hard” texture and “speckled” appearance were for Italy. For Italy, “green” color was a driver of acceptance. Conversely, significant and negative Pearson’s correlations were seen between Belgian and Italian respondents’ Food Neophobia (FN) index and their overall liking for algae-enriched crackers, particularly those containing Spirulina and Palmata powders. No significant correlations were found among Swedish respondents. Additionally, FN was correlated with the potential to enrich foods with algae. For all food products considered, the correlations with FN were negative for Belgium and Sweden while in Italy, FN only affected some items: “vegetable soup” and “salty snacks”. Results demonstrate that the country of origin and FN affect the possibility to use algae as a new sustainable ingredient. Italian subjects seem more inclined to consume algae products even if they remain particularly reluctant to add it to soups and snacks.