Re: Vegemite

Derek Lyons wrote: 

Another question: Did Vegemite inspire Asimov to write The Caves of
Steel?


I'm referring, of course, to one of the central underpinnings of the
story: mass production of food derived from yeast.


ISTR that vat grown foods were a staple of SF from fairly on - said
vats being 'clean, modern, industrial, and scientific'; said virtues
being held in high esteem by many.

Agreed. But Asimov made particular reference to the strong (after)taste of the yeast derived food. Now beer and bread (the only conventional foods that I know of that have anything to do with yeast) don't have a strong aftertaste, but vegemite (derived from brewer's yeast) does. This subtle injection of realism makes me wonder how much exposure Asimov might have had to yeast-derived food.

--
Dave Michelson
davem@xxxxxxxxxx
.

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