It has been reported that restaurants may be taking on a revolution that could potentially change the way we dine. For the first time, consumers will actually know the exact origin (and perhaps more reassuringly, the exact species) of the food that ends up on their plates.
Scientists have suggested that the future will be based around this concept of ‘barcoding’, which will identify a product as easily as the self-checkout at your local Tesco. Samples of DNA will be taken from the plant or animal, which will provide a unique barcode of identification.
The consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) in Washington DC is the main driving force behind the idea. It has been reported that the CBOL wants to increase the number of barcodes to 500,000 by 2015, and last year the FDA approved the use of barcoding in the fishing industry in Canada.
If this was to become a reality, it would eliminate the number of fraudsters in the industry who try to pass off a 0.02% meat chipolata for a grade A 60% pork butchers sausage. That is if sufficient checks are made, and consequences are severe for those who don’t comply.
Somehow, the chipolata sellers always seem to find some way around the system, so it remains to be seen as to whether this will resolve any of the ‘origin issues’ in the industry, yet it’s still a concept to look out for.
Onto the really bizarre subject of placentas. A lot of women struggle with postpartum depression (PPD) and often resort to pharmaceuticals to help. Treatments are constantly being sought to provide an alternative to artificial medicines, with the aim to get as close to a ‘natural’ product as possible.
Mammals are known to eat the placenta after childbirth, and like most things in nature, it occurs for a reason. Whether you’re disgusted by it or not, we are mammals, and it is in fact full of beneficial nutrients and hormones that help the mother recover from childbirth, decreases stress and provides a number of vitamins. They are so nutritious, in fact, that they can now be taken in tablet form. Are you convinced?
Despite the health benefits resulting from chewing on a placenta, let’s face facts: who on Earth is really going to want to sit down and eat a placenta carpaccio to cheer themselves up? Well, my memory of the nutritional aspects to this culinary obscurity was triggered by a woman doing just that, on a Channel 4 documentary recently, and disgusted she was not.
Oh well, each to their own. And in 2012, I will keep an open mind. I WILL keep an open mind.
Rebecca is editorial assistant of FoodBev.com. You can contact her here, or read her blog here.
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