THE GROUND-BREAKING BOOK, "FAST FOOD INGREDIENTS REVEALED," BY MEL WEINSTEIN, HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AT AMAZON IN E-BOOK AND PAPERBACK VERSIONS. CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO GO TO THE AMAZON LISTING PAGE.
Amazon Book Description:
Mel Weinstein, based on his background in chemistry education, analytical chemistry, and food science, takes you on an exploration of the ingredients in menu items found in several iconic American fast-food restaurants. What he reveals will blow your mind: additives derived from insects, an artificial sweetener made with a chemical warfare agent, various additives listed as acronyms rather than real names, wood derivatives used in food, partially disclosed industrial additives, like modified starches, and biological agents as additives.
What's actually in the food you eat? The fast-food industry is huge, both in the U.S. and around the world. It’s continually growing with the addition of new restaurant chains and the expansion of current ones. A rarely asked question is: What comprises fast foods? Sure, we know what the basic components are, for example, a hamburger may have a bun, a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and sauce, but that list is woefully incomplete. We, as consumers, are ignorant of most of the ingredients in a typical fast-food meal. We are not aware of the presence of additives: preservatives, color agents, flavoring agents, texturizers, and pH adjusters, to name a few. We are not aware of all the industrial chemicals served up with that hamburger.
Why don’t we know about these unrevealed ingredients in fast foods? The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for defining the policies that food manufacturers must follow to market their products. Those policies are based on laws passed by Congress. However, currently there is no law requiring that fast food companies provide ingredient lists to consumers.
Of the hundreds of fast-food chains operating in the USA, only a handful voluntarily disclose the ingredients in their menu items. A few of these companies are the largest and best-known fast-food manufacturers, such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, and this information is posted at their websites. In evaluating the data from these and other restaurants, a revelation emerges. Fast foods are no different than their ultra-processed cousins sitting on the shelves of supermarkets across the country. These foods are laden with synthetic chemicals, many of which have questionable health resumes. The FDA allows the use of over 9,000 food additives and the list grows all the time, with new and novel ingredients being approved each year.
Fast Food Ingredients Revealed is a guide that pulls the curtain aside and reveals the industrial ingredients used by McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. A small subset of menu items for each restaurant is broken down into its individual ingredients. The additives are identified and described in a comprehensive glossary in the appendix. A more detailed glimpse at some of the more interesting and surprising additives is included in the text. A reader will get a very good introduction into the abundance of chemicals used in the fast-food industry. Furthermore, a unique scoring system, created by the author, grades each menu item to provide an assessment of the degree of industrialization of each food item examined. The score roughly reveals how far from “natural” the food item has evolved.
In the final sections of the book, the author summarizes recent research studies from various countries relating health issues associated with diets high in ultra-processed foods. Also, the author examines attempts by different countries to inform their citizens of the hazards of ultra-processed foods through front-of-packaging labeling systems, many of which, surprisingly, are way ahead of the USA.
Mel Weinstein, based on his background in chemistry education, analytical chemistry, and food science, takes you on an exploration of the ingredients in menu items found in several iconic American fast-food restaurants. What he reveals will blow your mind: additives derived from insects, an artificial sweetener made with a chemical warfare agent, various additives listed as acronyms rather than real names, wood derivatives used in food, partially disclosed industrial additives, like modified starches, and biological agents as additives.
What's actually in the food you eat? The fast-food industry is huge, both in the U.S. and around the world. It’s continually growing with the addition of new restaurant chains and the expansion of current ones. A rarely asked question is: What comprises fast foods? Sure, we know what the basic components are, for example, a hamburger may have a bun, a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and sauce, but that list is woefully incomplete. We, as consumers, are ignorant of most of the ingredients in a typical fast-food meal. We are not aware of the presence of additives: preservatives, color agents, flavoring agents, texturizers, and pH adjusters, to name a few. We are not aware of all the industrial chemicals served up with that hamburger.
Why don’t we know about these unrevealed ingredients in fast foods? The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for defining the policies that food manufacturers must follow to market their products. Those policies are based on laws passed by Congress. However, currently there is no law requiring that fast food companies provide ingredient lists to consumers.
Of the hundreds of fast-food chains operating in the USA, only a handful voluntarily disclose the ingredients in their menu items. A few of these companies are the largest and best-known fast-food manufacturers, such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, and this information is posted at their websites. In evaluating the data from these and other restaurants, a revelation emerges. Fast foods are no different than their ultra-processed cousins sitting on the shelves of supermarkets across the country. These foods are laden with synthetic chemicals, many of which have questionable health resumes. The FDA allows the use of over 9,000 food additives and the list grows all the time, with new and novel ingredients being approved each year.
Fast Food Ingredients Revealed is a guide that pulls the curtain aside and reveals the industrial ingredients used by McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. A small subset of menu items for each restaurant is broken down into its individual ingredients. The additives are identified and described in a comprehensive glossary in the appendix. A more detailed glimpse at some of the more interesting and surprising additives is included in the text. A reader will get a very good introduction into the abundance of chemicals used in the fast-food industry. Furthermore, a unique scoring system, created by the author, grades each menu item to provide an assessment of the degree of industrialization of each food item examined. The score roughly reveals how far from “natural” the food item has evolved.
