University of Calgary plant evolutionary ecologist Jana Vamosi, working with a team led by Serban Proches from the Stellenbosch University, examined more than 7 000 plant species commonly eaten by people.
They determined the origins and evolutionary relationships of the various plants and ingredients that comprise our everyday menu. They haven’t forgotten anything from our everyday meal – no a
McDonald’s Big Mac, no French fries, no lovely cup of coffee etc.
It was found that a single meal contains about 20 different species and ingredients that originated around the world and some human societies even include from 50 to 100 plant species in their entire diet. It means, our ability to process food combined with an insatiable hunger for new tastes and international trade systems has led to food becoming the ultimate product of a globalized society:
“A burger and fries may be the “quintessential North American meal”, but it can also be viewed as the perfect example of the globalization and diversity of the human diet”, – the report says.
So what are the vegetable components of a Big Mac? Do you want to know? It has 20 “phylogenetic” footprints from different parts of the world (in Latin):
1. Barley Hordeum vulgare Poaceae Turkey/Iran ;
2. Cotton Gossypium hirsutum Malvaceae Multiple;
3. Cucumber Cucumis sativus Cucurbitaceae India;
4. Garlic Allium sativum Alliaceae Mediterranean;
5. Lettuce (fresh) Lactuca sativa Asteraceae Mediterranean;
6. Maize Zea mays Poaceae Mexico/ Central America;
7. Mustard Brassica juncea Brassicaceae India;
8. Onion Allium cepa Liliaceae Turkey/Iran;
9. Chili pepper Capsicum annuum Solanaceae Mexico/ Central America;
10. Pepper (black) Piper nigrum Piperaceae India;
11. Potatoes Solanum tuberosum Solanaceae Andes;
12. Sesame Sesamum indicum Pedaliaceae Multiple;
13. Soybean Glycine max Fabaceae China;
14. Sugar Saccharum officinarum Poaceae New Guinea;
15. Beta vulgaris Amaranthaceae Mediterranean;
16. Tomatoes Lycopersicon Solanaceae Mexico/ Central America;
17. Turmeric Curcuma longa Zingiberaceae Southeast Asia;
18. Wheat Triticum aestivum Poaceae Turkey/Iran;
19. Rape, sunflower Brassica rapa Brassicaceae Mediterranean, maize Helianthus annuus Asteraceae California;
20. Coffee Coffea spp. Rubiaceae Ethiopia.
Now you know.
1. Serban Proches, John R. U. Wilson, Jana C. Vamosi and David M. Richardson. Plant Diversity in the Human Diet: Weak Phylogenetic Signal Indicates Breadth. BioScience, February, 2008
