A Study on the Effect of Color on Human Food Perception

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine whether the color of food has any ability to influence and stimulate appetite. We divided the color spectrum into two broad representative groups: warm and cold colors. Based on anecdotal experiences, I hypothesized that warm-colored food would appear more appetizing than cold-colored food. To test this hypothesis, I created a survey that included images of staple food and desserts and applied different warm and cold-color filters, and asked respondents to choose their preference. Age, gender, and respondent hunger levels were also collected. The results show that staple food and desserts with warm filters attracted more overall interest, though cold-filtered desserts were notably more frequently selected than cold-filtered staple meals. The results of the research may be useful for cooking, decorating, and graphic design, and may have separate therapeutic applications for children with eating disorders.