The Center for Genomic Gastronomy is in the process of creating a new book, called “Food Phreaking”, and we need YOUR HELP in deciding what kinds of activities to include!
Our book will be a map and a list of historical or contemporary food phreaking activities. As well as some dubious corporate and criminal food-hacking activities.
We need your suggestions / feedback! Help us figure out what the heck “FoodPhreaking” is. And of course you will get a thank you and a shout in the back of the book.
Ideally we would like a short (1 or 2 tweet lengths) description and a URL if you have one.
Below is an initial map design (it will change!) and an initial brainstorm of activities.
Q: Where should I leave my suggestions?
A: You can tweet them to us (@centgg), put them on Zack or Cat’s facebook page, or email them to info@genomicgastronomy.com
Q: What is Food Phreaking?
A: Food Phreaking is a term coined to describe the activity of people who study, experiment with, or explore food systems. (See: wikipedia/Phreaking for some inspiration from the world of tech.)
Q: How many activities are you planning on including in the book?
A: Ideally 5 – 8 from each quadrant.
Q: What is the format of the book?
A: On one page will be a short description of the activity (1 – 2 tweet lengths). On the other page will be a creative commons image done up all fancy. We will hopefully print in 2- color with a funky ink. We will sandwhich all those pages in a cover with a map.
ILLEGAL + OPEN
RAW MILK CLUBS
Raw milk is illegal in some states of the U.S., and in Canada, Australia and Scotland. However, there are many advocates of raw milk who drink it illegally.
UNDERGROUND SUPPER CLUBS
Becoming increasingly more popular and visible in recent years, their legal status is in a grey area in many countries.
SELLING HOMEMADE FOODS WITHOUT PERMISSION
Technically illegal, many turn a blind eye to cottage industries where people sell foods made at home.
LEGAL + CLOSED
DEATH BY ENERGY DRINK
According to reports by the US FDA, 5 people may have died from 2009 – 2012 after drinking Monster Energy, a popular high-caffeine energy drink. (source).
PINK SLIME
It’s used in many processed meat products, but not manypeople know it’s exact contents.
FEEDING ANIMALS IN THE EU WITH GM PRODUCTS
Although it is illegal to serve GM foods to humans, it is perfectly fine to feed it to European pigs, chickens and cattle.
LEGAL + OPEN
HYPER MELON
Hypermelon is melon that has been vacuum infused with an energy drink, helping to mask the semimedicinal flavor of the energy drink, making consumption of those beverages even more dangerous. (source)
RECIPES
Recipes can’t have a copy- right or a patent.
GLOWING SUSHI COOKING SHOW
Eating GloFishTM is not illegal, although breeding them is because they are a patented animal.
VEGAN ORTOLAN
No animals are killed for this dish.
ILLEGAL + CLOSED
FAKE CELLOPHANE NOODLES
One company was caught using corn startch instead of mung beans and lead was added to make the noodles transparent. (source)
“DESIGNER” METHANOL
Homebrew liquor repackaged in designer bottles recently left 19 people dead in the Czech Republic.
ORTOLAN
This French dish which involves eating a small bird whole is now illegal to sell in the EU. But is sometimes served on the sly.
FOOD CORPORATE ESPIONAGE
Is it legal to reverse engineer closely guarded recipes such as Coca Cola or KFC chicken?
PREPARED CHEESE PRODUCT
In 2002, the U.S. FDA issued a Warning Letter to Kraft that Velveeta was being sold with packaging that inaccurately described it as a “Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread.” Instead of complying with the label’s requirements Kraft rechristened Velveeta “Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product,” a term for which the FDA does not maintain a standard of identity. (source)