Why the Chicken Became a Nugget and Other Tales of Processed Food

Have you ever wondered how chicken nuggets are made? Or what propylene glycol monostearate, monocalcium phosphate, or other listed ingredients are doing in your favorite packaged snacks? Distillations hosts Michal Meyer and Robert Kenworthy certainly did, and they went to the corner deli to inspect some processed food themselves. They also spoke with experts Bryant Simon, a historian, and David Schleifer, a sociologist, about how trans fats and chicken nuggets arrived on the food scene as the healthier options, but have since turned into villains. Both Simon and Schleifer suggest that when it comes to deciding what we eat, we might have less choice than we think. Class, geography, and convenience (for both food makers and food eaters) all play a role. SHOW CLOCK: 00:03 Introduction 00:36 Michal Meyer tries her first Tastykake 03:39 Interview with Bryant Simon and David Schleifer LINKS TO CONTENT: "Afternoon Snack" - A video starring Michal Meyer and Bob Kenworthy.  CREDITS: Hosts: Michal Meyer and Robert Kenworthy Guests: David Schleifer and Bryant Simon Producer & Editor: Mariel Carr MUSIC: “Run Up”- Moby, mobygratis “Stabbings”- Moby, mobygratis “Christmas All Alone”- Candlegravity, Free Music Archive “Elsewhere”- Phonotrash, Free Music Archive “Tragic”- Semyon, Free Music Archive “Dragon’s Lair”- Thiaz Itch, Free Music Archive “The Spirit”- Waylon Thornton, Free Music Archive “Heroines”- Diablo Swing Orchestra, Free Music Archive   Check out Distillations magazine at distillations.org, where you'll find articles, videos, and our podcast.