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According to Felipe Fernandez in his book Near a thousand tables: A history of food, its inventor gave it this name because its white sheen reminded him of the pearls known as marguerites; what is it?



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Answer: margarine

According to Fernandez, the French navy needed a butter-like foodstuff that would last through long voyages, and Margarine was invented in 1869 to solve the problem.

Source: Near a thousand tables: A history of food ( Felipe Fernandez)

According to IMACE, the International Margarine Association of the Countries of Europe:

"Margarine was discovered in 1869 by Hippolyte Mège Mouriès, a French food research chemist, in response to Napoleon III's request for a wholesome butter alternative. It is not entirely clear whether the primary aim was the betterment of the working classes or economics in the supply of food to the French army. In a laboratory, Mège Mouriès solidified purified fat, after which the resulting substance was pressed in a thin cloth, that formed stearine and discharged oil. This oil formed the basis of the butter substitute."


Hippolyte Mège Mouriès: He invented margarine.




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