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Artificial Sweeteners

The taste preference thresholds for acesulfame K were 0.5 mM for Pippi, 1 mM for Kankan and 2 mM for Jonatan (P <0.05, binomial test) (Fig. 2). The mean taste preference threshold for acesulfame K was 1 mM.  For alitame, the taste preference threshold for all three animals was 1 mM (P <0.05, binomial test) (Fig. 2) and thus the mean taste preference threshold was also 1 mM.  The taste preference thresholds for aspartame were 0.5 mM for both Jonatan and Kankan and 2.5 mM for Pippi (P <0.05, binomial test) (Fig. 2). The mean taste preference threshold for aspartame was 0.5 mM. The taste preference thresholds regarding sodium saccharin were 2 mM for both Pippi and Kankan and 0.2 mM for Jonatan (P <0.05, binomial test) (Fig. 2). The mean taste preference threshold for sodium saccharin was 1 mM.

Figure 2: Taste preferences of the three chimpanzees when presented with the artificial sweeteners acesulfame K, alitame, aspartame and sodium saccharine alongside water. The red squares, blue triangles and green circles represent data points for Kankan, Pippi and Jonatan, respectively. The horizontal dotted lines at 66.7 % and 50 % illustrate the criterion of preference and the chance level, respectively.

Sweet-tasting proteins and amino acids

The taste preference thresholds for monellin were 0.0025 mM for both Pippi and Kankan and 0.005 mM for Jonatan (P <0.05, binomial test) (Fig. 3). The mean taste preference threshold for monellin was 0.0025 mM.  For thaumatin, the taste preference thresholds were 0.005 mM for Pippi, 0.001 mM for Kankan and 0.2 mM for Jonatan (P <0.05, binomial test) (Fig. 3). The mean taste preference threshold for thaumatin was 0.01 mM. Regarding glycine, the taste preference threshold for all three animals was 100 mM (P <0.05, binomial test) (Fig. 3) and thus the mean taste preference threshold was also 100 mM.

 
 
 
Figure 3: Taste preferences of the three chimpanzees when presented with monellin, thaumatin and glycine alongside water. The red squares, blue triangles and green circles represent data points for Kankan, Pippi and Jonatan respectively. The horizontal dotted lines at 66.7 % and 50 % illustrate the criterion of preference and the chance level, respectively.

Sweet-tasting saccharides

The taste preference thresholds for galactose were 100 mM for both Pippi and Kankan and 500 mM for Jonatan (P <0.05, binomial test) (Fig. 4). The mean taste preference threshold for galactose was 500 mM. The taste preference threshold for polycose for all three animals was 40 mM (P <0.05, binomial test) (Fig. 4) and thus the mean taste preference threshold was also 40 mM. For sorbitol, the taste preference threshold for all three animals was 250 mM (P <0.05, binomial test) (Fig. 4) and thus the mean taste preference threshold was also 250 mM.

Figure 4: Taste preferences of the three chimpanzees when presented with galactose, polycose and sorbitol alongside water. The red squares, blue triangles and green circles represent data points for Kankan, Pippi and Jonatan respectively. The horizontal dotted lines at 66.7 % and 50 % illustrate the criterion of preference and the chance level, respectively.


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Last updated: 05/06/19