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Le Whif, an inhaler (吸入剂) that allows chocolate lovers to meet their needs whenever they please without putting on weight, is to be on market in British stores. The invention, called the world’s first breatheable food, lets consumers suck in the taste of chocolate or coffee while taking on less than one calorie. Its makers claim it will enable dieters to enjoy their favorite snacks without worrying about their waistline. 

The lip-stick-style tube contains hundreds of milligrams of tiny food particles (粒子) which are small enough to be carried by air, but too large to enter the lungs. Each Le Whif contains enough flavor for about eight to ten whiffs (一阵气味) and costs $1.99 on its own, or $4.99 for a pack of three. The inhaler is available in chocolate as well as coffee flavor.

It was invented by Prof. David Edwards. He said Le Whif was not designed to replace food but could be used to increase dining experiences, such as allowing people to try a variety of dishes from restaurant menus before ordering their meal. 

He said, “In terms of living on whiffing, we aren’t even close to being there. But there clearly has been a revolution over the last few years where we are eating smaller amounts of food more frequently, and choosing food for its aesthetic (审美的) pleasure. We will be launching new whiffing experiences probably every six months. It is reasonable to predict that the next line of whiffing products will be even more health centered.”

The product came onto market in Paris in 2009 and the first production run of 25,000 inhalers were sold out within a month. It has since been made available across France and in the US. In Britain Le Whif is to be sold firstly in House of Fraser for a month, after which it could become more widely distributed.