The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) is pleased to support the MyNutriWeb webinar “Sweet taste exposure, preference and health: what does the evidence tell us?”, taking place on 28 January 2026, from 19:00 to 20:00 GMT.
With the participation of internationally recognised experts in sensory science, nutrition and eating behaviour, this MyNutriWeb webinar will explore the scientific evidence on sweet taste exposure and its potential implications for dietary preferences, appetite regulation and health outcomes. The discussion will address common assumptions surrounding sweetness, examine how sweet taste exposure may influence preference and intake over time, and consider the role of low/no calorie sweeteners within this context.
During the 60-minute online webinar, Professor Richard D. Mattes, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition Science at Purdue University, will present evidence on sweet taste exposure, preference and health outcomes, including findings from the Sweet Tooth Trial, a six-month randomised controlled study investigating the effects of sustained exposure to sweet taste. Professor Kees de Graaf, Emeritus Professor of Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour, Wageningen University, the Netherlands, will then discuss how sensory properties, including sweetness, influence food choice, intake and eating behaviour. The session will conclude with a moderated discussion and live Q&A, allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers.
Topic: Sweet taste exposure, preference and health: what does the evidence tell us?
Chair: Dr Duane Mellor, Senior Specialist Dietitian (Children’s Diabetes) and Honorary Associate Professor, University of Canberra
Programme:
- Introduction by Dr Duane Mellor, Senior Specialist Dietitian (Children’s Diabetes) and Honorary Associate Professor, University of Canberra
- Keynote presentation 1: Sweet taste exposure, preference and health. Evidence from intervention studies – Speaker: Professor Richard D. Mattes, Professor of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, USA
- Keynote presentation 2: Sensory influences on eating behaviour and food intake – Speaker: Professor Kees de Graaf, Emeritus Professor of Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
- Panel discussion and Q&A