THE REPORTED EFFECTS OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES ON CIGARETTE TASTE AMONG MENTHOL AND NON-MENTHOL SMOKERS

It has been suggested that foods and beverages may alter the taste of cigarette, with some types of food improving cigarette taste and other foods worsening cigarette taste (McClernon et al., 2007). The relationship between foods and cigarette taste could affect both smoking and dietary choices. There may also be important individual differences in the relationship between foods and smoking effects. The present study assessed smokers’ perceptions of how different foods and beverages affect their cigarette taste using a newly developed questionnaire. Equal numbers of Black and White and menthol and non-menthol smokers (N = 100) were recruited to examine possible group differences and interactions. Some foods and beverages were universally perceived as enhancing (e.g., alcohol, coffee) or diminishing (e.g., milk/dairy, vegetables) the subjective taste of cigarettes regardless of racial identity and menthol smoking status. For some foods and beverages there were differences in perceptions based on menthol status (e.g., fruit) or race (e.g., chocolate). Future research should examine the relationship between dietary preferences and smoking with larger and more diverse samples as any effects of foods on cigarette taste could have important public health implications.