Better Not Burn Your Toast: The Science of Food and Health

by Joe Schwarcz

If you have an appetite for digestible science, you will find plenty of tasty morsels here.


Discover why some people see red over red food dyes, why Sherlock Holmes was interested in jellyfish, why King George III was plagued with purple urine, and why phrenology is a pseudoscience. You will learn about the links between the Pope, Lionel Messi, and yerba mate, Harry Potter and the mandrake root, and how Bicycle Day came to commemorate the first use of LSD. Have you ever wondered whether negative ions have positive effects, if memory supplements work, if performance-enhancing supplements really enhance performance, or if taurine in Red Bull is a lot of bull? Look no further. Are you confused about ultra-processed foods, free radicals, calcium propionate in your daily bread, endocrine disruptors, preservatives, rejuvenation, aspartame, Ozempic, Oxycontin, or whether you can eat to beat disease? You’ve come to the right place.


You will also find out why Woody Allen’s “orgasmatron” in Sleeper was a parody of an actual device created by Wilhelm Reich, how time-restricted eating works, why kimchi traveled to outer space, and where not to stick a magnesium rod. Then, of course, you will also discover why you should not burn your toast!

Genres: Science

240 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Dr. Joe Schwarcz holds a PhD in chemistry and is host of the radio program The Dr. Joe Show, directo of McGill University's Office for Science & Society and the author of fourteen bestselling books. Well known for his informative and entertaining lectures, Dr. Schwarcz has received numerous awards for teaching and deciphering science for the public.

Reviews

[Tala🦈 (mrs.skywalker.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

bardzo dobra książka o tym, jak nauka tłumaczy codzienność – bez zadęcia, bez tanich kontrowersji, zero histerii wokół „chemii w jedzeniu” czy teorii spiskowych o glutenie, z humorem, który jest zabawny. Schwarcz pisze o jedzeniu, zdrowiu i mitach z nimi związanych z takim spokojem, że aż człowiekowi wraca zaufanie do rozsądku.

nie odkrywa Ameryki, ale uczy patrzeć na fakty bez paniki i bez coachingu. momentami zbyt bezpiecznie (brakuje choćby wspomnień nt etyki badań czy roli koncernów w kształtowaniu naszej diety albo społecznych kontekstów, narracja wokół otyłości też może być odrobinę stygmatyzująca), chciałoby się więcej złości albo niuansów, ale to nadal lektura przyjemna, mądra, pełna ciekawostek, które chce się potem masowo opowiadać.

[Kyla Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much, the author makes chemistry entertaining! Could not put it down

[Eli Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Food science essays in layman terms with some light dad humor. Some fun nuggets and a lighter, easy read.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Better Not Burn Your Toast: The Science of Food and Health by Joe Schwarcz

As a public health practitioner, I found Better Not Burn Your Toast to be a compelling and accessible exploration of the intersection between food science and health. Dr. Joe Schwarcz masterfully breaks down complex scientific concepts into digestible insights, making this book valuable for both professionals and the general public.

What struck me most was how effectively Schwarcz balances evidence-based science with practical takeaways. His discussions on food safety, nutritional myths, and the chemistry of cooking resonated deeply, as these topics are central to public health messaging. I particularly appreciated his nuanced approach to debunking common misconceptions—something we grapple with daily when educating communities about healthy eating. At times, I found myself nodding in agreement, especially when he addressed the fear-mongering around “chemicals” in food, a persistent challenge in public health communication.

Emotionally, the book evoked both frustration and hope—frustration at how easily misinformation spreads, but hope in seeing science presented so clearly and engagingly. There were moments where I wished for more direct public health implications or actionable recommendations, particularly for policymakers or practitioners looking to translate these insights into programs. A deeper dive into socioeconomic barriers to healthy eating or the role of food industry practices would have further enriched the discussion.

That said, Schwarcz’s witty, conversational tone keeps the reader engaged, and his expertise shines through without overwhelming the audience. This book is a reminder of why science communication matters and how it can empower people to make informed choices.

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing a free review copy. Better Not Burn Your Toast is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the science behind what we eat—and a great resource for public health professionals navigating the messy world of food and health discourse.

Rating: 4/5 (Highly informative, though additional public health context would have elevated it further.)

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I requested a digital ARC of "Better Not Burn Your Toast: The Science of Food and Health" from NetGalley because when I saw that the author, Joe Schwarcz, is affiliated with McGill University, I assumed—correctly—that he has real scientific credentials. In a world overflowing with diet, nutrition, and wellness advice that ranges from silly at best to genuinely dangerous, I refuse to waste time on quackery.

As someone who has worked in communicating science to non-technical audiences, I was especially interested in how Dr. Schwarcz would approach the task. He does it exceptionally well: with clarity, rigor, and a welcome sense of humor. I also learned from his bio that he has a substantial public audience in Canada through TV, radio, and print, which makes perfect sense—he’s very good at this.

I appreciate that Schwarcz is unapologetic about calling out misinformation and the people who profit from it. Kudos to him for blasting the quacks. The humor helps, too; this is a genuinely fun science read.

Confession: I’m a table-of-contents skimmer, and this book makes that easy. The table of contents is extensive, inviting readers to jump around by interest. I went straight to the Conclusions before circling back to other chapters, and the structure fully supports that kind of reading.

I also liked learning that the publisher is a B Corp, which I find admirable.

The book covers a wide range of topics related to health, nutrition, diet, and the science and history of food. TL;DR? Eat fruits and vegetables. But the journey to that conclusion is packed with clever chapter titles, solid science, and memorable explanations.

