Taste and food preferences of the Hungarian Roma population

Abstract

Abstract Background Behind the unfavorable health status of the Roma population, harmful health behavior is also supposed to exist, such as unhealthy nutrition. Methods In the framework of a complex comparative health survey individuals, representative of the Hungarian general (n = 410) and Roma populations (n = 387) were randomly enrolled. In the questionnaire-based part of the survey, sweet, fat, salty and bitter taste preferences were ascertained by question items measuring taste and food preferences. Preference for sweet versus salty foods was also analyzed. Questions from the Hungarian version of the European Health Interview Survey were included, to characterize fruit and vegetable consumption and to determine the quantity of added sugar to consumed foods and beverages and the frequency of salting without tasting the food. The data were analyzed using STATA 9.0 statistical software. Results Roma reported significantly less frequent consumption of fresh fruits (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.43-2.37, p < 0.001) and vegetables (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.27-2.11, p < 0.001) than the Hungarian subjects. Roma had higher preferences for sweet (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.21-2.04, p < 0.001) and salty foods (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.03-1.71, p = 0.029) and added higher quantities of sugar to consumed foods and beverages (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.38-2.57, p < 0.001) and salted the food without tasting more often (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.64-2.88, p < 0.001). They could be characterized by lower preferences for bitter tasting kohlrabi (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49-0.82, p = 0.001), grapefruit (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.36-0.60, p < 0.001), black coffee (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.36-0.64, p < 0.001) and bitter chocolate (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.44-0.72, p < 0.001) and preferred sweet snacks versus salty ones (OR = 0.56 for salty snacks, 95% CI: 0.42-0.74, p < 0.001). Conclusions The Hungarian Roma diet may be linked to taste preferences predisposing to unhealthy nutrition. This assumption needs further studies on their nutritional behavior. Key messages Hungarian Roma taste preferences may predispose to unhealthy nutrition. Understanding the determinants of food choices is essential to the development of public health strategies targeting the Roma.