Omnivore's Dilemma- Chapter 5
1: Pg. 86- Explain how a kernel of corn will be broken down into it’s various parts.
The corn is subdivided and its yellow skin will be processed into various vitamins and nutritional supplements; the tiny germs will be crushed for its oil. The endosperm will be plundered for its rich cache of complex carbohydrates.
2: Pg. 86- What are some of the names of compounds that are in products that are made from corn?
Citric and lactic acid, glucose, fructose, and maltodextrin; ethanol, sorbitol, mannitol, and xanthan gum; modified and unmodified starches; as well as dextrine and cyclodextrins and MSG.
3: Pg. 88- “it takes about 5 gallons to process a bushel of corn, and prodigious amounts of energy. Wet milling is an energy-intensive way to make food; for every calorie of processed food it produces, another 10 calories of fossil fuel energy are burned. “
4: Pg. 89- What did the discovery of glucose isomerase do for the industry?
Refining corn into fructose and high-fructose corn syrup, is it the most valuable food product refined from corn today.
5: Pg. 90- What does it mean when we say that we are “liberating food from nature?”
People began processing food to keep nature from taking it back.
6: Pg. 91- Corn is the key constituent of what four processed foods? Is this surprising?
Corn is the key constituent of Cheez Whiz, Cool Whip, margarine and Tang. No it is not surprising to me.
7: Pg. 93- How much does it take to make a box of cereal? How much is it sold for?
It takes four cents but is sold for four dollars.
8: Pg. 94- What is the average growth rate of Americans? What does it mean by “fixed stomach” and how does this relate to profits?
The average growth rate is 1% per year. "Fixed stomach" is economists speak of "inelastic demand". In other words, it means that people are eating processed foods but not naturally grown foods. Processed foods are cheaper but sold for a higher price and natural food is expensive.
9: Pg. 94- How many pounds of food does the average American eat per year?
Fifteen hundred pounds per year.
10: Pg. 94- “There’s money to be made in food, unless you’re trying to grow it”- explain this statement.
It means that it cost more money to grow food than to process it.
11: Pg. 97- Explain what the author means by, “getting more fruits and vegetables into food.”
The author means that we think that we are being healthy because the label says that it contains all one fruit or some fruits but it really doesn't. We need to put naturally grown fruit in it.
12: Pg. 98- Does “natural raspberry flavor” mean that the flavoring is actually raspberry or even natural? Explain.
The natural raspberry flavor is just artificial flavors that are trying to make the taste of natural raspberry.
13: Pg. 98- What is resistant starch and how does it get around the biological limit on how much you eat in a year?
Resistant starch is an ingredient that doesn't account for any calories of glucose. Since there are "no calories" in the starch, it isn't counted in the limit of calories a person should eat in a year.
The corn is subdivided and its yellow skin will be processed into various vitamins and nutritional supplements; the tiny germs will be crushed for its oil. The endosperm will be plundered for its rich cache of complex carbohydrates.
2: Pg. 86- What are some of the names of compounds that are in products that are made from corn?
Citric and lactic acid, glucose, fructose, and maltodextrin; ethanol, sorbitol, mannitol, and xanthan gum; modified and unmodified starches; as well as dextrine and cyclodextrins and MSG.
3: Pg. 88- “it takes about 5 gallons to process a bushel of corn, and prodigious amounts of energy. Wet milling is an energy-intensive way to make food; for every calorie of processed food it produces, another 10 calories of fossil fuel energy are burned. “
4: Pg. 89- What did the discovery of glucose isomerase do for the industry?
Refining corn into fructose and high-fructose corn syrup, is it the most valuable food product refined from corn today.
5: Pg. 90- What does it mean when we say that we are “liberating food from nature?”
People began processing food to keep nature from taking it back.
6: Pg. 91- Corn is the key constituent of what four processed foods? Is this surprising?
Corn is the key constituent of Cheez Whiz, Cool Whip, margarine and Tang. No it is not surprising to me.
7: Pg. 93- How much does it take to make a box of cereal? How much is it sold for?
It takes four cents but is sold for four dollars.
8: Pg. 94- What is the average growth rate of Americans? What does it mean by “fixed stomach” and how does this relate to profits?
The average growth rate is 1% per year. "Fixed stomach" is economists speak of "inelastic demand". In other words, it means that people are eating processed foods but not naturally grown foods. Processed foods are cheaper but sold for a higher price and natural food is expensive.
9: Pg. 94- How many pounds of food does the average American eat per year?
Fifteen hundred pounds per year.
10: Pg. 94- “There’s money to be made in food, unless you’re trying to grow it”- explain this statement.
It means that it cost more money to grow food than to process it.
11: Pg. 97- Explain what the author means by, “getting more fruits and vegetables into food.”
The author means that we think that we are being healthy because the label says that it contains all one fruit or some fruits but it really doesn't. We need to put naturally grown fruit in it.
12: Pg. 98- Does “natural raspberry flavor” mean that the flavoring is actually raspberry or even natural? Explain.
The natural raspberry flavor is just artificial flavors that are trying to make the taste of natural raspberry.
13: Pg. 98- What is resistant starch and how does it get around the biological limit on how much you eat in a year?
Resistant starch is an ingredient that doesn't account for any calories of glucose. Since there are "no calories" in the starch, it isn't counted in the limit of calories a person should eat in a year.