Addiction ‘can begin in the womb’

A decade of research indicates that taste preferences are set early in life, and even in the womb.

The evidence points to mothers not only influencing the future eating habits of their children, but also problem behaviour such as addiction.

Several studies were described by French expert Dr Benoist Schaal at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Vancouver, Canada.

Some looked at effects in the womb while others focused on women who had just given birth.

Dr Schaal conducted one study in which 12 pregnant women were given biscuits and sweets laced with aniseed. Responses of their babies were measured up to four days after birth and compared with those of a similar number of unexposed infants.

Those babies which had previously “tasted” the strong flavour in the womb seemed attracted to it. They smiled and moved towards the aniseed smell while non- exposed looked disgusted and moved away.

Babies in the womb could sense flavours by inhaling amniotic fluid, said Dr Schaal.

Another study suggested weaning children offered a variety of foods were less likely to become fussy eaters.