Food Tech
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this series mixes education and fun by exploring the origins and production of the ingredients that go into some of America’s favorite dishes. Kids interested in the topic will enjoy learning about what makes the cheese melt on their burgers or what goes into their egg rolls ... but the show may indirectly raise concerns about how the foods we consume are processed. A variety of food brands -- including ConAgra, Del Monte, and Fresh Express -- are clearly visible in every episode.
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What's the Story?
FOOD TECH looks at what goes into to the production and/or preparation of some of America’s favorite foods. Host Bobby Bognar travels across America to learn the scientific and mechanical processes that go into turning out the ingredients of dishes like cheeseburger platters and Chinese takeout. Food processing technology and quality testing are also discussed.
Is It Any Good?
Food Tech offers an interesting look at what goes into today’s popular meals. Much of the show’s energy comes from Bognar himself, who enthusiastically shares bits of historic and scientific information while exploring the various ranches, farms, and processing plants that produce these foods.
The show is definitely informative -- foodies and cooking enthusiasts will enjoy learning about what goes into creating meltable cheese and crunchy dill pickles -- but some viewers may be concerned about some of the topics that arise, including injecting hormones into cattle to fatten them and other scientific techniques used to improve the taste and texture of certain food items. But if those kind of issues don't bother you, overall the show offers a fun perspective on what goes into making some of our favorite eats.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how television can promote science while still being fun to watch. Are shows like this one an effective way of learning about food science? Do some of these shows tell you things about your food that you don’t want to know?
What's the difference between processed foods and junk food? How does eating processed foods impact our health? Do you think the media does a good job of addressing these issues?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 21, 2010
- Cast: Bobby Bognar
- Network: History
- Genre: Educational
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 24, 2022
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