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Department of Food Science

Beverly J. Tepper, Ph. D.

Beverly J. Tepper, Ph. D.

Graduate Program Director
Professor
btepper@sebs.rutgers.edu
65 Dudley RD
(848) 932-5417
(732) 932-6776

Publications

Representative Publications
  1. Bell KI, Tepper BJ. Short-term vegetable intake by young children classified by 6-n-propylthoiuracil (PROP) bitter taste phenotype. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2006: 84; 245-251 PMID:16825702
  2. Tepper BJ. Nutritional implications of genetic taste variation: the role of PROP sensitivity and other taste phenotypes. Annual Review of Nutrition. 2008:28;367-88 (review) PMID:18407743
  3. Tepper BJ, Koelliker Y, Zhao L, Ullrich NV, Lanzara C, d’Adamo P, Ferrara A, Ulivi S, Esposito L, Gasparini P. Variation in the bitter-taste receptor gene TAS2R38 and adiposity in a genetically-isolated population in Southern Italy. Obesity, 2008:16; 2289-2295. PMID: 18719631
  4. Cabras T, Melis M, Castagnola M,Tepper BJ,Messana S, Barbarossa IT. Specific salivary basic proline-rich proteins influence sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) in humans. PLoS One 2012:7;e30962 PMID: 22312435
  5. Melis M, Atzori E, Cabras S, Zonza A, Calò MC, Muroni P, Nieddu M, Padiglia A, Sogos V, Tepper BJ, Barbarossa IT. A gustin gene polymorphism as a mechanistic link between PROP tasting and taste papilla density and morphology. PLoS One 2013: 8(9);e74151. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074151. PMID: 24040192
  6. Shafaie Y, Koelliker Y, Hoffman DJ, Tepper BJ. Energy intake and diet selection during buffet feeding in women classified by the 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) bitter taste phenotype. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2013: 98(6); 1583-91 PMID: 24153345
  7. Tepper BJ, Banni S, Melis M, Crnjar R, Tomassini Barbarossa I. Genetic sensitivity to the bitter taste of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and its association with physiological mechanisms controlling body mass index. Nutrients 2014: 6(9); 3363-3381 PMID:25166026 (Review)
  8. Burgess B, Rao SP, Tepper BJ. Changes in liking for sweet and fatty foods following weight loss in women is related to PROP phenotype but not to diet. Obesity 2016 24:1867-73. PMID: 27430708
  9. Melis M, Yousaf NY, Mattes MZ, Cabras T, Messana I, Crnjar R, Tomassini Barbarossa I, Tepper BJ. Sensory perception and salivary protein response to astringency as a function of the 6-n-propyluracil (PROP) bitter-taste phenotype. Physiology & Behavior 2017 Jan 24. pii: S0031-9384(16)30883-6. PMID: 28130087
  10. Tepper BJ, Melis M, KoellikerY, Gasparini P, Ahijevych KM,Tomassini Barbarossa I. Factors influencing the phenotypic characterization of the oral marker, PROP. Nutrients, 2017: 9, 1275; doi:10.3390/nu9121275
  11. Lee R, Simon JE, Reichert W, Juliani HR, Tepper BJ. Development of a lexicon for fresh sweet basil aroma (Osimum basilicum) with links to volatile chemical composition. Perfumer & Flavorist, April 2017, pp. 36-50. http://www.perfumerflavorist.com/fragrance/rawmaterials/natural/A-Fresh-Language-416867873.html
  12. Jin L, Haviland-Jones J, Simon JE, Tepper BJ. Influence of aroma intensity and nasal pungency on the ‘Mood Signature’ of common aroma compounds in a mixed ethnic population. Food Quality & Preference 2018 65: 164-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2017.10.017.
  13. Burgess B, Melis M, Scoular K, Driver M, Schaich KM, Keller KL, Tomassini Barbarossa I, Tepper BJ. Effects of CD36 genotype on oral perception of oleic acid supplemented safflower oil emulsions in two ethnic groups. Journal of Food Science 2018 83:1373-1380. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.14115.
  14. Yousaf NY, Melis M, Mastinu M, Contini C, Cabras T, Barbarossa IT, Tepper BJ. Time-course of salivary protein responses to cranberry-derived polyphenol exposure as a function of PROP taster status. Nutrients 2020 Sep 21;12(9):E2878. doi: 10.3390/nu12092878.
Recent Presentations
  1. "A role for the PROP bitter taste phenotype in women’ health: Obesity, food choice and weight management", Senses, Diet and Disease Conference, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar, November 2016.
  2. "Individual differences in the perception of oral heat and astringency: implications for consumer acceptance", Chromocell Corp., North Brunswick, NJ, March 2017.
  3. "Sweet taste preferences – A role in women's health." Symposium on Sweetness-Sensory Perception in Product Development, Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, June 2017.
  4. "Individual differences in taste and smell: Implications for aroma and flavor perception and mood", Alliance of International Aromatherapists Alliance Annual Meeting, New Brunswick, NJ, August 2017.
  5. "Tailoring foods for sensory perceptions and consumer acceptance: A role for taste genes and personal traits", New York Institute of Food Technologists, Student Night, New Brunswick, NJ February 2018.
  6. "Salivary proteins and genetic variation in the human perception of astringency using cranberries as a model system". N Yousaf & BJ Tepper. Industrial Symposium on Contribution of Oral and Nasal Chemethesis to Taste, Aroma and Flavor Perception – From Basic Mechanisms to Applications, Association for Chemoreception Sciences Annual Meeting, Bonita Springs, FL, April 2019.
  7. Panel discussion on: "A matter of taste: Forces driving our eating preference and patterns", Science Café at Princeton University, American Chemical Society, Princeton, NJ July 2019.
  8. "Controlled environment agriculture: A tool to understand flavor profiles and consumer demand for baby leafy greens". O’Brien R, Tepper BJ. New York City Produce Show and Conference, New York, New York December 2019.
  9. "Cranberry polyphenols, astringency perception and the salivary proteome". Monell Chemical Senses Center Seminar Series, Philadelphia, PA, September 2020.
Books and Book Chapters
  • Worobey J, Tepper BJ, Kanarek RB. Nutrition and Behavior: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Wallingford, UK:CABI Publishing, 2006 (288 pages).
  • Tepper, BJ.  Nutritional implications of genetic taste variation: the role of PROP sensitivity and other taste phenotypes. Annual Review of Nutrition. 2008;28:367-88.
  • Tepper, BJ, Belzer LM, Smulian J, Lu S. Sweet taste preferences and cravings in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): Implications for diet and medical management. In: Diet, Brain and Behavior: Practical Implications, Lieberman H, Kanarek RB. (Ed), Boca Raton, FL; CRC Press LLC 2011, pp. 169-188.