Smells like knowledge
Friedrich Schiller, a German poet, philosopher, physician, historian, and playwright, got inspiration to work via apples. Not by eating them, no. But by having a drawer full of rotten ones sitting at his desk. The stench inspired him to write, apparently.
...and Tesla, too
Edison never said that about salt.
That was J.C. Penny, who used to take jr. executives up for promotions to lunch and watch whether they seasoned their food before eating.
His belief was that they wouldn't be careful in company decisions if they acted impulsively at simple eating decisions.