YEAR ELEVEN

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY: FOOD

EXAMINATION SUMMER 2001
 

RESEARCH CONTEXT:  TAKE AWAY FOOD PRODUCTS.

DESIGN THEME:   SNACK FOOD PRODUCTS

** the paper concentrates on food products which have edible casings – which means you can eat the outside (taco, or sausage roll) – and edible fillings.

The preparation sheet you have been given will give full details of what is needed before the examination date.

A possible question you will be asked on the paper is why these types of food have become popular over the last, say 25 years.    You need just a little background information to help answer this question.

 SOCIAL CONDITIONS

 In the 1950’s, there was very little choice of snack or take away foods.    The only take away was the traditional fish and chip shop – most towns and cities had lots that catered for both lunch and evening meals.

By about the 1970’s, McDonalds, Wimpy and other burger outlets were established in the U.K.   American food was popular and it was considered ‘fun’ to eat burgers and emulate the U.S.A.

 From the 80’s on, outlets that sold snack foods had multiplied considerably.  There were companies that have since ceased trading, like ‘Spud U Like’:  but these have been replaced by Kebab houses, pizza outlets, and a revamped Kentucky Fried Chicken chain of take aways.

 Purely English outlets have also grown up besides the imported ones – bakeries that sell hot food:  garages that sell sandwiches and food that can be heated in a microwave and eaten in the car:   sandwich bars that make sandwiches while you wait as well as having a wide range of filled sandwiches and rolls prepared in advance and displayed alongside hot sausage rolls and pies.

 Eating on the hoof, grazing – i.e. eating whilst on the move – is the accepted way in the 90’s.    Eating in the street, in the car, and public transport has become an accepted way of life.

The availability of microwaves has made it easier to heat food to eat:
Peoples’ lives are busier and most women work, so the traditional sitting down to a meal as a family is on the decrease.   If you are hungry at 11.00 p.m., there is sure to be somewhere where you can obtain a snack food to eat.