FoodExpert-ID Chip

March 4, 2004 6:13 PM

"A single test can now reveal the presence of meat from any of 32 different species in food samples, enabling a wide range of important questions to be answered. These include whether chicken has been bulked up with beef or pork extracts; whether expensive albacore tuna is really cheap skipjack tuna; whether rats, mice or even bits of people fell into the mincer when your burger was being made..."
posted by taragl (14 comments total)

While the only meat I touch is fish, I was disturbed to learn via Fast Food Nation that mcdonald's pumps chicken mcnuggets full of beef fat to improve flavor. mmmm mmmm good.
posted by Slagman at 6:31 PM on March 4, 2004

whether expensive albacore tuna is really cheap skipjack tuna...

Surely, if this actually mattered, you would be able to taste the difference yourself?
posted by Jimbob at 6:32 PM on March 4, 2004

speaking of meat - FRONTLINE investigates the american meat industry tonight.
posted by specialk420 at 6:42 PM on March 4, 2004

Somewhere, deep underground, Upton Sinclair is smiling.
posted by staggernation at 6:48 PM on March 4, 2004

whether expensive albacore tuna is really cheap skipjack tuna...

Surely, if this actually mattered, you would be able to taste the difference yourself?
posted by Jimbob at 6:32 PM PST on March 4

Uh, it's the expensive v. cheap part that is the issue.
posted by Espoo2 at 6:49 PM on March 4, 2004

If your palate isn't discriminating enough to know the difference between albacore and skipjack, then wtf are you doing buying the expensive stuff anyway, trying to impress the neighbors?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:51 PM on March 4, 2004

Uh, it's the expensive v. cheap part that is the issue.

It's not an issue if they taste the same...I know the one I'd be buying.
posted by Jimbob at 6:56 PM on March 4, 2004

Schlumberger estimates the cost of all the equipment needed to perform the tests is around $250,000, but each test would cost only $350 to $550.

pretty expensive test.
posted by titboy at 7:46 PM on March 4, 2004

"Remember: Tuesday is Soylent Green day."
posted by snarfodox at 8:26 PM on March 4, 2004

[points to his crotch with both index fingers]

"I got your meat test right here!"*


* is crying inside
posted by Hildago at 10:19 PM on March 4, 2004

"The secret ingredient in the meat is meat?"
doublemeat palace, my asshat
posted by ethylene at 11:13 PM on March 4, 2004

Somewhere, deep underground, Upton Sinclair is smiling.

Nah. I figure when he died some meatpackers processed him out of revenge.
posted by orange swan at 6:27 AM on March 5, 2004

Uh, it's the expensive v. cheap part that is the issue.

It's not an issue if they taste the same...I know the one I'd be buying.

Sure, but how could you get a reliable taste test if they are
switching them around on you. Meat-swapping is unethical,
that should be enough.
posted by milovoo at 8:24 AM on March 5, 2004

rats, mice...

Who needs all these high-priced tests? Just look for the five tiny toes.
posted by soyjoy at 8:51 AM on March 5, 2004