Declan Cassidy from Meath has taken to putting chili peppers in his porridge - not because of a love for very spicy food, but because 8 months after contracting Covid-19 his sense of taste and smell have not returned.
Declan caught Covid back in March and one day while he was cooking a stew, he noticed it tasted bland no matter how much salt he added. Then when he was cleaning the bathroom he nearly passed out from the fumes of the cleaning products that he could no longer smell.
Now he has to rely on the texture of food to enjoy it, which means a lot of spice and will have a sandwich made with nutty bread, chocolate spread, chilis and sundried tomatoes.
Declan has started a Facebook group called Tasteless Cuisine which aims to connect others who haven't regained their sense of taste or smell post Covid or other viral infections. A week after starting it, it is coming up to 100 members.
You can hear the chat in full by pressing the play button on screen.
