Food for Consumers with Sensory-Depleting Illnesses

The Life Kitchen line, the first of its kind in the UK, features easy-to-use add-ins to help the 70% of those whose taste receptors have been affected by cancer and the 40-50% of Covid-19 sufferers whose senses have been compromised by the illness (Holland & Barrett, 2023).

Products include its Sensation Salt, a blend of white pepper, sour citric acid and umami flavouring to use in place of salt and a bitter Seed, Kale & Wasabi Blend to add depth of flavour to soups and salads. A Soy & Honey Umami Paste with mushrooms provides an umami kick to marinades and dressings, whilst the miso in its Miso Honey boosts the honey’s naturally sweet flavour and can be incorporated in both sweet and savoury dishes.

Meanwhile, its Citrus Sensation Spritz is a mix of vinegar, glucose syrup, yuzu juice, rice koji and ginger, which creates a multi-level sensory experience when sprayed onto fish or grilled vegetables. Yuzu’s small scent molecules reach the nose quickly, whilst koji stimulates the tongue. And, its White Chocolate & Miso Raspberry bar fuses umami-rich miso with sweet white chocolate to create a sweet, salty and savoury balance.

The retailer developed the line with Life Kitchen (highlighted by Stylus in Culinary Education), a UK non-profit cookery school that specialises in helping those whose taste and smell receptors have been affected by cancer treatment to enjoy food again.

Whilst this inclusive line has been created to help those with taste-limiting illnesses, the retailer has stressed the products can be used by everyone to add depth of flavour to their dishes at home.

For further reading on how food is being platformed as a tool to help limited and prevent the effects to ill health, read Food & Health Trends 24/25.