Name: This is what You Just Put in Your Mouth
ISBN: 9780804139885

Patrick Di Justo

Based on a popular "Wired" magazine column, investigates what ingredients are found in commonly consumed and used products, including Hot Pockets, Listerine, Orbit gum, Slim Jims, Hostess fruit pies, flu shots, and gasoline.

From Egg Nog to Beef Jerky, the Surprising Secrets of What's Inside Everyday Products

This is what You Just Put in Your Mouth

Tanya Sutton

Depending on how you look at it, This Is What You Just Put in Your Mouth?: From Eggnog to Beef Jerky, the Surprising Secrets is either a handy tool for consumers who want to understand where their food and assorted household goods come from...or a nightmare for people who see danger with every six-syllable word.

Di Justo, who wrote the "What's Inside?" article series for Wired magazine that inspired this book, delves into the ingredient lists of your favorite foods - hot pockets, coffee, A1 Steak Sauce...even dog food - and explains what each ingredient is, where it comes from, and what it does. Each item is also accompanied by a "backstory" that details what inspired him to examine that particular food, who he contacted for information, and the sometimes questionable experiments he participated in, all in the name of science.

The book had the potential to become tedious (as it did for the last half-dozen or so chapters that covered items like golf balls and diaper cream), but Di Justo's humor kept the book lighthearted and amusing. The occasional horrified reaction from his wife over his research made me chuckle, as did the rebuffs he received from the PR departments he contacted for information.

I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, bathroom reader-type book who enjoys science and food. If you have a weak stomach, however, steer clear.

This is what You Just Put in Your Mouth From Egg Nog to Beef Jerky, the Surprising Secrets of What's Inside Everyday Products

Reviews

Highlights