Twinkie, Deconstructed ─ My Journey to Discover How the Ingredients Found in Processed Foods Are Grown, Mined Yes, Mined. and Manipulated into What into What America Eats

A pop-science journey into the surprising ingredients found in most common packaged foods

Like most Americans, Steve Ettlinger eats processed foods. And, like most consumers, he didnA't have a clue as to what most of the ingredients on the labels mean. So when his young daughter asked, A"Daddy, whatA's polysorbate 60?A" he was at a lossA-and determined to find out.

From the phosphate mines in Idaho to the oil fields in China, Twinkie, Deconstructed demystifies some of the most common processed food ingredientsA- where they come from, how they are made, how they are usedA-and why. Beginning at the source (hint: theyA're often more closely linked to rock and petroleum than any of the four food groups), we follow each Twinkie ingredient through the process of being crushed, baked, fermented, refined, and/or reacted into a totally unrecognizable goo or powderA-all for the sake of creating a simple snack cake.

An insightful exploration of the modern food industry, if youA've ever wondered what youA're eating when you consume foods containing mono- and diglycerides or calcium sulfate (the latter a food-grade equivalent of plaster of paris), this book is for you.

Steve Ettlinger, author of six books, has long been fascinated with everyday consumer products, from hardware to beer.