Energy intake was estimated from the food diaries of 52 overnight-fasted adult volunteers after ingestion of 110 ml of a solution of either 40 g of sucrose or 4.34 g of saccharin administered in blind conditions. Men consumed more calories and carbohydrates than women. Women's eating was unaffected by the preload. The sucrose preload led to 60% of male subjects choosing to consume a calorific beverage soon afterwards, they then delayed eating compared to men who received a saccharin preload. Men who had received sucrose, but consumed no beverage, ate as early as the saccharin preload group. It is concluded that under fasted, blind administration followed by everyday eating, sucrose does not increase hunger, but eating behaviour after a prel...