A bitter taste has always been considered a warning signal, devoted to protecting us from ingesting potentially harmful substances. But bitter taste receptors can apparently do much more than just evaluate the taste of food. A recent study by the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich now shows that certain human bitter taste receptors also respond to steroid hormones. They could therefore play a previously underestimated role in physiological processes.

As the FDA moves to finalize a rule requiring front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels on most packaged foods and beverages in the US, new research suggests that while the proposed “Nutrition Info Box,” showing levels of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar, was found to work best for consumers who had higher nutrition literacy, it may not be the most effective choice for all Americans. The findings from the study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, provide timely evidence on how FOP labels will help consumers identify healthier foods, which could ultimately support healthier eating.

Impulsivity, hyperactivity and difficulty concentrating are some of the symptoms associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is estimated that 6% of schoolchildren in Catalonia suffer to a greater or lesser extent from this neurodevelopmental condition. Although genetic factors are the main cause, environmental factors such as exposure to pollutants can increase the risk of developing ADHD or can intensify its symptoms. “These factors influence brain development during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life,” warned Fina Canals, a researcher with the URV’s Nutrition and Mental Health research group, which has investigated how exposure to metals affects neuropsychological performance and has linked it to the presence of ADHD during childhood.