2 food questions

Factual Questions
1

I’ve been pondering the following for a few days now–

  1. When you buy a jaw of natural/raw honey—are you supposed to EAT the honeycomb? Or is it just there for show, like, hey–this honey’s so natural it still has the honeycomb in it? What does it taste like?
  2. Everyone knows (or at least faithful dopers know) that putting ketchup/tomato paste in contact w/aluminum foil will result in a mess. How, then, can they store V8 juice in aluminum cans? Or are V8 drinkers like me addicted to aluminum rather than the juice? (For some reason, I don’t like the kind in glass bottles, just the kind in cans).

Please help!

2

To answer your first question, you certainly can eat the honeycomb, or at least chew it awhile and then spit out the wax (ala chewing gum). It is quite delicious.

To take a WAG for the second question, perhaps the acidity of V-8 is lower than catsup or straight juice, and is not high enough to react to the aluminum. Or the V-8 cans are lined inside.

3

As for the V8, I would guess one of two things:

1- The V8 isn’t as acidic as the ketchup you’re comparing it to. (I really don’t know, never having imbibed it.)

2- The can is coated on the inside with a foods-grade plastic to prevent corrosion.

Judging from the fact that coca-cola does something similar, I’d bet on the latter.

I see, now, that someone beat me to the punch.

4

To answer your first question, you certainly can eat the honeycomb, or at least chew it awhile and then spit out the wax (ala chewing gum). It takes like honey mixed with wax. It is considered quite delicious by some.

To take a WAG for the second question, perhaps the acidity of V-8 is lower than catsup or straight juice, and is not high enough to react to the aluminum. Or the V-8 cans are lined inside.

5

Nearly all food cans, aluminum and steel, are plastic lined. It keeps the metal from tainting the flavor. You can check it with an ohm meter if it amuses you.
–Nott