Children inherit their taste for meat and fish but when
it comes to vegetables and desserts it's more nurture than
nature, according to a recent study.
Scientists who compared the food preferences of identical
and fraternal twins found that some tastes are inherited
while others are acquired.
"This is the first study to include significant numbers
of protein foods and the first to show a high heritability
for these," said Professor Jane Wardle of the charity Cancer
Research UK.
Mothers of 103 pairs of four and five-year-old identical
twins and 111 pairs of non-identical twins were given lists
of 77 foods in different categories and told to rate how
much their children liked them.
Identical twins share all the same genes while fraternal
twins share only half, so comparing their food preferences
highlights which tastes are inherited and which are influenced
by environmental factors.
The scientists determined the heritability by looking at
how similar the identical and fraternal twins' liking for
foods were.
"For example, if you took height you would discover that
identical twins tend to be very close in height and non-identical
twins are not quite so close. That is what tells us that
height is heritable," said Wardle whose findings are published
online in the Journal of Physiology and Behavior.
Although the researchers said it is not clear which factors
influence a taste for fruits, vegetables or desserts, they
suggested availability or the influence of parents could
play a part.
"It might be that children who witness their parents show
enthusiasm or distaste for certain types of vegetables or
puddings are likely to follow suit," Wardle said.
