What makes people choose the food they do, how is food sensory-tested, and what does a food label tell us?
Food choice, sensory evaluation and labelling: the factors that affect food choice, sensory testing methods, food labelling law and nutrition information, and how marketing and packaging influence what we buy.
A focused answer on food choice, sensory evaluation and labelling for Eduqas GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition (C560), covering the factors that affect food choice, sensory testing methods, food labelling law and nutrition information, and how marketing and packaging influence buying.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to explain what influences the food people choose, how food is sensory-tested, what the law requires on a food label and what the nutrition information means, and how marketing and packaging affect buying. These topics often appear with stimulus material such as a label.
Factors affecting food choice
Sensory evaluation
Common tests, done fairly with coded samples, in identical conditions, by enough testers:
- Preference tests (which sample is liked best, for example a paired preference or a hedonic rating on a scale).
- Discrimination tests (can testers tell samples apart, for example a triangle test).
- Ranking and rating tests (put samples in order, or score attributes such as sweetness on a star profile).
Results are recorded objectively (charts, star diagrams) so the test is reliable.
Food labelling
Front-of-pack traffic-light labelling colours fat, saturates, sugar and salt red, amber or green to help shoppers choose at a glance, and reference intakes show how a portion fits an adult's daily guideline. Some labels carry extra claims (low fat, high fibre, organic, fair trade), which are regulated.
Marketing and packaging
Marketing strongly influences buying: advertising, special offers and promotions, brand and price, attractive packaging and placement in shops all encourage purchases. Packaging both protects and sells the food. Some marketing can be misleading (health claims, large pictures, "value" sizes), so reading the label is the reliable guide.
Try this
Q1. Name the sensory test used to find out whether people can tell two samples apart. [1 mark]
- Cue. A discrimination test (for example a triangle test).
Q2. State two pieces of information that must appear by law on a pre-packed food label. [2 marks]
- Cue. Any two of: name of the food, ingredients with allergens emphasised, weight, date mark, storage or cooking instructions, manufacturer details, nutrition information.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 20196 marksDiscuss the factors that affect the food choices people make.Show worked answer →
A 6-mark extended-response question. Reward a range of distinct factors with brief explanation.
Factors include: cost and income (people on a tight budget choose cheaper food); lifestyle and time (busy people may choose convenience and ready meals); health and dietary needs (allergies, illness or a wish to eat healthily); religion and culture (halal, kosher, vegetarian customs); ethical and environmental beliefs (free-range, fair trade, less meat); enjoyment and preference (likes, dislikes, flavour and texture); availability and season; and marketing and packaging (advertising, offers and brand).
Top-band answers (5 to 6 marks) cover several distinct factors clearly, ideally with an example of each.
Eduqas 20214 marksState four pieces of information that must, by law, appear on a pre-packed food label.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark question, one mark per correct item (any four).
By law a pre-packed food label must show: the name of the food; a list of ingredients in descending order of weight, with the 14 major allergens emphasised; the weight or quantity; a date mark (use-by or best-before); storage and cooking instructions where needed; the name and address of the manufacturer or seller; the country of origin where required; and nutrition information per 100 g.
Markers reward any four correct legal requirements (name, ingredients with allergens, weight, date mark, storage or cooking instructions, manufacturer details, nutrition information).
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Sources & how we know this
- WJEC Eduqas GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition specification (C560) — WJEC Eduqas (2016)