Savory Science

by Diane Lofshult

Trying to cut down on sugar, fat and calories, but not wanting to sacrifice flavor? Then get ready for flavor enhancers like Senomyx^®, which food manufacturers are preparing to add to everything from cookies to soft drinks.

To accommodate the changing tastes of weight-conscious consumers, companies like Nestlé and Coca-Cola are using these new flavor enhancers to produce products that require less sugar but retain their full taste.

San Diego–based Senomyx Inc., which developed Senomyx, is working on several other flavor enhancers that will impart a range of savory, sweet and salty tastes. According to a company press release, “Our flavor enhancers will allow our collaborators to improve the nutritional profile of their packaged food products . . . by reducing MSG, sugar and salt content, while maintaining or enhancing taste.”