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Our Bacon Stories: The 23-Year Journey to Perfect Reformed Bacon

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Christa's Bacon Story: How It Used to Be When I Was Little

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In Conversation with Christa Berger:  The Architecture of Clarity and the Limits of AI

By Eben van Tonder, 28 May 2025 About this Series: In Conversation with Christa Berger This series is published under Origins Global Meats, a section within EarthwormExpress dedicated to our consultancy company. We specialise in mass-market, gourmet, and meat-hybrid formulations. Our services span new factory design, production line set-up, profit optimisation, brand communication, and research…

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Our Bacon Stories: Bacon has a Soul

By Eben van Tonder, 25 May 2025 My first Easter Meat Blessings at Mariatrost Basilica, 2025. The baskets are filled with cured meats. Introduction A new chapter has opened on Origins Global Meats, and it began not with a scientist but with a storyteller. Our Bacon Stories is a series introduced by Christa Berger, whose life, land, and lineage reveal a truth I never saw coming: Bacon is not…

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Nutritional Strategies for MMA Fighters: Lessons from Ancient African Warrior

21 March 24Eben van Tonder Introduction When I was in Ile Ife, the spiritual capital city of the Yoruba people, I came face to face with an aspect of Africa that would transform my thinking about meat. An old butcher who must have been in his 90s told me that he would suggest different cuts from the animal based on the circumstances of the buyer. He would, for example, suggest that a pregnant…

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Optimal Strategy for Freezer Management and Other Areas Often Neglected in Meat Plants

10 Feb 24Eben van Tonder Introduction Efficient feedback loops are the lifeblood of any meat plant, ensuring seamless operations across departments. From production to sales, and quality control to food safety, the entire focus of management revolves around optimizing these processes. As someone deeply engaged in managing a meat operation in Nigeria, where resource optimization is paramount,…

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Redefining the Narrative on Dietary Nitrites: Unveiling the Balance Between Risks and Benefits in Processed Meats

**Nitrites and the Physio;ogical Value in the Human Body**

7 February 2024Eben van Tonder Introduction Over the last week, I looked at the issue of nitrites from several perspectives. In Navigating Nitrites: Understanding Their Role in Diet and Health, I go into details of what amines are and unpack the meaning of N-nitrosamines which are cancer-causing and are alleged to be one of the primary dangers in bacon. I also point out the dietary value of…

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The Role of Ascorbate in the Nitrate-Nitrite-Nitric Oxide Pathway: Integrating Insights from Earthworm Express

This article integrates insights from Earthworm Express to further explore the biochemical reactions facilitated by ascorbate and the broader implications of the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway for health.

4 Feb 2023Eben van Tonder Introduction How does ascorbate or Vitamin C prevent nitrite from reacting with secondary amines to form nitrosamines which can be cancer-causing? The meat curing industry uses ascorbate wherever nitrite is used, thus mimicking conditions in leafy green vegetables. More than this, the interplay between dietary components and physiological mechanisms has profound…

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A List of Latest Articles and Updates to Old Articles

Amazing week. Amazing day. I worked since 9:00 this morning and went for a break only to go for a run. I have time to think, and a million bits of information gel and create such a clear picture that I must sit down and write . . . Have a good week guy!

The Low Risk of Nitrosamine and Amine Formation in Bacon: Temperature Evaluation Savouring the Safety: The Evolutionary Journey of Nitrosamine Risk Mitigation in Bacon The Human Body: A Self-Repairing and Fat Storing Machine Nutri-Coat: A Modern Twist on Kilishi and Suja – Bridging Traditional and Contemporary Nutrition Meat and Nuts: The Mesopotamian Link Ancient Humans Ate Meat! The…

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The Low Risk of Nitrosamine and Amine Formation in Bacon: Temperature Evaluation

Last consideration for the week: High temperatures form amines in meat. Bacon frying seldom rich these temperatures. So, amine formation is exceptionally low. Ascorbate (Vitamin C) is present. Nitrites are low. Risk is ZERO! Have a great week with bacon!!

