San Diego cabbies cry foul over body odor test

[haele]

48. Problem is, it can also be diet.

I've been around people who have not-so-western diets and find they have a different natural body odor, even if they shower regularly, wear deodorant, and regularly change out their clothes during the day.
Certain foods, especially fruits and vegetables, leave a person with a sharper body odor. Not necessarily "stronger", but distinctly different than the average American. And if one does not wear clothes that breath (like polyester or nylon), that odor does get stronger no matter what one does or uses to kill the odor.
The Vietnam era river-rats I trained with back in the late 1970's told me that's how "Charlie" knew an American was hiding within ten feet or so - the smell of the average GI. If they were going in-country, the smart ones knew they had scrap the C-rats and to spend at least a week eating locally before they felt safe being still.
A shipmate who was a vegan carried a distinct smell that would get stronger as the day went on. Suspect a mix of strong greens (she liked Kale, Collards, and Mustard Greens) and garlic had a lot to do with it. She actually had to stop wearing polyester altogether, which was problematic during inspections back then because the "dress uniforms" were flammably polyester twill.
Smart vegans don't wear polyester if they need to sneak up on anyone.

Similarly I've found through experience that actually eating the parsley garnish that comes with most meals knocks down body (and mouth odor) after the meal. (I'll admit I can get pretty stenchy after a long period of time out and about, even wearing deodorant; my family has a history of strong body odor.)

So, If someone does want to discriminate against certain cultures, the lingering smell the food that is normally eaten by that culture can be an easy target.
And cab drivers are an easy target as they can't help but start to ripen sitting in their cars for hours - particularly since most are wearing cotton-poly work clothes that come from those "school and work uniform" stores for low income families around town. They just don't have the time or wherewithal to take a half-hour or so off every three/four hours to shower, re-apply deodorant, and change clothes if they want to make enough in fare to be able to make a few dollars wages after costs. Their diet only makes it "stronger".

Haele