A spray which tricks the brain into thinking food has more sugar than it really does could help people to lose weight.

French scientists isolated the natural aromatic molecules that make sweet foods so appealing.

These molecules were then pumped into the noses of people as they tried various mixtures of food and drink in a lab.

The aroma was found to influence the taste of the food, making food taste sweeter and more indulgent.

Thierry Thomas-Danguin, from the Centre for Taste and Feeding Behaviour in France, said: "Most consumers know that they should be eating more healthful foods made with reduced amounts of fat, sugar and salt.


"But this is problematic because these are the very ingredients that make many of the foods we like taste so delicious.

Image: Drinks and food taste sweeter thanks to the isolated molecule spray

"Based on our lab work, we've come to believe that aromas can help compensate for the reduction of fat, sugar and salt in healthful foods and make them more appealing to consumers."

Dr Thomas-Danguin's previous experiments have shown that it's possible to trick the brain into tasting salt using only smell.

He said it could be useful for those who buy reduced-salt food, only to then cover it in salt to improve the taste.

"If you buy a product made with 30% less salt, and you don't like it because it isn't very tasty, what do you do?" he said.

"You'll probably reach for the table salt and put some into the product. So the target is missed."

It's not clear how the technology could be developed for widespread use yet.