Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'

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Bring back sawdust sausages
Calorie-free filler
  (+6, -2)
(+6, -2)
  [vote for,
against]


The 1906 book The Jungle described a common tactic of using sawdust as an ingredient in sausages, used as cheap filler. People would seem to be eating well, but would still be undernourished. This book helped create the US FDA, which banned such practices.

I wonder if a tasteless filler without calories should be allowed. Perhaps sawdust is a poor choice, but there must be some industrial product that can't be digested yet doesn't cause harm. This could be used as a diet product -allowing for filling, low-cal foods without too much reduction in flavor.


Worldgineer, Aug 08 2006

Arbocel® Powdered Cellulose http://jrs.venux.ne...ations/pet_food.vml
"indigestible raw fiber content of 98%" - I think this is what you're looking for. Except, of course, it's intended for dogfood. [DrCurry, Aug 08 2006]

Tasti D Lite http://www.tastidlite.com/pages/faq.html
Main ingredient: air. Read the "What is Overrun?" FAQ [Worldgineer, Aug 08 2006]

Stone diet Seals_20do_20it_2e_...lets_20eat_20stones
Hey might work and wont hurt... really... [madness, Aug 09 2006]

the nutritional value of lettuce http://www.nutritio...ts-001-02s01wq.html
7.2 calories per serving [jutta, Aug 09 2006]

Miracle Noodle (konjac-mannan pasta) http://www.miraclenoodle.com/
Zero calories, pure soluble fiber. [jutta, Oct 03 2006]

[link]






       Rusk is used as filler in cheap sausages. Soya protein is used in cheap hamburgers. Admittedly, neither is taste-free, and they do have some caloric value.

angel, Aug 08 2006
  

       Petrolleum jelly?

notmarkflynn, Aug 08 2006
  

       One sawdust and stone pizza, please.

ldischler, Aug 08 2006
  

       Domino's do those.

angel, Aug 08 2006
  

       Commonly referred to as "fairy food," in science fiction at least.   

       This is what they stick all those products like Tasti D Llite. It's certainly tasteless (yech!).

DrCurry, Aug 08 2006
  

       Look on the back of a package of shredded cheese. The ingredient that prevents the cheese sticking together is cellulose.

baconbrain, Aug 08 2006
  

       Perfect, [DrC]. But what's a Tasti D Llite?   

       Ah, found it. It's filled with air.

Worldgineer, Aug 08 2006
  

       Bran?

bungston, Aug 08 2006
  

       No thanks, I'm stuffed.

Worldgineer, Aug 08 2006
  

       Something used in food just to make up room, which has no nutritional value at all - what is used in Mcdonalds?

fridge duck, Aug 08 2006
  

       Tasti D Lite is something that looks like ice cream, tastes like cardboard, and has every woman under 30 in Manhattan addicted to it.

DrCurry, Aug 08 2006
  

       Bun... These would of course be properly labeled this time, right?

ye_river_xiv, Aug 08 2006
  

       Put yeast in the sausage. As it's baked, it will expand, giving you a giant sausage with the same amount of meat.

jellydoughnut, Aug 09 2006
  

       Stone might work --- and hey seals do it...

madness, Aug 09 2006
  

       Seals also bark madly and some hold their breath for upwards of half an hour. We should all do that too.

notmarkflynn, Aug 09 2006
  

       This may well be part of the answer to the West's current obesity epidemic. I like the idea.   

       Of course, when your turds start resembling balls of chewed paper you are probably going to start looking for low fibre alternatives.

UnaBubba, Aug 09 2006
  

       [ye] Yes.   

       [mad] Aren't seals kind of fat?

Worldgineer, Aug 09 2006
  

       Yeah, but the delicious little pups are worth every calorie. Mmmmm...

jellydoughnut, Aug 09 2006
  

       I have it on good authority that seal tastes gross, as does cormorant and seagull.

normzone, Aug 09 2006
  

       Not like albatros, spotted owl, bald eagle and walrus at all.   

       Good idea...but it will probably end up causing cancer. I waiting to hear that about Tasti D Lite.   

       lol....   

       You know lettuce has no nutritional value, and its sort of used as a "filler". Maybe that seemingly useless veggie can be enhanced? I think it is time for a face lift.

tallbrownie, Aug 09 2006
  

       Hmmm I recomend an epxoy resin for that job --- it will probably accept lettice as a filler and will bond nicely to your face...   

       Think talcum powder might work better as the filler though. You could just put a light dusting over the areas that need a lift and then apply the resin to bond, seal and make it all shinny.

madness, Aug 10 2006
  

       Not that kind of filler, [mad]. Though I'm betting whatever's in Miracle Noodle will work for either job.   

       By the way, great link [jutta]. I think they have my basic idea thought out - just add it to other products to reduce their caloric values.

Worldgineer, Oct 09 2006
  

       "It's bloody albatros flavor!" Sorry, someone had to say it. Thanks 2 fries for the inspiration.

rasberry re-tart, Oct 10 2006
  

       In some european countries, after the first world war, with food shortages, and stuff, the bakers used to substitute sawdust for flour, this is no shit.   

       "So I'll have the whole grain high-top with blue-gum flavour, and do you stock bloodwood flavour?"

Stork, Oct 10 2006
  

       Since sawdust would not "bake" in the typical sense, does this in fact make them "halfbakers"?

Hunter79764, Oct 11 2006
  

       It may turn out that sawdust might have been one of the lesser harmful additives in comparision to Olestra, Partially Hydrogenated X oil, Sodium Earthebate (whatever that is), etc.   

       I voted against, but It's only me.

Zimmy, Oct 11 2006
  
      
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