Myth about good tasting Food : Flavor Enhancers

[Peter B. Wolf]

Please everyone read an article in "The Atlantic Monthly": "Why McDonald's Fries taste so good", ?, the question mark is mine, Do they? The article can be pulled up on the web www.theatlantic.com/flavor

[Jason Perlow]

As a footnote:

Every chemical formula for the flavors at IFF are stored on a huge, multiprocessor SQL server. At the time it was built, it was one of the most powerful, and largest SQL server databases in the world. Among the chemical formulas stored on it are the exact formulation of Pepsi, many of the Snapples, Life Savers, etc. There are literally MILLIONS of formulas stored on this unit. The only SQL computer that rivals it now is the TerraServer.com computer that stores images of satellite photos.

Back in 1993 I was actually responsible for some of the original implementation work to build this computer, although at the time it ran on Microsoft's fledgeling OS/2 (before there was a Windows NT). It was the first multiprocessor database server purchased in the US to use the Intel Pentium, a huge NCR unit with six pentium 60-Mhz processors in it.

I'm not sure what the computer they use for it now is, as I am sure they upgraded it since, but I think they are still one of Microsoft's most important testimonial customers.

[John Tracey]

I think the point of the piece is more about the fact that so much of the "flavor" in our (processed) food products comes from chemical warehouses than about how good the fries really are. In fact, the book that article was taken from arrived at my house today -- and the chapter The Atlantic excerpted is called "Why the Fries Taste Good" in the book.

Guess someone at The Atlantic =really= likes McDonald's fries.

[Peter B. Wolf]

John Tracy: I agree with you, the emphasis in the article lies with the fact of how much flavor comes from these chemical factories.
But, my alert and focus to the reason of these additives is, the horrible growing and production of our natural resources without any flavors. Everything has been altered over the years to look good and uniform, thereby loosing out on the natural original makeup of the products. Consumers don't want Macs or Grannie that are not uniform in size, shape and color.
Industrial acriculture has shaped nature into tastless uniform entities, producing tasteless food stuff that needs to be filled with flavor enhancers as additives.

[John Tracey]

I agree totally. You should read the book ("Fast Food Nation"). I'm working my way through it and it's very upsetting. It's very depressing, I wasn't aware until recently just how widespread this is -- EVERYTHING is processed. The meat supply is disgusting, milk is pumped with hormones, etc. Seems hard to feed ourselves naturally. Especially hard to break life-long habits, too -- trying to teach yourself to stop drinking cola, etc.