For some reason, fast food restaurants, housewives, and chefs across the world pride themselves on their “secret” recipes. I’m not exactly sure what the appeal of this is. I attribute most of this to the exclusivity, the mystery, or possibly the media.
The idea that “not just anyone can make my steamed carrots” appeals to people because it makes them feel special. Often times recipes are passed down through families. I always hear people say they are going to use their grandmother’s secret recipes. So what does this mean? That all grandmothers are notoriously secretive? I think it’s more about wanting to pass on a part of yourself, but to someone you care about. That accounts for a lot of secret recipes within families I think.
Coke and KFC are most likely keeping their recipes secret for one of two reasons. The first possibility is for attention. The mystique and intrigue behind the unattainable secret recipes makes us want to keep coming back for more (or at least in theory). The second possibility is that the secret ingredient is something disgusting, immoral, or as conspirators would have us believe, supernatural! I’m more than willing to wager the first reason is the reason for Coke and KFC’s secrecy.
Not only do commercials throw the idea of secret recipes in our faces, but multiple forms of media support this trend. One of the greatest examples of this is the show Spongebob Squarepants. A good third of the episodes are about the Krabby Patty secret formula. Almost always it gets so close to being stolen, and in the end remains safe.
One can only hope that we are eating things that aren’t of questionable nature.
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