TASTE-TEST BOOTH - AN INNOVATIVE TOOL IN HEALTH PROMOTION

Supermarkets provide on ideal environment for affecting consumer purch asing behaviours. Food companies have successfully used product sampli ng in supermarkets to increase sales. Taste-Tests booths were set up i n four different Loblaws locations in Ottawa-Carleton, to promote ''lo wer-fat'' foods, as part of the Ottawa-Carleton Heart Beat program. Co nsumers were encouraged to try a lower-fat cheese, but were only told that it was lower in fat after they had tested the cheese. Results ham this survey suggest that the Taste-Test booth is effective in changin g perceptions about the taste of lower-fat foods and may hove on effec t on food purchasing behaviour related to the food sampled, as well as other lower-fat foods. Sales data provided by Loblaws for two weeks p receding the trials, the week of, and two weeks following the trials s upport the results of the consumer survey, with respect to changes in purchasing behaviour for the food sampled. Taste-Test booths complemen t nutrition education initiatives in the supermarket and may be effect ive in changing behaviour.