Loss of appetite and taste: what to know

Taste changes can make familiar foods seem bland, bitter, metallic or unpleasant. Smell contributes strongly to flavour, so a blocked nose or respiratory infection may affect eating. Dry mouth, mouth problems, some medicines and stomach illness can also reduce interest in food. COVID-19 and influenza may include changes in smell or taste, but these symptoms do not identify one condition by themselves.

Record whether the change affects taste, smell or both, and whether there are mouth sores, nasal symptoms, nausea, fever or swallowing difficulty. Tell a clinician about recent illness and every medicine or supplement you use.

Keep portions small and choose foods with a texture and temperature you tolerate. Try herbs, spices, lemon or sauces if they suit you, rather than adding excessive salt or sugar. Brush your teeth and tongue gently, keep your mouth moist with regular sips, and avoid smoking. Food safety matters when taste or smell cannot reliably warn you about spoilage.

Prioritise fluids and include a protein-containing food when possible. Do not stop a prescribed medicine because of taste changes; ask the prescriber whether an alternative or timing adjustment is appropriate.

Book a review for a persistent taste change, ongoing poor intake, mouth pain, repeated vomiting, unplanned weight change or difficulty swallowing. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty, facial swelling, confusion, fainting, severe dehydration, or inability to keep fluids down. Sudden neurological symptoms need emergency attention.

Ask whether a recent infection, nasal problem, mouth condition or medicine could explain the change, whether your hydration and nutrition need checking, and how long to monitor it.