In the final sections of the book, the author summarizes recent research studies from various countries relating health issues associated with diets high in ultra-processed foods. Also, the author examines attempts by different countries to inform their citizens of the hazards of ultra-processed foods through front-of-packaging labeling systems, many of which, surprisingly, are way ahead of the USA.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
PART 1: Introduction - From Addict to Fanatic
Chapter 1: The Formative Years
Chapter 2: Beginning to Look at Foods More Closely
Chapter 3: My Real Education Begins
Chapter 4: Investigating Ultra-Processed Foods
Chapter 5: Focusing on Fast Foods
Chapter 6: Why Read This Book?
Your Body, Your Health
Fast Food Keeps Growing
Chapter 7: What's in This Book?
Chapter 8: What's Not in This Book?
Chapter 9: The Nitty Gritty
Selection of Fast-Food Restaurants to Survey
How to Use This Guide?
What Are Processed Foods?
More About the Processed Food Index (PFI)
Evaluating Fast Food from McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell
Some Takes on Highly Processed Foods
Examining Ingredients in Specific Menu Items
Chapter 10: Key Takeaways in PART 1
PART II: Examining Fast Foods
Chapter 11: Ingredients in Selected McDonald's Menu Items
McDonald's Southwest Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Salad (500 Cals)
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese Bacon (620 Cals)
McDonald's Big Breakfast with Hotcakes (1340 Cals)
McDonald's McCafe Mango Pineapple Smoothies (250 Cals, Medium)
What About a Whole McDonald's Meal?
Chapter 12: Ingredients in Selected Pizza Hut Menu Items
Pizza Hut's Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad (830 Cals)
Pizza Hut's Tuscani Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta (990 Cals)
Pizza Hut's Meat Lover's Original Stuffed Crust Slice (430 Cals)
Pizza Hut's The Great Beyond Original Pan Pizza Slice 9390 Cals)
Pizza Hut's Cinnabon Stick (80 Cals)
What About a Whole Pizza Hut Meal?
Chapter 13: Ingredients in Selected Taco Bell Menu Items
Taco Bell's Power Menu Bowl - Steak (480 Cals)
Taco Bell's Quesarito - Steak (630 Cals)
Taco Bell's Grande Nachos - Steak (1080 Cals)
Wild Strawberry Freeze (190 Cals, 20 oz)
What About A Whole Taco Bell Meal?
Chapter 14: Key Takeaways in PART II
PART III: Health Studies & Scoring Systems
Chapter 15: Health Studies of Ultra-Processed Foods
Chapter 16: International Scoring Systems
Chapter 17: Key Takeaways in Part III
PART IV: And So, It ends
Chapter 18: Final Thoughts
Appendix A: Calculating the Processed Food Index (PFI)
Appendix B: Table of McDonald's Fast Food with Key Data
Appendix C: Table of Pizza Hut's Fast Food with Key Data
Appendix D: Table of Taco Bell's Fast Food with Key Data
Appendix E: Food Processing Terms & Definitions
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Index
Preface
PART 1: Introduction - From Addict to Fanatic
Chapter 1: The Formative Years
Chapter 2: Beginning to Look at Foods More Closely
Chapter 3: My Real Education Begins
Chapter 4: Investigating Ultra-Processed Foods
Chapter 5: Focusing on Fast Foods
Chapter 6: Why Read This Book?
Your Body, Your Health
Fast Food Keeps Growing
Chapter 7: What's in This Book?
Chapter 8: What's Not in This Book?
Chapter 9: The Nitty Gritty
Selection of Fast-Food Restaurants to Survey
How to Use This Guide?
What Are Processed Foods?
More About the Processed Food Index (PFI)
Evaluating Fast Food from McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell
Some Takes on Highly Processed Foods
Examining Ingredients in Specific Menu Items
Chapter 10: Key Takeaways in PART 1
PART II: Examining Fast Foods
Chapter 11: Ingredients in Selected McDonald's Menu Items
McDonald's Southwest Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Salad (500 Cals)
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese Bacon (620 Cals)
McDonald's Big Breakfast with Hotcakes (1340 Cals)
McDonald's McCafe Mango Pineapple Smoothies (250 Cals, Medium)
What About a Whole McDonald's Meal?
Chapter 12: Ingredients in Selected Pizza Hut Menu Items
Pizza Hut's Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad (830 Cals)
Pizza Hut's Tuscani Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta (990 Cals)
Pizza Hut's Meat Lover's Original Stuffed Crust Slice (430 Cals)
Pizza Hut's The Great Beyond Original Pan Pizza Slice 9390 Cals)
Pizza Hut's Cinnabon Stick (80 Cals)
What About a Whole Pizza Hut Meal?
Chapter 13: Ingredients in Selected Taco Bell Menu Items
Taco Bell's Power Menu Bowl - Steak (480 Cals)
Taco Bell's Quesarito - Steak (630 Cals)
Taco Bell's Grande Nachos - Steak (1080 Cals)
Wild Strawberry Freeze (190 Cals, 20 oz)
What About A Whole Taco Bell Meal?
Chapter 14: Key Takeaways in PART II
PART III: Health Studies & Scoring Systems
Chapter 15: Health Studies of Ultra-Processed Foods
Chapter 16: International Scoring Systems
Chapter 17: Key Takeaways in Part III
PART IV: And So, It ends
Chapter 18: Final Thoughts
Appendix A: Calculating the Processed Food Index (PFI)
Appendix B: Table of McDonald's Fast Food with Key Data
Appendix C: Table of Pizza Hut's Fast Food with Key Data
Appendix D: Table of Taco Bell's Fast Food with Key Data
Appendix E: Food Processing Terms & Definitions
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Index