this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2024
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Food Crimes - Offenses against nutrition

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When you order “authentic” Mexican food in Iowa (lemmy.today)
submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

"Authentic" Mexican food = Tex-Mex in many places. This looks like it.

For all the "cheese product" hate in here: it has its place in certain foods. My favorite response I've seen to calling it fake with "it isn't cheese" is "is meatloaf meat?" Same concept. Meatloaf isn't fake meat. It's a product made with meat. Just like cheese with emulsifiers added. I think we just have different levels of linguistic classification attachment to different foods. It may not be "a" cheese, but it's "cheese". You're not far off from going after almond/soy/oat milk.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Okay, that’s a reasonable argument. Although meatloaf doesn’t use any chemical additives, it’s traditionally just ground meat, breadcrumbs, and eggs, along with seasonings and spices. And just like the name implies, it doesn’t pretend to be meat, hence the addition of the word “loaf”, which is usually used for bread. It’s a meat product in the same way that American cheese is cheese product.

As for cheese alternatives made from plants, those are not allowed to be called cheese either. They are allowed to wear the names of the cheese varieties they aim to imitate, but it has to be accompanied by the word “style” and never by the word “cheese”, so you get things like “plant-based cheddar style slices” or “dairy-free mozzarella style shreds”.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Breadcrumbs, eggs, seasonings, and spices are all made of chemicals.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Also fair. I won't pretend I'm following USDA or whatever naming rules (the "uncured" labeling is bullshit - oh we didn't use straight potassium nitrate - just celery juice which contains the potassium nitrate), just going with the general language trend I see. YMMV

I did conflate cheese that has built in emulsifiers, "american cheese", with imitation cheese product (likely the plastic wrapped slices melted onto that dish) which also has emulsifiers and has lower fat content and isn't as nice. That's on me, my bad.

tongue-in-cheek, not really ragging it but: "oooooo chemicals" like salt? The potassium nitrate in cured/"uncured" meats? Sodium citrate, one of the most common additives to keep cheese emulsified, is often used in sausage making...and apparently blood banks if wikipedia is to be believed. I know there are horrible things put in processed foods, but "chemicals" is not a useful way to distinguish them. I apologize in advance if I've read a too-unfavorable slant into your use of the word chemical.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Fair enough, but in reality, it's not always sodium citrate, as the FDA permits a whole variety of other emulsifying agents to be used:

Monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, sodium metaphosphate (sodium hexametaphosphate), sodium acid pyrophosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, calcium citrate, sodium tartrate, and sodium potassium tartrate

I'm not a chemist so I can't tell you how good are bad those are for your long term health but as far Kraft Singles are concerned, the choice appears to be sodium phosphate, not citrate.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

The hell? You guys are right next to Wisconsin, you should be able to get some real cheese...

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago

I mean this looking pretty good tho

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

description from a similar looking resaraunt ' Pollo Fundido! 😋You’re missing out if you haven’t tried this ! Crispy flour tortilla with shredded chicken and jalapeño cream cheese sauce topped with American cheese and guacamole ! #mistresamigos #mexicanrestaurant #authentic #mexicanfood #pollofundido

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago (2 children)

This photo reminds me of all the shitty restaurants that put the cheese on top of an omelette instead of inside it. And some of them are even using american slices.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

American cheese is made from real Americans.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (4 children)

American slices are a food crime in and of themselves already. If it doesn’t even meet the legal definition for being called “cheese”, it has no business going around and pretending.

I’ll make an exception for vegan cheese alternatives if they’re made out of natural ingredients but this shit is literally plastic.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago (1 children)

this shit is literally plastic.

It's cheese with sodium citrate added so it melts easier. It's not literally plastic; this take is false, outdated, juvenile, and completely overblown and hyperbolic.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

I accept this as truth, but kraft singles definitely taste like plastic and I will refer to them accordingly.

Also no idea what the hell McDonald's uses but it's offensive on its own.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

https://youtu.be/EIU0hwaiAG8?si=lrJsPnuXDJpsgG4J

Check out this video of someone applying heat to a slice.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (3 children)

I do sympathize with the hate for Kraft slices, I wouldn’t argue it… but I kind of like them on a burger sometimes. I like the texture and the way it melts.

