The Science of Temptation

For the love of cheese

It’s official; cheese on toast is the nation’s most tempting snack. Research carried out by TV Scientist and Body Language Expert Dr Harry Witchel of Bristol University measured people’s heart rate, salivation and skin arousal levels to see which foods they fancied most, and cheese on toast came out on top!

There were also other interesting findings. Dr Witchel’s study found that, while women claimed to be more tempted by chocolate, their body responses showed they were significantly more tempted by cheese on toast. Men however said that cheese on toast was their favourite snack when, in reality, their senses were actually more aroused by chocolate!

The report also found that the sight of cheese on toast got men salivating while women are most tempted by the alluring smell and sound of bubbling cheese on toast.  According to Dr Witchel, Cathedral City on toast really is the nation's favourite snack!

Giving in to temptation doesn’t just happen by accident. Take our tasty Science of Temptation quiz to find out if you can say no when everyone around you is saying yes, yes, yes!