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TASTES ARE BOM IN THE WOMB

It is never too early to cultivate a gourmand, according to results of a study in the USA team of researchers with the Model Chemical Senses Centre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said that exposure to flavours either through amniotic fluid or in breast milk is capable of influencing a child’s food preferences.

The study is an addition to a body of research, which shows that the food tastes of animals are also developed in the womb. This finding suggests a mechanism by which the foetus receives information about foods that are safe and available, according to Dr.Julie A. Mennella, one of the study’s authors.

It is also a method for a foetus or young child to learn about the culture. "Very early flavour experiences may provide the foundation for cultural differences," Dr. Manella said. "Mother’s milk reflects the culture the culture in which the child is born."

In the study, groups of pregnant women drank water and carrot juice during pregnancy and lactation. One group drank 300 ml of carrot juice four days a week for three consecutive weeks during their last trtimester, and again during the first two months of breast feeding.

Another group drank water and carrot juice during lactation, and a third group involved in the study drank water during pregnancy and lactation.

(As reported in The Hindu Business Lines)