Food Suddenly Tastes Different? Here’s What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You

Maybe you woke up this morning and poured yourself your morning cup of coffee, and the brew kind of tasted like dirt. Or maybe your peanut butter toast was extraordinarily bland.

“Change in sense of taste can be due to a multitude of causes,” says Rachel Kaye, MD, assistant professor of otolaryngology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey. “One of the most common has to do with a change in the sense of smell, as this is closely related to taste,” she says.

It’s possible there’s an underlying issue with the nerves that control the sense of taste or the brain’s interpretation of taste, Dr. Kaye says. These can reduce your sense of taste (hypogeusia), take it away completely (ageusia), or cause foods and drinks to taste different (dysgeusia).

Here are eight possible explanations for a sudden change in taste. While these may help you understand the cause, it’s important to check in with your doctor to address and treat any health problems.

1. You Ate or Drank Something Too Hot

It seems too simple to be true, but eating or drinking something hot and “burning” your tongue may temporarily cause your sense of taste to get weird.

“Thankfully, this is normally a temporary problem,” Kaye says.

2. You Have a Cold or Allergies

Nasal congestion due to an infection from a virus, bacteria, or allergies can make it tough to taste your dinner.

“When we get sick, the sense of smell goes, and that’s related to the sense of taste,” says Anthony Del Signore, MD, director of rhinology and endoscopic skull base surgery at Mount Sinai Union Square in New York City.

Once the virus leaves your system or you receive antibiotic or allergy treatment, this congestion can subside, and you’ll enjoy the taste of food again.

3. You Have a Nasal Polyp

Sometimes, a cold or allergies can lead to sinusitis, an infection or inflammation of the nose and sinus cavities. It can lead to nasal polyps, which are growths in the nasal cavities.

Most of the time, nasal polyps are not harmful, but they can obstruct your sense of smell, which can affect your ability to taste.

Nasal sprays and rinses or oral steroids can help shrink a polyp.

4. You’re Taking a New Medication

Certain medications can disturb your sense of taste.

These include:

Methimazole, for hyperthyroidism
Captopril, used to treat high blood pressure
Griseofulvin, an antifungal medication
Lithium, used for bipolar disorder
Some chemotherapy drugs

If you’re starting a new medication and notice a sudden change in taste, ask your doctor whether it’s a known side effect and how you can manage it.

5. You Have a Nutrient Deficiency

A deficiency in certain nutrients, like zinc, can distort your sense of taste.

Vitamin B12, which plays a vital role in nervous system function, can cause inflammation of the tongue (glossitis). It can lead to symptoms like changes in taste, painful burning, dryness, and even ulceration.

Always check with your doctor before starting a new supplement to make sure it’s safe for you and that you’re taking the correct dosage.

6. You Have an Autoimmune Disorder

An autoimmune disorder called Sjögren’s syndrome could be the source of change in taste. It can cause extensive dryness.
That includes drying out mucous membranes in the mouth, which affects taste buds, Dr. Del Signore says.

With reduced saliva flow, you may have a reduced sense of taste or a distorted taste. For example, everything tastes metallic.

Along with a change of taste, other symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome include dry eyes or a dry nose, dental decay, stomach upset, and joint or muscle pain.

If your doctor suspects Sjögren's, they will refer you to a rheumatologist for an evaluation.

7. You Have a Neurological Condition

“Any neurologic condition that affects the cranial nerves can affect taste,” Kaye says.

She gives the example of Bell’s palsy, which causes facial paralysis on one side of the face.
“Bell’s palsy can affect taste first before causing facial droop,” she says.

There are no specific tests to diagnose Bell’s palsy. A doctor usually makes a diagnosis based on your symptoms, but they might order some tests to rule out other conditions.

8. You Have COVID-19

Today, a doctor’s ears may perk up as soon as you tell them you suddenly lost your sense of smell or taste. That’s because this can be one of the first symptoms of COVID-19.

The coronavirus seems to take a special liking to olfactory nerves of the nose, Del Signore says. And there have been cases of taste issues without a change in smell in people who have COVID-19, says Kaye.

“Patients lose their sense of smell for three to seven days, but we do have a fair amount who lose it longer. When it does return, some notice distortions in their sense of smell and taste that persist,” Del Signore says.

Get tested for COVID-19 if you’re experiencing a loss of smell, taste, or both as well as other common COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, chills, cough, body aches, headache, a runny nose, vomiting, or diarrhea.

The Takeaway

A sudden change in how food tastes could be a sign of conditions related to smell, such as a cold, allergies, or COVID-19.
Autoimmune disorders or neurological conditions can also affect taste and might require specialized evaluation and management.
Always consult your doctor before starting new supplements or treatments to address taste changes, especially if medications or nutrient deficiencies are suspected.
If you experience a persistent change in taste, see a healthcare professional to explore possible underlying causes and start treatment, if necessary.

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