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Something very interesting I learned recently is that the big push for blander foods in America stemmed from a social reform movement led by Protestant, middle-class women. These women entered jewish neighborhoods with the goal of “retraining” Jewish taste buds.
According to a report titled “Jewish Dietary Problems” published in 1919 in the Journal of Home economics,
Jews cooked with too much garlic and onion, were too liberal with the vinegar, and consumed way too many fermented foods.
Jews cooked with too much garlic and onion, were too liberal with the vinegar, and consumed way too many fermented foods.
The main goal was to revolutionize housekeeping by treating it as a science. By World War I, home economists held teaching positions in cities and towns across America. Over time, Jewish students absorbed their teachers’ culinary views, alienating them from Jewish cooking.
This was not just in Jewish neighborhoods of course, but across all America, impacting many groups. Home Economists pushed for blander, “healthier” foods, setting a standard that eliminated bold spices and flavors. So essentially, we have Christians to thank for nasty food lol
This thread is a quick summary from this really interesting article if you would like to read more: https://forward.com/culture/438211/how-home-economics-split-jewish-mothers-and-daughters-a-tale-of-pot-roast/
