Introducing the #DeliciousForAll Culinary Challenge

Mission:

Sharing a meal with loved ones is a cherished experience, as we connect and bond over food and drinks. However, the way we perceive taste, flavor, and aroma varies for everyone. Individuals with taste and smell impairments, ranging from temporary seasonal allergies to chronic sensory disorders, may struggle to enjoy meals, often suffering in silence. In collaboration with renowned experts and scientists, the World Taste & Smell Association proudly presents the first annual #DeliciousForAll Culinary Challenge. Our mission is to create an inclusive culinary landscape catering to all, including those with taste and smell impairments. We invite you to join us on this flavorful journey, as we search for delectable recipes that everyone can savor, regardless of their sensory abilities.

Background:

Taste and smell impairments affect many more people than we often realize. The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to these disorders, with over 15 million individuals worldwide expected to experience a taste or smell disorder lasting at least six months due to the virus. This figure is in addition to the estimated 5% of the population already suffering from smell dysfunctions caused by factors such as brain injuries, other diseases, or reactions to drugs or chemical exposure. Congenital anosmia, although rare, affects around 1 in 10,000 individuals, leaving them without a sense of smell from birth. Almost everyone has experienced temporary taste and smell loss resulting from colds, allergies, sinus infections, or even high-altitude flights in compressed air chambers. These experiences, whether minor and temporary or severe and long-term, unite us in our shared understanding of how taste and smell impairments can profoundly impact our ability to fully engage with and savor a meal together.

The Challenge:

The #DeliciousForAll Culinary Challenge aims to raise awareness of taste and smell impairments while inspiring our community of passionate food enthusiasts, home cooks, and professional chefs to create and share recipes that anyone can enjoy. We're seeking mouth-watering, multi-sensory dishes that are "delicious for all," catering to those with sensory or dietary restrictions. This challenge is open to everyone, from hobbyists to professionals. We encourage all submitted recipes to feature ingredients readily available in most grocery stores and home pantries, utilizing techniques accessible to cooks of all skill levels.

What is Delicious?

Deliciousness is a subjective concept, often associated with the pleasure derived from enjoying a meal. However, we also use the term to describe other hedonistic experiences, as there is a scientific basis for the sensations we feel when all our senses are engaged and stimulated. Eating is a multi-sensory experience encompassing presentation, fragrance, taste, texture, and more.

Follow the #DeliciousForAll hashtag on social media and visit DeliciousForAll.com for more information on this special initiative!