Chips taken from someone else’s plate may taste better than chips from your own, according to a new study by researchers at the Russian Medical Academy.
The study involved 120 people, who were all given the same chips to eat. Even though the chips were identical, the volunteers ate them in different ways. Some people were served the chips directly, while others were given chips by another person.
A third group was told to steal the chips from another plate. In one test, someone was standing nearby and watching them, making it a “high-risk” situation. In another test, there was less chance of being caught, making it “low risk”.
After each test, the volunteers rated how tasty the chips were. The chips stolen in the high-risk situation were described as the most delicious, as well as saltier and crispier. The study suggests that excitement or the feeling of doing something cheeky may change how food tastes.