If I want cheese with a capital C the I’ll go with cheddar or pepper jack or whatever, but if I want gooey cheese product then kraft it is.

Don’t tell me that there isn’t any single trashy food product you enjoy as a guilty pleasure.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

McDonald's burgers aren't the same without the cheese, but tasting just the cheese on its own... It's FOUL. Calling it cheese is offensive. And yet, a hamburger just isn't as good.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

They're also great for grilled cheese and I personally use them in my omelettes that I make just about every morning

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I’m not judging you for enjoying Kraft slices, I’m judging Kraft slices for not being cheese.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

So they are a food crime, but am in the clear if I consume and enjoy them?

I suppose their existence is the crime and I am just an idiot.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

I mean, I'm not a doctor so I can't tell you if they're good for your health in the long run but if you enjoy eating them who am I to say no?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (3 children)

American cheese is cheese according to some links people posted. It is adequate for grilled cheese sandwiches.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

There is American cheese that is not Kraft singles that do meet the criteria to be considered cheese rather than a cheese product, and it's genuinely really good. Better than singles. Ask for it at a deli.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago (2 children)

No, legally it used to be called “pasteurized processed cheese product”, although apparently they have replaced “processed” with “prepared” nowadays, likely because it sounds slightly less artificial.

Either way, it definitely does not meet the legal standard to simply be called “cheese”.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

American cheese is cheese. I’m not gonna let the despots at the FDA dictate my perception of reality.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's called processed because they mix cheese and other dairy products like milk and they can also add whey protein. It's cheese that has additional processing.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Correct. The “additional processing” also includes the addition of sodium citrate to prevent those different milk fats from separating again in order to ensure a homogenous product.

Sodium citrate is not permitted as an ingredient in any other type of cheese except the “pasteurized processed” ones.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

I'd argue it's the best for grilled cheese sandwiches because it stays melted way longer. Other types of cheese I've tried get a weird texture when they cool off. I don't particularly like them anyway due to the macros being garbage and I'm certainly open to suggestions but this has been my experience.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This post is curiously short of details as to where such a feast is found in Iowa. I'll give you a hint: there is a lot of good Mexican food in Iowa. It is usually in hole-in-the wall restaurants that don't look like anything, and are owned by Mexican families. My guess is this food is from some sort of "family" restaurant. And the family is not Mexican or South American in ethnicity.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I am no online detective but I would guess this is from a restaurant called El Patron. There are a number of restaurants with that name in Iowa. As an example of one that claims to be “authentic”, checkout this place in Des Moines:

https://elpatroniowa.com/

My guess is that this place is owned by a Mexican family. I bet many other dishes they serve look more appetizing. Even with the crappy American cheese, this dish probably tastes better than it looks.

But what do I know? I am neither Mexican nor American. I have never eaten Mexican food in Iowa.

Edit: the logo matches this place in Waterloo. No website. Google reviews are pretty good. Not sure what expectations the residents of Waterloo have for their restaurants of course…

El Patron Family Mexican 301 East 4Th Street Waterloo, IA 50703 +1 319-287-8110

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hl=en-ca&sca_esv=1f8e5c078ce6d86e&sca_upv=1&cs=0&output=search&q=El%20Patron%20Family%20Mexican&ludocid=5769528799628627540&ibp=gwp%3B0%2C7&lsig=AB86z5XMW8UwLWGck0lRL9eiVrKz&kgs=2a02ee476b81f132&shndl=-1&shem=lrnolc%2Clsde%2Clsp%2Cssim&source=sh%2Fx%2Floc%2Fact%2Fm4%2F3

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

You have to remove the plastic wrapping first before microwaving those "objects".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

My "favorite" party here is just the random slice of tomato. Like... why? What is the person that is going to enjoy this culinary delight supposed to do with a slice of tomato?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

On top of that, it doesn’t even look particularly fresh

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Rest his eyes from all that nauseous yellow?

[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What the fuck

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

These words were just on my tongue.

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