www.european-nutrition.org
UK TV Chef takes on Hospital Food
30 April 2010
UK TV chef Heston Blumenthal is collaborating with scientists from Reading University on a project to improve nutrition on elderly care wards. They have the long term goal of developing a series of recipes that would not only rejuvenate the palate of older people, but also combat malnutrition.
The researchers are looking into the use of Japanese umami – also known as the fifth taste – as a way of introducing more nutrients into food and also a way of rejuvenating older peoples’ palate. Once the formula has passed testing it will be trialled on an elderly care ward.
The Patients Association, who campaign to improve nutrition for the elderly in hospitals, said that they welcomed the research but emphasised that health leaders still need to look at issues such as staffing. The full article can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8654929.stm .
