Objective:　The poor appearance of some food styles, such as blended or mashed food, negatively influences palatability, possibly leading to a loss of appetite. I think eye-tracking system can be effective in objectively determining food preference in patients individuals with communication difficulties. This study aimed to clarify the association between food preferences and gaze using an eye tracking system.

Subjects and Methods:　The study involved 50 healthy young individuals aged 20 or older. With an eye tracker unit attached to the lower part of the monitor. After that, 5 images as stimuli were randomly presented to the subjects to record their gaze. Each image contained 2 pictures of food on the left and right in the following combinations: 1）bread and sandwiches, 2）an omelet and boiled egg, 3）rice balls and rice, 4）potato chips and French fries, and 5）an apple and grated apple. After eye tracking, an interview on food preferences was conducted, while presenting the 5 images again. Subsequently, the frequency and total duration of the gaze points fixed on each food were analyzed. For statistical analysis, Wilcoxon’s signed rank sum test was used, with the significance level set at 5%.

Results and Discussion:　The subjects showed markedly higher fixation frequencies when gazing at their preferred foods. The results revealed an association between food preferences and gaze in healthy young adults.