John Foster
This news story grabbed my attention recently: New research reveals the “smell of food cooking” is a “sign of air pollution”.
A new study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) measured what it called “underappreciated sources” of urban air pollution. Researchers claim if you can smell the food, “there’s a good chance it’s impacting air quality”.
NOAA is charged with forecasting the weather, monitoring oceanic and atmospheric conditions, charting the seas, conducting deep sea exploration and managing fishing and protection of marine mammals and endangered species in the U.S.
Now back to aromatic foods.
NOAA says its study found that cooking accounts for nearly a quarter of volatile organic compounds in the air. Those are human-made chemicals that are used in making paints and pharmaceuticals.
Researchers are still looking at what these results mean for air quality.
Here’s the scary part: The NOAA study’s lead author says having the data is the first step to making “policy decisions”.
Food cooking laws?
Backyard barbecue police officers?
As a kid growing up in a highly eastern European background neighborhood, the armoa of cooking foods was special.
Our neighbor used to brew up huge pots of goulash with little doughy dumplings and the aroma was wonderful.
One of the Foster New Year’s Day traditions is a pot roast smothered in sauerkraut and slowly cooked so the aroma permeates the entire house.
I’d come home from work and could smell that “kraut” in the garage.
Little did I know my wife was polluting the air.
On a smaller scale, fried potatoes with lots of onions leaves a distinctive smell.
Fried bacon is an air pollutant? Good grief!
Frankly, I’d be happier if NOAA kept its nose out of our kitchens and spent more time at improving weather forecasts.
The last concept NOAA came up with that I really liked was in 1979 when they decided to alternate between men’s and women’s names for Atlantic hurricanes. Prior to that, the ladies got all the credit/blame for the death and destruction.
Now, I haven’t uncovered anything as deadly as hurricanes due to the odors of cooking food, although “Smoke on the Square” in the amazing little town of Hope might be on the NOAA watch list.
To me, it’s just another example of governmental bureaucrats looking to stick their nose somewhere I’d just prefer they wouldn’t.
The smell of cooking food might be an air pollutant to some, but for me it’s one of life’s little pleasures that needs no regulation.
Light the charcoal, put that T-bone on the grill and pass the A1 sauce.
John Foster anchors “All-News-in-the-Morning” weekdays on 1010 WCSI-AM and 98.1 FM. You can read his weekly blog at johnnyonthespot1950.com and monthly in The Republic. Send comments to [email protected].
