Confectionery Perceptions Among Older Adults

This study examined how older adults aged 60-70 years evaluate different types of confectionery.The findings indicate that Japanese confectionery is associated with positive descriptors such as "healthy" and "low calorie," whereas Western confectionery is perceived more negatively and linked to descriptors such as "fattening" and "high calorie."Interestingly, perceptions of Japanese-Western fusion sweets, which combine characteristics of both confectionery traditions, shift toward positive descriptors such as "delicious" and "easy to eat." Taken together, these findings suggest that emphasizing differences in ingredients and production methods can meaningfully shape consumer perceptions, even when products share similar physical attributes.