With effect from 1 January, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has appointed Reinskje Talhout as special professor Product appeal and prevention of harmful consumption behaviour within the chair group Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour (SSEB). In her new role, she will focus on research into the appeal of harmful products, such as tobacco and nicotine products, alcohol, drugs and energy drinks, as well as the formation of habits involving these products.
As a senior researcher at RIVM, Talhout already spends a lot of her time looking into tobacco and nicotine products, drugs, alcohol and energy drinks. She is also the head of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Tobacco Product Regulation and Control. In addition to her research activities, she regularly advises the national government, the EU (European Union ) and WHO. Furthermore, she has already worked with the SSEB research unit for several years, including in relation to the ban on flavours in e-cigarettes.
Protecting the population’s well-being
Talhout is enthusiastic about her new role and hopes that the cooperation between RIVM and WUR will result in a new approach to combating unhealthy consumption behaviours, especially among young people. ‘Understanding, managing and preventing the use of addictive and harmful products is important to protect the population’s health and well-being. I hope to make a useful contribution in a field that plays a key role in this, that of sensory research. This involves research into how our senses, such as taste, smell and mouthfeel, determine the appeal of products. Researching how these properties tempt people into using certain products will make us better understand why people continue to use these products and what we can do to prevent this more effectively.’
You can learn more about Reinskje Talhout’s appointment on the website of Wageningen University & Research.