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Sorting the Beef from the Bull
Sorting the Beef from the Bull: The Science of Food Fraud Forensics | Richard Evershed, Nicola Temple
3 posts | 1 read | 2 to read
Horse meat in our burgers, melamine in our infant formula, artificial colors in our fish and fruit--as our urban lifestyle takes us farther away from our food sources, there are increasing opportunities for dishonesty, duplicity, and profit-making shortcuts. Food adulteration, motivated by money, is an issue that has spanned the globe throughout human history. Whether it's a matter of making a good quality oil stretch a bit further by adding a little extra "something" or labeling a food falsely to appeal to current consumer trends--it's all food fraud. Consumers may pay the ultimate costs for these crimes, with their health and, in some cases, their lives. So how do we sort the beef from the bull (or horse, as the case may be)? Illustrious analytical chemist Richard Evershed and science writer Nicola Temple explain the scientific tools and techniques that have revealed the century's biggest food fraud scams. They explore the arms race between scientists and adulterators as better techniques for detection spur more creative and sophisticated means of adulteration, and review the up-and-coming techniques and devices that will help the industry and consumers fight food fraud in the future. Engagingly written, SORTING THE BEEF FROM THE BULL lifts the lid on the forensics involved, and brings to light the full story of a fascinating and underreported world of applied science.
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shanaqui
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Very interesting! And yes, right now I feel like being more responsible, buying whole spices, buying in-season fruit and veg, using a butcher instead of a supermarket... because y i k e s.

Like, you can make fake eggs. Fake grapes. Disguise pork as mutton. You don't wanna know what goes into your spices.

Pretty eye-opening!

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shanaqui
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Running a #TBRbingo challenge on Habitica again, so I thought I'd join in. This is going to be my first title for it!

I've only managed to read a bit more today, but I'm onto the part about fish. Don't bother trying to get red snapper in the US... 80% of tested red snapper turns out to be another fish!

sheshedbooks What is [KiR Challenge]? 5y
shanaqui @greenreads I'm taking part in a reading challenge called "Keeping It Real"; each month a Dewey decimal category is chosen and You have to go read a book from that category 5y
shanaqui Argh, submitted comment before I was done -- I haven't picked this month's book yet but I wanted it on my bingo card, so it's a placeholder. 5y
sheshedbooks That's an interesting challenge. Thanks! 5y
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shanaqui

Did you know that the best way to test olive oil for purity and grade is... human taste testers? No chemical test is as sensitive.

I suspect I'm going to end this book not wanting to put anything in my mouth. Onward!