Extended umbrella protocol: sensory and behavioural studies of eating behaviour

Many studies in the field of sensory science and eating behaviour can be
considered non- or minimally invasive and of minimal risk and burden to the
participant. However, ethical approval is becoming increasingly important for
publication in peer-reviewed journals.

This protocol involves studies that aim at:
1. A better understanding of sensory perception and eating behaviour
2. Validation of newly developed sensory and behavioural methods
3. To determine the effect of fat, sugar and/or salt reduction on sensory
perception and/or preference.

Dependent upon the primary aim(s), different tasks will be used, including
questionnaires (e.g. appetite and thirst, personality characteristics, eating
behaviour), sensory tests and/or computerized behavioural or neuropsychological
tests. Sensory tests may involve taste, odour and/or visual stimuli, or other
commercially available food products or ingredients, and may include measures
of food choice or intake. Neuropsychological tests may include questionnaires
on paper, or on computer, e.g. measuring reaction times. Computerized
behavioural experiments may involve software programs such as E-prime, CANTAB,
and other software programs (e.g. using food pictures, animation characters
that represent emotions), or saliva may be collected. Heart rate or skin
conductance can be measured. Participants may be video recorded, to assess
their facial expressions or chewing behaviour; or their eye (pupil) movements
may be tracked.

Exposure to commercially available food products and ingredients, at
concentration levels that are approved by the Food and Consumer Product Safety
Authority (Voedsel en Waren Autoriteit), and/or odours in concentrations that
can be found in consumer products, that are non-toxic and/or can be considered
safe.
Saliva may be collected and weighed, and in a subgroup of max 50 subjects
collected saliva composition will be analysed.
Video recordings may be taken to monitor facial expressions or chewing behavior.
Pupil movements may be recorded via eye-tracking software.
Heart rate and/or skin conductance can be measured via sensors.
Hunger condition, refrain from eating/drinking food products that contain
calories and/or caffeine for a maximum of 3 hours, or to fast overnight;
Satiety condition: subjects can be given food products to consume

Each subject will spend a maximum of 60 minutes per session, with a maximum of
6 sessions. The risk associated with participation is negligible and the burden
can be considered as minimal.