One section on PFAS immediately reminded me of watching "Fallout"—particularly the discussion of unethical experiments and the long shadow they cast. It was a sobering reminder of why ethical science and regulation matter.

I came of age when science was widely respected, and I find today’s rejection of evidence and critical thinking deeply troubling. That’s why I especially loved Schwarcz’s clear dismissal of claims like crystals having magical healing powers. As someone interested in yoga, I’ve been exposed to an unfortunate amount of pseudoscience around crystals and essential oils, and it was refreshing to see those ideas addressed directly and rationally.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a digital ARC to read and review. My one frustration has nothing to do with the book itself: the NetGalley reader still doesn’t allow word search, which is maddening for a book this information-dense.

All that said, this was a fun, enlightening, and highly readable science book. With the sheer volume of dangerous misinformation circulating online and in public life, this is exactly the kind of book that needs to be read—and shared. I’ll definitely be reading more by Joe Schwarcz.

[Sally Parente · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖 ARC Review: Better Not Burn Your Toast by Joe Schwarcz
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)

Going into this book, I was curious about Schwarcz’s style and he definitely delivers on technical, science-heavy content. The good news? He explains things in smaller, digestible sections so you’re not completely lost. The challenge? It’s a lot to digest.

This book covers everything from smoked foods and liquid smoke to mind-altering drugs, jellyfish, Sherlock Holmes, even MLMs; all in the first sections. The scope is wide and often fascinating, but also overwhelming at times. I found myself swimming in facts and occasionally struggling to stay focused.

That said, there are fun, quirky takeaways that made me pause and rethink everyday habits (like my love of slightly burnt toast and popcorn). Schwarcz has a knack for connecting food science to real life in surprising ways, and readers who love trivia-style learning will enjoy that.

For me, it ended up as a 3-star read: informative, full of facts, but sometimes too dense to stick with easily. If you love food science, quirky connections, and fact-packed writing, this could be a great fit.

✨
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital ARC provided by NetGalley and ECW Press. All opinions are my own.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone interested in learning about the science of nutrition can stomach a long, boring technical manual, or they can just read this fun volume. Being a chemist, Dr. Schwarcz has the tools to debunk misinformation and, even when he is not sure whether something is true, he explains the different theories and his reasoning. There are parts devoted to history and art (did Michael Angelo really have goiter?). The more technical passages were too hard for me to understand, because chemistry is not my thing and I get why all those details are needed, they just didn’t make things any clearer. I did appreciate how the author provides readers with all the tools that they need to do their own research. Other than all the chemistry, the text is approachable and funnier than I expected. My one content warning is how there is also some animal experimentation that I had to skip (some of these were gnarly!). This is not a recipe or a diet book, but it is highly recommended for those wanting to improve their nutrition.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, ECW Press.

[Kailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better Not Burn Your Toast by Dr. Joe Schwarcz covers a variety of health related topics primarily related to food and diet but also spanning other topics such as vaccines, frequencies and homeopathy.

Broken up into digestible sections. the book explores these topics in a way that is relatively accessible to the everyday reader without relying on overly simplifying topics. Research is presented in a comprehensive but concise way with practical conclusions for each topic covered. There's a good blend of history related facts as well as current health "trends" like Ozempic and intermittent fasting. We also get to learn about the background behind common misinformation in the health sphere.

This book is for you if you're even a little health conscious and want a quick and easy reference to make better choices for you and your family.

Thank you to ECW for the chance to review this advanced reader copy.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. As with his previous books, the snippets are well written and in a conversational tone, with Dr. Schwarcz showing a good sense of humor. The topics are fascinating and clearly explain the science around the foods we eat. There are so many studies in the news saying this food is great for health or that food is terrible for health, that it is easy to become overwhelmed. But Dr. Schwarcz explains these studies, their strengths and weaknesses, and what they really show. Sometimes the upshot isn’t clearcut and Dr. Schwarcz discusses this too. I love the snippet format, that makes the book easy to pick up and read whenever some time pops up, although quite frankly I loved the book so much I just read it straight through. Although very sciency, Schwarcz explains everything very clearly and does not use jargon. Overall, this book is well worth reading. Thank you to ECW Press for the advance reader copy.

[Sekar Writes · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first looked at the table of contents, I was genuinely surprised by how detailed this book is. It opens with a topic I rarely see handled well, science and uncertainty. As someone who works around science, I know how uncomfortable people can feel with the idea that certainty is rare. Even professionals struggle with it. The book’s reminder that science offers many answers but not all, especially when it comes to health, felt grounding in a world where wellness claims spread faster than facts.

The author explores small, everyday health concerns that often spark big debates: smoked foods, free radicals, nutrition trends, and more. Each topic is unpacked with history, chemistry, and clear explanations that kept me engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

It’s informative without being alarmist, and I appreciated how it encourages readers to stay curious rather than chase quick conclusions.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review.

[Anne McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

“How do you pivot from Michelangelo painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to looking for cats with goiter in Milan and end up writing about a petition to ban erythrosine, commonly known as Red Dye No. 3?”
Just like Schwarcz’s “Superfood, Silkwoms and Spandex”, this is a joyous romp through the world of food, food scares, quackery, additives, history, chemistry, medical fads and outlandish product hype. Chaotic at times and down-the-rabbit-holey, but informative to the brim and - oh so highly entertaining.

[Red Goddess Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

You might think twice about what you put into your mouth after reading this. Joe Schwarcz breaks down facts for us into bite sized pieces so we can digest it better. A fascinating look into our foods and their histories and the truths behind the rumors. This book is a bit dry and at some points I felt that I would understand better if I had a science degree but overall a very interesting read.