Strawberry Milk Shake, Anyone?

Here’s a thought: What might happen if students in Chemistry 1100 analyzed and discussed the chemical composition of a Burger King strawberry milk shake. In what ways does this popular treat nurture the body?

“The federal Food and Drug Administration does not require companies to disclose the ingredients of their color or flavor additives so long as all the chemicals in them are considered by the agency to be GRAS (“generally recognized as safe”). This enables companies to maintain the secrecy of their formulas. It also hides the fact that flavor compounds often contain more ingredients than the foods to which they give taste. The phrase “artificial strawberry flavor” gives little hint of the chemical wizardry and manufacturing skill that can make a highly processed food taste like strawberries.

A typical artificial strawberry flavor, like the kind found in a Burger King strawberry milk shake, contains the following ingredients: amyl acetate, amyl butyrate, amyl valerate, anethol, anisyl formate, benzyl acetate, benzyl isobutyrate, butyric acid, cinnamyl isobutyrate, cinnamyl valerate, cognac essential oil, diacetyl, dipropyl ketone, ethyl acetate, ethyl amyl ketone, ethyl butyrate, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl heptylate, ethyl lactate, ethyl methylphenylglycidate, ethyl nitrate, ethyl propionate, ethyl valerate, heliotropin, hydroxyphenyl-2-butanone (10 percent solution in alcohol), a-ionone, isobutyl anthranilate, isobutyl butyrate, lemon essential oil, maltol, 4-methylacetophenone, methyl anthranilate, methyl benzoate, methyl cinnamate, methyl heptine carbonate, methyl naphthyl ketone, methyl salicylate, mint essential oil, neroli essential oil, nerolin, neryl isobutyrate, orris butter, phenethyl alcohol, rose, rum ether, g-undecalactone, vanillin, and solvent.”

from Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser

Check What Columbia College Is Up To

Background

     3D uses as its model Critical Encounters, the campus-wide, civic engagement initiative created by Columbia College. Critical Encounters was presented at an American Association of Colleges and Universities conference attended by Cheryl Johnson (HR) and Cynthia Johnson (Community Development) in fall 2007.
     The concept was presented to faculty, staff, administration, and student leaders as a way to address COD concerns: How can we create a unified college community? Where/how can we come together?

 

Primary premise

• Through 3D, the college can address controversial social topics in such a manner that creative thinking is encouraged and all constituencies are engaged.
• Right now is the perfect opportunity to start a discourse community.
• Through 3D, COD can interface with the community meaningfully and dynamically.
• Initial 3D launch committee: Cynthia Johnson, Community Specialist; Steve Gustis, Service Learning Coordinator; Linda Elaine, English Professor; Meryl Sussman, AVP Community Affairs & Economics; Chris Picard, VP Academic Affairs

www.colum.edu/criticalencounters