CAN YOU TASTE IT: Until now, it was thought the tongue could detect only five tastes – sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami, sometimes called savoury (a taste for identifying protein-rich foods) - but the tongue can also detect fat.

A Kiwi scientist has helped discover the "sixth sense" of the human tongue and it may unlock the secret to keeping you slim.

Until now, it was thought the tongue could detect only five tastes – sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami, sometimes called savoury (a taste for identifying protein-rich foods).

But new research led by Deakin University in Australia, in conjunction with Massey University, has discovered the tongue can also detect fat.

Experts believe this discovery could help in developing foods that trick the body into thinking it has consumed enough fat.

Massey University Associate Professor Matt Golding, who was part of the research team, said people's taste threshold for fat varied from person to person.

Some had a high sensitivity to the taste while others did not – and those who did tended to eat less fatty food and be slimmer.

"The high fat-tasting population appeared to have a lower BMI [body mass index] than those who had a poor ability to taste fat," he said.

Researchers tested 33 people's ability to taste a range of fatty acids, by first inserting small doses into milk and then custard, Professor Golding said.

"There was no difference in texture between the samples and yet we found a number of people were able to quite clearly detect the presence of `something else' within the samples."

The research could lead to the development of solutions for tackling obesity by promoting the taste of fat in foods, he said.

"But I don't think there is such a thing as a silver bullet ... clearly a lot more work would need to be done in this area to see those effects."

The results are published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Meanwhile, Massey University is set to benefit from $21 million the Government will spend to establish a network of food development facilities.

The Food Innovation Network New Zealand will have hubs in Palmerston North, Manukau, Waikato and Canterbury and will provide support for firms to develop food and beverage ingredients and consumer products.