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Background Noise Affects Taste of Foods 79

gollum123 writes "The level of background noise affects both the intensity of flavour and the perceived crunchiness of foods, researchers have found. Blindfolded diners assessed the sweetness, saltiness, and crunchiness, as well as overall flavour, of foods as they were played white noise. While louder noise reduced the reported sweetness or saltiness, it increased the measure of crunch. It may go some way to explaining why airline food is notoriously bland — a phenomenon that drives airline catering companies to season their foods heavily. In a comparatively small study, 48 participants were fed sweet foods such as biscuits or salty ones such as crisps, while listening to silence or noise through headphones. Also in the group's findings there is the suggestion that the overall satisfaction with the food aligned with the degree to which diners liked what they were hearing — a finding the researchers are pursuing in further experiments."

Comment Re:If I could do it, I would! (Score 1) 658

In reality there are other things to worry about (government regulation (especially with utilities and the new health care bill), people holding grudges against companies that profiteer, what products compete with yours e.g. DVDs versus live entertainment) but there are limits on how much companies can just pass costs and taxes on without it affecting sales volumes.

True enough, if one only considers customers; there are others from whom the taxes can be withheld. First up, stockholders. Now, I know that the general population here will immediately think of fat-cat Wall Streeters, but most stock is held by institutional investors. Think retirement plans, both private and pensions. Raising corporate tax rates hurts those who are trying to retire.

Second, the taxes can be passed on to employees, specifically by trimming the workforce.

All taxes are eventually paid by individuals. Anyone who says otherwise is uninformed, or trying to hide something.

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