wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

My first thought upon noticing the maple syrup smell was, "fenugreek!" Taken in capsules, it's used to increase milk supply in breastfeeding women. When I used it briefly following an illness that diminished my supply, I was warned that it would make me smell like an IHOP. It did! In addition to its use as a spice in Indian food, it's apparently a key ingredient in fake maple syrup.

Drive west on Route 80 any given night and when you get to the Hackensack exits you get the serious caramel odor, like candy is being funneled through the sun roof. This particular flavor factory is right on the highway, by ABC Carpet. It is more caramel than maple when you're that close.

I just caught the tail end of the several short mentions of segments on Fenugreek. I may have missed part of these segments, but I did not hear any mention of Fenugreek's most important and well known use. Fenugreek is a well known gactagogue. That means it is a substance that increases the milk supply when women are breastfeeding. I'm surprised that the foodies and perfume specialists are unaware of what many breastfeeding mothers already known.

I've just posted about the lovely smell of fenugreek wafting over New York City on my professional listserve of lactation consultants. They will all be amused.

Sincerely,

Susan E. Burger, MHS, PhD, IBCLC, RLC
VP, New York Lactation Consultant Association

but is this factory new??
still not buying it!

I remember back in the 70s (or was it the 80s?), a smell that often wafted over Manhattan that was a lot like stinky cheese. I remember it mentioned in the media, but did anyone ever figure out that one?