I don’t even want to imagine how many millions of tubs of this chemical cocktail are sold each year, especially during the holidays. At some tipping point in our history of dubious foods, people began using it beyond its intended purpose as a topping and started adding it to cakes (from mixes), frostings (made with instant pudding mix), fillings (from cans) and who knows what else.
Have you ever wondered what’s in it? Wired magazine did and we have the answers in print, with all the gory details, and in this short, fun video from PBS. All I’ll say is: Sorbitan Monostearate.
Chris Hardwick is the presenter.
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Polysorbate 60?!? Natural and Artificial flavors?!?
Is this where I out myself as a reformed fat kid and talk about the buckets of this stuff I ate as a kid? (sigh)
Well, Ella, thanks for outing cool-whip. We’re going to go off with our bottle of Polysorbate 60 (coolant for cars) cocktail and cry for a little while… we hope your happy (sniff)
LMAO! Luckily, I don’t get grossed out by these types of breakdowns. I find them interesting. I know that ingredients can have multiple uses and that we are virtually stuck in a synthetic food world (I don’t have money for 100% organic living).
@lewis – There, there. Dry the sniffles. Auntie Ella is here.
Heck, we all ate junky food as kids (most of us, anyway) but I haven’t been a kid in a long time. I’ve never liked Cool Whip — neither the taste nor the mouthfeel — but I ate hot dogs into my 20’s. Sad to say.
And if I knew I had only 10 minutes left to live, I might head for a Sabrett’s cart in Manhattan. One for the road!
@abbydonkrafts – the print version is more explicit, isn’t it? LOL
I don’t live 100% organic either, but there’s a huge universe of choices between faux food and totally organic. That’s what From Scratch is about.
As Julia said, “You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients.”
Oh, thanks for this one. In the market when I pass by the cool whip and my husband looks at it wistfully, I quickly make the sign of the cross and shoulder on. Evil, man, that stuff is evil. I can’t wait to share this with husbing.
LOL – that is so funny! If this doesn’t end his wistful looks, just offer it up to St. Lawrence — patron saint of cooks/chefs and confectioners!
Merry Christmas to you and yours.