We were discussing the harmful effects of food additives over lunch. Always a bad idea. My two lunch friends have accomplished academic feats out of the realm of the ordinary.
One is a gifted linguist, a high-school dropout with a degree in Maths from Harvard and a brilliant pianist. The other secured top spot in German's national aptitude test, speaks four languages and is one smart cookie.
We could have convinced anyone eavesdropping never to eat out again. Some of the common food additives and colouring agents are downright foul.
My friends sporadically spoke in German and then shifted to English. The conversation moved to lactose intolerance.
"Cows' milk has genetic information that's passed on from mother to child. And it's good just for that particular calf. Humans were never meant to drink milk. Our bodies are not made to process it. In some ways, we are all lactose intolerant"
"I know we are not meant to drink cow's milk." The girl spat out a few terms in German, 'enzyme,' 'sulphur nitrates.' She then rattled off findings from scientific research and then fixed a determined look on her face.
"I know exactly what I need. My own cow! That's what I need!"
Ignoring their bovine rant, I calmly bit into my burger and munched on my fries dipped in ketchup. Genius or not, ich war hungrig.
