Why Can't These Animals Taste Sweets?

A new study released this week shows that whales used to be able to taste a lot of flavors, but now can only taste salt! Why did this happen? Trace takes a look at why this change took place, and how it's not so uncommon in the animal kingdom.

Read More:
Why Cats, Other Carnivores Don't Taste Sweets
"Lions, dolphins, hyenas and other pure carnivores have lost the ability to taste sweet foods."

Whales Can't Taste Anything But Salt
"Tastes are a privilege. The oral sensations not only satisfy foodies, but also on a primal level, protect animals from toxic substances."

Why Pooh Bear Loves Honey, But Tigger Doesn't
"Cats will ignore your sugary treats, but will literally jump onto the counter at the chance to scarf down some meaty goodness."

What Makes Food Taste Sweet?
"A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down with some fancy tricks on your tongue, and your eyes."

Do animals taste the same thing as humans?
"In evolutionary terms, the chemical senses — taste and smell — are the oldest."

Watch More:
Golden Retriever Facts: Perfect dog, except for...

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[DeadManRising]

I wish there was a button on my body that lets me allow to change the nasty taste of vegatebles to sweet things :(

[KZMProductionsHD]

I like anything that taste like human babies.

[Dagfinn-egic]

Hey, if cats can not taste, how come there are some kinds of food they like and some they don't like?

[tommyssl]

Speaking of cockateils, I used to eat oatmeal and fruit with them, they loved it

[Maxground]

"Poor delicious chicken..."

This is why trace is so cool

[SummerLangereis]

I eat for fuel, but I like my fuel to taste good

[emmalouge]

I eat for candy :| ...Help :'() It's so serious. I can't stop eating horrible food!!!

[falsevacuum]

"Poor... delicious... chickens..." xD

[DavidErikFinn]

Cats genetically lost the sense of taste millions of years ago?!?!
I am NOT buying Fancy Feast ever again.

[fkgabbana]

I was so interested in hearing about whether wolves can taste sweet flavours or not, being that they are carnivorous and the domestic dog (an omnivore) can taste sweet things! And they love it! When & where did that mutation happen exactly? You guys totally skipped all of that!

[lolawesomeguy]

Dogs can taste sweet? Nice, I am gonna try it some day.

[exelibrium]

There is one thing you just simply can't force down your throat. Cocoswater, a mixture of cocosmilk and limejuice. anything else I'm fine with, vegtebles, meat, fish. 

[hannesbrolinlagerstedt]

Here comes the storm of ridiculous comments that if someone doesn't like a specific food that they like they are crazy and are doing it wrong.

Seriously guys and gals some people doesn't like the stuff you like, it's not the way they were teached as kids or that they are stupid or that they just can't taste "good things" in your perspective, WE LIKE DIFFERENT! so stop thinking that people is weird because they don't like the same stuff that you do.

[yugimon]

If taste buds are used to determine what's good to eat, why do the things that are bad for us taste so good?

[Skilthier]

Another classic Trace episode! Cracks me up man!

[DenisRyan]

"Poor tasty chickens". The side-eye that accompanied that line made me laugh out loud. 

[mariposahorribilis]

I'm glad you mentioned texture. There are many foods I probably wouldn't eat if they had a different texture. The crispness of certain fruits and vegetables, in particular, really helps me get my "5 a day" (now upgraded to 7 a day by UK health pundits).

I suspect that viewing food simply as fuel may be unhealthy. If you're not actively enjoying what you're eating, being mindful of different flavours and textures, isn't it tempting to just shovel in as much as possible, since the only satisfaction you're going to get from it is the sensation of satiety?

[drabraxis]

So the real question.... What taste can WE not taste?!

[noktelfa]

For a few weeks after my tonsillectomy, I couldn't taste sweet.  It surprised me how different everything was.  I had never realized that so many flavors depended on a sweet component.  I first noticed it in tartar sauce, which was nearly flavorless without sweetness.  Ketchup, salad dressing, bread, milk, they were all different.

[Saylor]

I totally interpreted the title as "Why can't these animals taste sweet?" Overlooking the last "s" on sweets. I thought this was going to be an episode on why whales don't taste good, lol.