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Why Does Airline Food Taste So Bland?

Finally, a plausible answer as to why airline food tastes so bland.

The answer? White noise.

According to research reported in the Journal of Food Quality and Preference, the intensity of flavour and the perceived crunchiness of food may be directly linked to the level of background noise.

Huh? So the plane's rumbling engine and the guy snoring next to me may be the cause of years of dissatisfaction with airline food? Appears so...

The study comprised of 48 hungry blindfolded diners, each of whom were asked to rate and assess the sweetness, saltiness, crunchiness and overall flavour of certain foods, both in silence and whilst listening to white noise through headphones.

The findings? While the white noise appeared to have reduce the flavour of the foods, it seemed to have increased the measure of crunch.

You'll be glad to know that this is only the beginning of the researcher's long overdue quest to find out the exact reasons behind bland airline food. In the interim, just make sure you're listening to 'good food music' before taking your first bite!

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Clayton Truscott

Clayton Truscott

Clayton is a comfortable traveller, having grown up in a small city that was far away from everything. He spent lots of time in the car as a child, driving up and down the coast of South Africa on surfing trips with his family. After studying abroad in the United States and spending a year working in London, he moved to Cape Town, where he completed a Master's Degree in Creative Writing. He now works as a freelance writer for various travel, surfing and action sports publications.