Cross-National Analysis of Consumer Preferences to Oat-Banana-Drinks With Alaria esculenta in Germany and Scotland.

This study investigates consumer acceptance of a novel plant-based oat-banana drink enriched with the brown seaweed Alaria esculenta. To our knowledge, this is the first cross-national comparison of such a product, combining a traditional cereal-fruit matrix with an underutilized marine resource, evaluated in both Germany and Scotland. Sensory acceptance was assessed using a consumer study and Temporal Dominance of Sensations (TDS) analysis, while electronic eye and tongue measurements provided objective data. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of instrumental results demonstrated a clear distinction between seaweed concentrations, supporting the sensory findings. Results indicated that the addition of up to 1% seaweed did not impair, and in some cases slightly improved, consumer acceptance. However, at concentrations of 3% and above, negative sensory attributes, particularly "green," "fishy,", and "unnatural," dominated, leading to reduced liking scores. These effects were observed in both Germany and Scotland, although Scottish participants showed stronger negative associations with higher seaweed contents. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of A. esculenta as a functional ingredient in plant-based beverages at low inclusion levels, while also emphasizing the importance of balancing nutritional benefits with sensory acceptance in future product development.