Why the Fries Taste Good

Write thoughtful responses and cite page numbers.

1. Who is J.R. Simplot and what regarding his youth and young adulthood does he have in
common with Karcher, Disney, and Kroc?
2. How did WWII affect Simplots business?
3. Pg 114, top paragraph. Read the description of what was miraculous and cutting edge
for restaurants at that time and contrast it with today. Be specific.
4. Who is Dunlap and how did he solve the French fry problem?
5. How and when do the stories of Simplot and Kroc intersect? What is the result?
6. Simplot shuns religion. What would you say IS his religion? Explain.
7. What is the profit margin for restaurants on French fries? In contrast, how much does
the farmer make?
8. What has happened to the state of the farmer in Idaho?
9. What is the fallacy of composition and how does it apply to American farmers?
10. What is natural flavor or artificial flavor?
11. Explain the business of IFF and who some of its clients are.
12. What is flavor? How does it work? How do restaurants capitalize on the science of
flavor?
13. What is GRAS?
14. Debate the ethics of GRAS.
15. Should a vegetarian in 2014 want to eat McDonalds fries? Why/not? Or someone who
shuns beef eat a Wendys chicken sandwich?
16. What do you now know about taste and flavors that you did not before? How does it
alter your perception of food? Do you TRUST it or not? Why/why not?
17. How do restaurants use SCIENCE to get us to like their food, crave their food, and buy it?
Explain using specifics, demonstrating your understanding.
18. Would the public change eating habits if they understood the answer to 17? Explain.