A fascinating and deeply researched investigation into the mysteries of flavor--from the first bite taken by our ancestors to scientific advances in taste and the current "foodie" revolution. Taste has long been considered the most basic of the five senses because its principal mission is a simple one: to discern food from everything else. Yet it's really the most complex and subtle. Taste is a whole-body experience, and breakthroughs in genetics and microbiology are casting light not just on the experience of french fries and foie gras, but the mysterious interplay of body and brain. With reporting from kitchens, supermarkets, farms, restaurants, huge food corporations, and science labs, "Tasty" tells the story of the still-emerging concept of flavor and how our sense of taste will evolve in the coming decades. "Tasty" explains the scientific research taking place on multiple fronts: how genes shape our tastes; how hidden taste perceptions weave their way into every organ and system in the body; how the mind assembles flavors from the five senses and signals from body's metabolic systems; the quest to understand why sweetness tastes "good" and its dangerous addictive properties; why something disgusts one person and delights another; and what today's obsessions with extreme tastes tell us about the brain. Brilliantly synthesizing science, ancient myth, philosophy, and literature, "Tasty" offers a delicious smorgasbord of where taste originated and where it's going--and why it changes by the day.

Product Description: Food and Everyday Life provides a qualitative, interpretive, and interdisciplinary examination of food and food practices and their meanings in the modern world. Edited by Thomas M. Conroy, the book offers a number of complementary approaches and topics around the parameters of the “ordinary, everyday” perspective on food...read more

Product Description: Although the food industry is beginning to make headway with its sustainability initiatives, substantially more progress is needed in order to feed the world’s growing population sustainably. The challenge is that the topic of sustainability can seem overwhelming and there is limited information that is specific to the food industry...read more

Product Description: Taste has long been considered the most basic of the five senses because its principal mission is a simple one: to discern food from everything else. Taste is a whole-body experience, and breakthroughs in genetics and microbiology are casting light not just on the experience of french fries and foie gras but the mysterious interplay of body and brain...read more

What did you have for breakfast? Did you ever stop to think about the people and steps involved with how your banana or cereal got on your plate? Nearly everyone is a part of the global food system, yet few people are aware of how it operates. Kimberly A. Weir starts by evaluating how we are connected with spice farmers, cocoa bean growers, soybean producers, tomato pickers, and tuna fishers not only gives insight into where we fit in the global food chain, but also offers a unique way to understand the aspects and concepts of the global political economy. The book begins by figuring out where readers fit in the global food chain, looking at what affects eating habits and choices, and situating these factors in a global context. From Jicama to Jackfruit provides that insight in abundance.

Product Description: Food processing technologies are an essential link in the food chain. These technologies are many and varied, changing in popularity with changing consumption patterns and product popularity. Newer process technologies are also being evolved to provide the added advantages...read more

Product Description: With global inequalities becoming more pronounced, ingredient costs climbing, and global warming a major political issue, food producers must now address environmental concerns, social responsibility and economic viability when designing their food processing techniques for the future...read more

Product Description: Transparency for Sustainability in the Food Chain lays out the key issues and challenges in food safety, food quality, chain integrity, the link with consumers, and the technological base of tracking and tracing systems. This succinct volume brings readers up to speed on the state of the art in these areas, and the research trends in specific domains...read more

Product Description: Food and food markets still enjoy a pivotal role in the world economy and the international food industry is moving towards greater consolidation and globalization, with increased vertical integration and changes to market structure...read more

Principles of Food Science incorporates science concepts into a lab-oriented foods class. This text shows how the laws of science are at work in foods prepared at home and by the food industry. Clear examples make difficult concepts easy to understand. Each chapter includes engaging features focusing on such areas as current research, technology, and nutrition news. Through lab experiments in the text and Lab Manual, students will practice scientific and sensory evaluation of foods. They will discover how nutrients and other food components illustrate basic chemistry concepts. They will examine the positive and negative impacts microorganisms have on the food supply. Students will also explore the variety of careers available to workers with a food science background.