What you can eat on board an airplane and what you shouldn’t: a scientist’s opinion

27.10.2024 14:10

Perhaps every traveler who has chosen to travel by plane has noticed that food tastes different on board the plane.

At least, this is what experimental psychologist Charles Spence from Oxford University is sure of, who believes that the taste of food and drinks during a flight is not the same as on the ground.

The scientist is also convinced that most passengers eat during a flight not because they are tormented by hunger, but because they are bored.

That's why Spence recommends eating well before boarding a plane.

According to the researcher, changes in the taste of food are caused by a number of reasons: dry air in the cabin, low air pressure on board and loud engine noise.

Airplane
Photo: © Belnovosti

The same conclusion was reached by employees of the German Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, who, during their research, found that due to dry air and low pressure in the cabin, the sensitivity of taste buds to salty and sweet foods decreases by almost a third.

The listed factors also affect the taste of citrus fruits, but bitter and sour products, as they say, are beyond suspicion.

It has also been proven that dry air impairs a person's sense of smell, which affects the perception of the taste of food.

Spence also shared the best and worst foods to eat on a plane.

So, you should choose Parmesan cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes and tomato juice.

But you need to give up everything sweet, salty or carbonated.

Elena Shimanovskaya Author: Elena Shimanovskaya Internet resource editor