The Porridge Feud I refer to broke out in Norway, in1864.
A cookery book had been published which challenged the traditional method of cooking porridge! It was normal to add some flour to the porridge after it had been taken from the heat and was ready to eat, therefore the flour was not cooked.
The author argued that this raw flour was wasted, because it would simply pass straight through the body without providing any nutritional benefit. He directed his criticisms at the 'foolish peasant women and farmer's wives' who cooked it this way.
You can imagine it caused much offence to women! Surprisingly it also stimulated a big national debate which went on for years. The book was a success and quickly sold out no doubt due, in part, to the controversy.
Luckily, another scientist argued in defence of the women and a while later lab tests were done. For three days a doctor and his assistant ate nothing but traditional porridge, with flour added at the end of cooking. Tests proved not a single molecule of carbohydrate had come out the other end.
It has since been found that the raw flour could release helpful enzymes and provide a little sweetness in the absence of sugar. So perhaps those peasants and farmers wives knew a thing or two!
At this time people were coming up with all manner of 'scientific' methods of achieving optimal nutrition.
- One deemed that wholegrain flour was indigestible and therefore highly refined flour was much better for the body.
- The use of dairy products was discouraged and the use of margarine encouraged
- Sugar and syrups were excellent nutrition.
- Coffee was praised as being an excellent substitute for meat.
- Salt was to enjoyed without restraint, and the brine in which meat was pickled was called excellent nutrition...ditch the meat use the brine.
- Sugar and alcohol were necessities
- Narcotics such as coca, hash, opium and tobacco were given the stamp of approval.
One doctor went so far as to say that narcotics were a necessity for millions of people as it made them strong and happy, banished the blues and gave them energy!
Remember, this was all happening about 160 years ago.
These days we are constantly being bombarded with crazy messages about food, the benefits of eating lab-grown meat, insects, and other nonsense. I wonder how that will be looked back upon.