The potential health risks associated with consuming processed meats like bacon have been a topic of discussion and research for many years. Central to these concerns are nitrosamines and amines, compounds that can form during the cooking process and have been linked to various health issues, including cancer. However, a closer examination of the cooking temperatures typically used for frying…

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Savouring the Safety: The Evolutionary Journey of Nitrosamine Risk Mitigation in Bacon

Every time I re-look at the issue of bacon and its health status, it becomes clear. Bacon is completely safe!! I now looked at it scientifically, historically and this past week from an evolutionary perspective.

Table of Contents: Introduction Historical Dietary Shifts and Nitrosamine Formation Historical Dietary Shifts and Nitrosamine Formation The Role of Vitamin C in Preventing Nitrosamines The Safe Incorporation of Vitamin C in Bacon Production Exercise: The Unsung Hero in Managing Processed Food Risks Conclusion References 1. Introduction Throughout human evolution, our diets have…

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The Human Body: A Self-Repairing and Fat Storing Machine

Here I unpack our bodies propensity to store fat. I also show our body's self-healing and repairing ability and I compare it with other animals and their fat-storage ability.

4 Feb 2023Eben van Tonder Introduction Over the last few weeks, I delved into the mechanism of breaking down proteins into amino acids and the problem that can be created through amines if we consume food where the amino acids have been broken down further into these smaller units. Our body uses the amino acids to build proteins and thus repair itself. Protein is thus the key to understanding…

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Ancient Humans Ate Meat!

Humans evolved as meat eating scavengers. Plants started forming a bigger part of our diets as recently as 11,000 years ago during the agricultur revolution.

Ancient Humans Ate Meat!Eben van Tonder15 July 2023 Introduction Earliest humans ate mainly meat. Incorporating plant food into our diet is a recent development. I summarise the landmark work of Miki Ben-Dor, Ran Barkai, and Raphael Sirtoli on the subject which is, in my opinion, the best in existence. In preparation for reading their work, I read the 1970s work of Walter L. Voegtlin. I…

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Safeguarding Meat Quality in Nigeria: Navigating Preservatives for Optimal Food Safety

31 Jan 2023Eben van Tonder Introduction In the dynamic landscape of Nigeria’s burgeoning meat industry, our quest to guarantee safety and prolong the shelf life of meat products forms the core of our endeavour to establish a cutting-edge meat processing facility. Our unwavering dedication to food safety necessitates the meticulous evaluation of six preservatives, each subject to rigorous…

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The "Formulation Law"

In the captivating world of formulation chemistry, where the mingling of multiple components rivals the celestial dance of the Three-Body Problem, a guiding light emerges the "Formulation Law." Here is my first stab at defining it.

1 February 2024Eben van Tonder Introduction In the captivating world of formulation chemistry, where the mingling of multiple components rivals the celestial dance of the Three-Body Problem, a guiding light emerges the “Formulation Law.” This law, similar to the mysteries of celestial mechanics, showcases how straightforward polynomial equations can tackle the Two-Body Problem while embracing…

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Navigating Nitrites: Understanding Their Role in Diet and Health

The discussion around dietary nitrites and nitrates has evolved a clear understanding emerging about their roles in human health. Here I synthesizes the key aspects of nitrites in food processing, their physiological benefits and give dietary guidance.

31 January '24Eben van Tonder Introduction The discussion around dietary nitrites and nitrates has evolved significantly, with a nuanced understanding emerging about their roles in human health. This article synthesizes the key aspects of nitrites in food processing, their physiological benefits, and the implications for dietary guidance, backed by scientific research. It also explains the…

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Branding with EarthwormExpress

An exciting opportunity for collaborative work with us and unique branding and advertising opportunity!

Dear Earthworm Express Community, For almost two decades, Earthworm Express has been a beacon of academic accuracy, innovation, and comprehensive historical analysis in the field of meat science. We have tirelessly pursued a mission of advancing knowledge and understanding within the meat industry. Today, we are excited to announce a new chapter in our journey. We are now open to limited…