Final answer:
Infants develop taste preferences for local food due to exposure to those flavors in amniotic fluid during pregnancy and continued exposure after birth, which familiarizes them with specific tastes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Infants develop a preference for the taste of their local food primarily due to exposure during early life stages. According to research, this preference begins prenatally, as the amniotic fluid can change in taste based on the different foods consumed by the mother, introducing the infant to local flavors even before birth. So, it's not genetics or a universal taste preference that determines an infant's favorite flavors, but rather the early exposure to local flavors and subsequent familiarity with those tastes acquired through these prenatal and postnatal experiences.
Furthermore, children's taste preferences can also be shaped by their personality and attitudes, such as thrill-seeking children who may prefer intense sour flavors, or those with positive attitudes toward reduced-fat foods rating them more favorably. Additionally, food preferences have a strong cultural component, conditioned by geographic location, indicating that our environment plays a significant role in shaping our dietary choices. This adaptation possibly serves an evolutionary role, enabling humans to learn quickly what foods are safe or harmful, thereby contributing to species survival.
Final Answer: Infants develop a preference for the taste of their local food because (b) exposure to local flavors occurs during prenatal development and (c) familiarity with local flavors is learned through early experiences.