Wageningen University & Research has appointed Reinskje Talhout as special professor of Product Attractiveness and Prevention of Harmful Consumption Behavior within the Sensory Science and Eating Behavior (SSEB) chair group as of January 1. In her new role, she focuses on research into the attractiveness and habit formation around harmful products such as tobacco and nicotine products, alcohol, drugs, and energy drinks.
As a senior researcher at RIVM, Talhout has long been involved with tobacco and nicotine products, drugs, alcohol, and energy drinks. She is also head of the WHO World Health Organization (World Health Organization) Collaborating Centre on Tobacco Product Regulation and Control. In addition to her research activities, she regularly advises the national government, the EU European Union (European Union), and the WHO. She has also collaborated for years with the SSEB chair group, including on the ban on flavors in e-cigarettes.
Protecting population welfare
Talhout is enthusiastic about her new role and hopes that this collaboration between RIVM and WUR Wageningen University & Research (Wageningen University & Research) will lead to a new approach against unhealthy consumption behavior, especially among young people. Understanding, controlling, and preventing the use of addictive harmful products is important to protect the health and welfare of the population. Sensory research plays a key role in this, to which I hope to contribute. Research is conducted into how our senses, such as taste, smell, and mouthfeel, determine how attractive products are. By studying how these properties entice use, we can better understand why people continue to use certain products and how prevention can be improved.
Read more about the appointment of Reinskje Talhout (external link) on the Wageningen University & Research website.