Mark Miodownik

When you take a handful of salt in your hand, you can see something that is just so elemental to our lives.

Your brain is saying, this is good.

We need this.

If you ask yourself, why have you got these particular taste receptors?

Because actually most of flavour is in the nose.

Most of the deliciousness of food is in the nose.

It's not in the mouth.

But there are receptors in the mouth that your body has evolved because it really needs these nutrients.

One is a salt receptor.

So it's looking for salt.

And so it goes, well done, you found the salt.

I mean, your receptors talking to you.

Good, get more.

I love the voice in the receptor.

Get those salty nuts.

Go, go.

They all have the same problem.

All the supermarkets are despairing because no one's buying their food.

And all the manufacturers of food are tearing their heads out because they can't provide the food that people love.

And also they will be panicking because they won't have any confidence that the food they're going to give their shops will be saleable, especially the sausage makers and the cheese makers, because salt is not just about taste and texture.