Subscribe now

Looks good enough to eat? so tuck in

By Nicola Dixon

17 August 2002

DO FROG’S legs really taste like chicken? A system designed to tell how food tastes just by looking at it could settle the age-old question once and for all.

So far the system, being developed by researchers at Michigan State University in East Lansing, has only been used to gauge the taste of apples. But, they say, in the future the technique could be adapted for other foods.

US Agricultural Research Service engineer Renfu Lu decided to look under the skin of an apple to determine how sweet and firm it is. He says it could mean that food is…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Popular articles

Trending New Scientist articles

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop