Podcasts Culture Living Villa Cappelli 058: Real News, Fake Food

058: Real News, Fake Food

Published: Dec. 1, 2018, 5:40 p.m.

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In this podcast, we take a dive into the culinary world and explore where there is a lot of \\u201cfake food\\u201d out there. From doctored extra virgin olive oils and grated cheese\\xa0to wine and balsamic vinegar, we give you the real news on fake food.

Topics we cover:

\\u2022\\xa0 How we\\u2019ve had a few podcast fans visit this year, including Kendra and her new business:\\xa0 www.vida.wine

\\u2022\\xa0 How often we don\\u2019t realize the wool is being pulled over our eyes in regards to food. Here\\u2019s a list.\\xa0 Do you have others?\\xa0 Let us know in the comments.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Real News Fake Food\\u2022\\xa0 The corrupt world of extra virgin olive oil and the struggles we face with that. It is definitely a fake food most times.

\\u2022\\xa0 This book covers this topic extensively.\\xa0 Check it out: Extra Virginity

\\u2022\\xa0 How by Italian law that even if the olives come from a different country, as long as the oil is bottled in Italy it is allowed to be called \\u201cItalian Olive Oil\\u201d

\\u2022\\xa0 How producers from Tuscany come down to Puglia and buy Puglia olives, then bottle extra virgin olive oil in Tuscany and call it Tuscan olive oil

\\u2022\\xa0 How our extra virgin olive oil is really just freshly squeezed olives

\\u2022\\xa0 We\\u2019ve covered this subject a couple of times in past episodes.\\xa0 Check out:

\\u2014 Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Everything you always wanted to know and never knew to ask
\\u2014 How to tell if your extra virgin oil is really extra virgin
\\u2014 Why your Italian "food" may not be real food

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And click here to sign up for our email course explaining more on how to tell if your extra virgin olive oil is really extra virgin.

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Coffee

\\u2022\\xa0 Paul wonders why whole bean coffee costs less than ground coffeeReal News Fake Food 2

\\u2022\\xa0 Paul believes there must be other additives to make it cost less

\\u2022\\xa0 After doing a little research, I think there may be other reasons:\\xa0 Namely, inferior beans.\\xa0 Here\'s what one site had to say:

"Whole bean coffees come from better lots, because it\\u2019s impossible to hide negative qualities in a bag of whole bean coffee. Much of the\\xa0coffee\\u2019s aromas and flavors are released\\xa0when it\\u2019s ground. Therefore, customers who purchase whole bean coffee and grind it at home will notice the coffee\\u2019s nuanced qualities \\u2014 regardless of whether they are good or bad.

In comparison, coffee that\\u2019s pre-ground has already lost many of its aromatics and flavors by the time the customer purchases it. Thus, it\\u2019s not as important to use beans that are highly flavorful and aromatic when selling pre-ground coffee. Roasters that offer ground selections can get away with using lower-quality beans."

\\u2022\\xa0 Does anyone have any insight?\\xa0 Let us know in the comments!

\\u2022\\xa0 How Paul had a work colleague was bragging about how he makes coffee pods that have 75% pure coffee grounds in the pods

Parmesan Cheese\\xa0

Real News Fake Food 3\\u2022\\xa0 We did a whole podcast on this here:\\xa0Why your Italian "food" may not be real food

\\u2022\\xa0 How Parmesan actually is legally allowed to have cellulose (wood pulp) in every jar. Supposedly it is a safe anti-clumping additive when it is only 2-4% of a product. But FDA investigations found 8.8% in some! In some cases ,the cheese was\\xa0less than 40% of the product!

Wal-Mart has now be slapped with a lawsuit over selling a product labeled as 100% Grated Parmesan but had 7.8% wood pulp!

Truffle oil

\\u2022\\xa0 How Paul bought some fresh truffles a few years ago and we made truffle oilReal News Fake Food 4

\\u2022\\xa0 But then we discovered this can be very very dangerous, and only last 2-3 days

\\u2022\\xa0 This sight https://www.idratherbeachef.com/how-to-make-truffle-oil/\\xa0goes into it a bit more:

"When you make fresh truffle oil as demonstrated in this post, it has a VERY limited shelf life of two, maybe three days maximum. I suggest making it in small batches to ensure all the oil may be used quickly.

Fresh truffle oil has a limited shelf life due to the oil not being brought and held\\xa0212 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the temperature that kills botulism and other bacteria which thrive in an anaerobic environment. Learn more about\\xa0botulism from homemade canned, preserved or fermented foods.

The truffle oil isn\\u2019t brought to 212 degrees because the truffle would start to toast and produce strange flavors. We want truffle oil to embody the essence of the truffle itself, not taste like burnt mushrooms."

\\u2022\\xa0 In other words, the extra virgin olive oil you are using to make your truffle oil is only brought up so a low heat to infuse the oil.\\xa0 This low heat infuses the oil but it not hot enough to kill botulism.\\xa0 If it was brought up to that heat it would burn the truffles.

\\u2022 So unless a chef is making truffle oil as a special for a few nights meals, don\'t think any Truffle Oil has any real truffles in it.\\xa0 Making it a real fake food.

Wine

Real News Fake Food 5\\u2022\\xa0 You can find really cheap wines sometimes

\\u2022\\xa0 So when you see something labeled as "Red Wine" is there a rule that says it has to be made with grapes?

\\u2022\\xa0 Well, according to the legal definitely, wine\'s legal definition is according to https://definitions.uslegal.com/w/wine-trade/ is:

"Wine refers to any fermented alcoholic beverage and is generally made from grapes or other fruit. It is mainly used for nonindustrial use."

\\u2022\\xa0 Also, wines if they are below 11% alcohol content, you do no have to specify what is in the wine on the label.

Chili Peppers

\\u2022\\xa0 We talk a little about our chili crop this yearReal News Fake Food 15

\\u2022\\xa0 Paul talks about he believes they put red dye in chili flakes

\\u2022\\xa0 You also have no idea how long the chili flakes have been sitting in the bag

Balsamic Vinegar

\\u2022\\xa0 What real balsamic vinegar is all aboutReal News Fake Food 14

\\u2022\\xa0 How regular vinegars are made versus balsamic vinegars

\\u2022\\xa0 This is one of what our vendor explained about IGP for balsamic vinegars

\\u2022\\xa0 Why it\'s only made in Modena

There is 2 different types of IGP.

-\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Industrial IGP produce in Steel silos in maximum 2 month. And in This balsamic vinegar is a mix of vinegar, strong balsamic vinegar, caramel to thicken and colored the balsamic vinegar. And in this silos is put this mix for 2 month to Repose.\\xa0 In the bottom of this silos is \\u201ceasy found\\u201d wood sawdust, to give the effect of the olded balsamic vinegar and the taste of wood. See the steel silos \\xa0in the pic(this is industrial) Is to easy and quick to obtain the product but is not the original. Is easy to found in all store and supermarket. Especially abroad

-\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Artigianal IGP (MY BALSAMIC VINEGAR) \\xa0produce, respect the product specification, and the old process of production. Is put in different \\xa0wooden barrel \\xa0of different wood (oak, chestnut, mulberry, juniper, cherry, locust, ash).

This is the barrel use also for DOP (after I explain the DOP ), but there isn\\u2019t a battery set (you chose of two different type of barrel) and put the vinegar, with cooked must,\\xa0 to grow old in this barrel, for minimum 5/6 years. And my grandfather \\xa0They taught \\xa0to me, \\u201cIs impossible buy the time\\u201d. You see the picture with wood barrel.

-\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The DOP is the best of Balsamic vinegar. The product specification, is very strong like Artigianal IGP. You have a wooden barrel, composed to minimum 5 bottle( Example my battery barrel is composed to 5 bottle, you see in 3 pic.) and is possible arrive to the maximum with 12 barrel.\\xa0 Is possible compose your battery with this wood(oak, chestnut, mulberry, juniper, cherry, locust, ash). There is long process to obtain the certification of your wooden Battery, by competent persons and public authority,. And you obtain the first Balsamic vinegar, in 2 step . Step 1 is 12 year old, \\xa0is called \\u201cAffinato\\u201d you take a maximum 10 % to the \\xa0bottle (the little one) which composed your Wooden battery, and after you bring this balsamic vinegar in a special place\\xa0 (Consortium Balsamic Vinegar D.O.P.) when the people check it (see in database when you are register your wooden battery). And in this place The competent person \\xa0put \\xa0your balsamic vinegar, in \\xa0the \\u201cGiuggiaro bottle\\u201d. Step 2 is 25 year old, is called \\u201cextravecchio\\u201d \\u201cextraold\\u201d the process is the same of the 12 year old balsamic vinegar, but you attend 25 years to take it. \\xa0

Vitamins

Real News Fake Food 6\\u2022\\xa0 If you don\'t know, most vitamins are filled with fillers, like silica (sand)

\\u2022\\xa0 Check the inactive ingredients on any vitamins and you will see they filled with tons of things that are not vitamins

\\u2022\\xa0 And for their Vitamin D, they use our extra virgin olive oil as a carrier inside the vitamin

\\u2022\\xa0 You can check out Pure Vitamin Club here.

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Skim Milk

\\u2022\\xa0 We argue a bit about is if really fake or not for consideration in this episodeReal News Fake Food 7

\\u2022\\xa0 To Paul\'s point, they have taken all the good stuff out and now it\'s really just colored water

\\u2022\\xa0 How we only buy whole milk here at the villa

\\u2022\\xa0 The podcast Steven mentioned: Food: A Cultural Culinary History Podcast

\\u2022\\xa0 Also, how white bread is so over processed that it losses all it\'s vitamins, so they have to add the vitamins back in.\\xa0 But how if they just didn\'t over process it, they would have all those vitamins to begin with.

Ham & Turkey

Real News Fake Food 8\\u2022\\xa0 How most of the ham and turkey you use to make cold cuts is all the remnants of the original animals "glued" back together

\\u2022\\xa0 That\'s also called a pressed ham

\\u2022\\xa0 The different between prosciutto and and prosciutto crudo

Baby Carrots

\\u2022\\xa0 How these are just deformed carrots that are cut down and treated to make baby carrotsReal News Fake Food 9

\\u2022\\xa0 About the guy who invented them, and his other products Bunny Balls

\\u2022\\xa0 Paul argues that they are "fake" because they lead you to believe they are grown to be small

Real News Fake Food 13\\u2022\\xa0 The multicolored carrots we get here in Puglia

\\u2022\\xa0 Why carrots are mostly orange

\\u2022\\xa0 And why the Irish hate the color orange on St. Patrick\'s Day

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Juice

\\u2022\\xa0 How you really have to check the labels, especially if doesn\'t say 100% of whatever fruit you are buying.Real News Fake Food 10

\\u2022\\xa0 Most might say 100% juice, but it\'s a mix of all kinds of different juices, not just the "orange juice" you think you are buying

Real News Fake Food 11Tea Bags

\\u2022\\xa0 Paul has seen a lot in the news lately about all the bad thing being found in tea bags.

Scallops

\\u2022\\xa0 Most scallops are not real scallops, but pressed together fishReal News Fake Food 12

This is the shellac picture I was talking about.

\\u2022\\xa0 How I used to add wax to chocolate when making peanut butter balls with my mother.\\xa0 I assumed it was to skip the tempering process.\\xa0 Does anyone know?\\xa0 Let us know in the comments.

\\u2022\\xa0 Why eggs are sold non-refrigerated in Italy but sold refrigerated in the states.

To sum up our Real New, Fake Food podcast.\\xa0 Look for real food from the fresh food aisle, not processed food. And be sure to read your labels.

What do you think?\\xa0 Did we miss a fake food?\\xa0 Let us know in the comments!

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