A Food Fight Over a Fungus - (Soylent Green or Quorn-flakes?)

Los Angeles Times ^ | March 12, 2004 | Rosie Mestel - Times Staff Writer

[UnklGene]

A Food Fight Over a Fungus - (Soylent-Green or Quorn-Flakes?)

Rosie Mestel - Times Staff Writer

Quorn, a substitute for meat, has been eaten by millions in Europe, but a U.S. activist says the 'odious' product is literally sickening.

STOKESLEY, England — Refrigerated trucks trundle down the pretty country lanes laden with pale, doughy masses of fungus — 32 tons or more a day.

"Pure mycoprotein — good enough to eat, won't taste of anything, very bland," declares manufacturing manager Pete Willis, tearing off a golf-ball-sized sample from a 2,000-pound glob.

Workers in white boots shepherd the fungal paste through a sea of vats and clanking machines that mix, press, slice and dice the raw dough.

What comes out at the end is a matter of perspective — luscious artificial meat patties that taste just like moist chicken, or dangerous vat-grown "vomit-burgers" that are sickening consumers from coast to coast.

The product is "Quorn," a fungus-based meat substitute that millions of Europeans have eaten for years. It entered the U.S. market in 2002 to rave reviews by consumers, but was quickly met with a dogged anti-Quorn campaign by an influential consumer group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest...excerpt

[Luke Skyfreeper]

"Tastes just like chicken" bump!

[bayourod]

Years ago I read that the largest living organism is a fungus growing somewhere in the northern U.S.

I vaguely recall that it grows just under the surface in a forest and covers hundreds of square miles.

Maybe it taste like chicken.

[cyborg]

The Brits have a history of 'quorn like' behavior.

[cyborg]

There was a X Files episode about that big fungus.

[moonman]

"Years ago I read that the largest living organism is a fungus growing somewhere in the northern U.S."

Northeast U.S. to be precise, called Liberal Democrats.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Is this quorn stuff much differrent than the Aussies vegemite?

[null and void]

Haven't tried it yet...

[null and void]

I would think so. Vegemite definitely doesn't 'taste just like chicken'.

Think of congealed Guinness...

[Eala]

largest organism link.

[cyborg]

I don't think so, not the way it's made anyway. Vegemite and marmite are made from yeast and quorn is from fungus. It's just strange how they figured out a fungus would make a great meal replacement *lol*

[null and void]

Like a portobello mushroom is used as a meat substitute?

[Rudder]

If you're going to excerpt could at least give a link to the article?

[cyborg]

Yep like they have in veggie burgers... I sell meat substitutes but never had quorn so now I'm curious.

[bert]

Soylent Green on the Conveyor line

It's people you know.......

 

[MineralMan]

Hmm...what other foods are fungus-based? Let's see...mushrooms of all kinds, and truffles. While rather tasteless, I suspect that this fungus product is safe to eat and can probably be flavored at will. I'd rather that than tofu, thank you.

[bert]

The original Homongous Fungus was in Michigan.
Later researchers declared it was not really the largest biomass. That distinction went to an aspen grove they were studying. All trees in a grove are part of the same plant.

[bert]

what other foods are fungus-based

Also Toe Jam I think

[Constitution Day]

My wife eats that crap. Nasty.

---

[CARDINALRULES]

Actually, I have had both the "chicken" and "burger", and I must say they weren't that bad, the taste and texture was fairly good.

When I first read about it here on FR, I said I would never try it, but when I got the chance to give my opinion about it I changed my mind and got over my doubts about it.