A University of Warwick researcher will investigate the UK's love affair with trying new foods after receiving a major research fellowship.

Dr Mandy Sadan's three-year long 'Flavour in the Making of Modern Britain' project will explore how trying new flavours and ingredients influences society.

The project, which was inspired by undergraduate students at the university, is hoping to discover more about multiculturalism and the "cultural 'contribution' of different communities".

The associate professor will begin her research in September 2022 thanks to the funding from the Leverhulme Trust.

"Flavour is a really important part of national, regional, and local food systems, but it is under-researched and poorly understood," said Dr Sadan.

"It is becoming clear that the search for flavoursome food has probably been one of the most important drivers of human social and cultural development.

"I hope that my research will contribute to new ways of thinking about the global shaping and creation of Britain as a corrective to simplistic dialogues about 'multiculturalism' and the economic and "

Her research will look into new flavour and ingredient houses, new technology and the chemistry of flavour itself.

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The project was inspired by undergraduate students during a discussion on the global food system.

"We discussed many issues relating to culture, psychology, physiology, and history, as we tried to understand how food systems are or can be sustainable," said Dr Sadan.

"We often talk about research-led teaching, but we don't talk enough about the importance of teaching-led research.

"Teaching can lead to the development of innovative research projects, and we shouldn't lose sight of that important link between teaching and research, which is sometimes missed."