Alton Fans: How about some metal for breakfast?
So--okay--my OH was telling me that Alton Brown just did a bit on FN where he used a magnet next to a "nutrition" cereal (ie - vector) and little metal flecks stuck to the magnet!? Like; they are part of the cereals formula?
I looked it up and I can't seem to find it???
He scared me: and assured me that Mr. Brown said this was safe. Now, I trust Alton...not sure I trust my OH on this.
But I DO trust seriousEaters...so:
Can anyone substantiate this and provide info/link or something?
I'm really curious.
TIA - hungrychristel :D
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12 Comments:
i googled it & came up with this link:
http://www.kidbaltimore.com/stay_at_home_days/
you gotta scroll midway down for it.
it doesn't mention alton specifically, but it's the same magnet pulls iron out of cereal 'how-to' total vs. lucky charms.
maybe that's what folger's mysterious crystals of yore were? ha ha ha.
gastronomeg at 12:01PM on 06/24/09
Yeah, I saw the episode, but I have no idea what the topic was. He was explaining how much iron there was in cereal.
dbcurrie at 12:23PM on 06/24/09
I'm not surprised by this... Iron is best absorbed from natural sources but its added to lots of things to "enrich" them. And there are no qualms about using something thats not as absorb-able. I found this (wikipedia, not the greatest source....but usable for now)
engmcmuffin at 12:38PM on 06/24/09
I dunno, but I loved the Dune reference in his last show on making punch: "He who controls the spice controls the universe!"
*sigh*
I heart Alton Brown.
buffy at 1:30PM on 06/24/09
I read in a history book on cereal once that they came up with "IRON FORTIFIED" and the like because of the shavings from the grinding machinery that ends up in the cereal is unavoidable. By duping people in to thinking that add it for their benefit they can just act like it's there on purpose.
GretchinF at 1:30PM on 06/24/09
I love Dune references. It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
JerzeeTomato at 2:44PM on 06/24/09
it could be the iron fortification used in the cereal. the vitamin and mineral fortification is a dry material mixed onto the cereal, not necessarily into the flakes before extruding and cooking. It could also be from milling. Your fours and ground spices may also contain metal filings from the grinding process.
Meat guy at 3:14PM on 06/24/09
Here is the direct link to our experiment so you don't have to scroll.
http://www.kidbaltimore.com/2009/02/magnetic-cereal.html
KidBaltimore at 3:34PM on 06/24/09
I saw this episode. I can't remember which one it was, though (I saw it recently). He crushed up the cereal, mixed it into a paste I think with water, and put it in a plastic bag. He moved the magnet around on the outside of the bag, and as he did so, a clump of iron started sticking to the magnet through the baggie.
I've believed for quite some time that almost all breakfast cereal is processed crap (except for shredded wheat and the like, perhaps), essentially junk food. THis confirmed it for me.
KristiMetz at 4:04PM on 06/24/09
@gastro - this is the type of info/demonstration I was searching for (minus the elton-ness). Guess my googling is outta touch
@engmcmuffin - yeah; it seems like this is the only way to enrich with iron (?) just seemed so odd to me i cannot believe I didn't hear of this.
@buffy and jerzee - aww i can just see how extatic you are that youre not on "dear food network..." :*( I'm not even a "hearter" and I'm jealous of those jerks :p LOL
@meat guy - yes milling was my first thought; too!
Thanks for the help guys! Myth revealed
Perhaps we shall find Altons demonstration someday
hungrychristel at 4:53PM on 06/24/09
He was showing the nutrients in cereal. I think it was rice krispies and iron.
gingercookiewithlime at 5:07PM on 06/24/09
@Jerzee-- "I will not fear. Fear is the mind-killer."
buffy at 1:28AM on 06/25/09