CHEM181 World of Chemistry: Food

Syllabus & Course Schedule Summer 2021

Course Description
Eating has become a complicated and often confusing experience. Virtually every day brings news about
some “miracle food” that we should be consuming or some "poison" we should be avoiding. One day it's
tomatoes to prevent cancer, then flaxseed against heart disease or soybeans for reducing menopause
symptoms. At the same time we may be warned about trans fats, genetically modified foods, aspartame
or MSG. Dietary supplements may be touted as the key to health or a factor in morbidity. According to
some, dairy products are indispensable while others urge us to avoid them. The same goes for meat,
wheat and soy; the list goes on. This course will shed light on the molecules that constitute our macro
and micro nutrients and will attempt to clarify a number of the food issues using the best evidence
available.

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1) Identify the main nutritional components of their diet.
2) Explain some of the issues surrounding food production and health.
3) Assess the strengths and weaknesses of food related research that is commonly presented in
the media.

Instructors
Ariel Fenster
McGill University
Email: ariel.fenster@mcgill.ca

David N. Harpp
Professor of Chemistry
Tomlinson Chair in Science Teaching
McGill University
Email: david.harpp@mcgill.ca

Joe Schwarcz
Director of the Office for Science and Society
McGill University
Email: joe.schwarcz@mcgill.ca
Course Schedule
ALL COURSE MATERIALS will be released on May 3rd at 12:00 AM EST. No textbook is required.

Schedule  date* Topics Due  date**

Unit  1:  Nutrition  Basics
Welcome June  7 Meet  the  Instructors
Recorded Zoom June 7 Welcome / Introduction to the course
Session #1
Topic  1: June  7 Lesson  1:  A  Sampling  of  Food  Topics
Introduction Lesson  2:  Perspectives  –  Health,  History,  Science
&  Society
Lesson  3:  Scientific  Research  and  Publishing
Quiz  #1 June 9
Topic  2: June  9 Lesson  1:  Vitamins  I
Micronutrients Lesson  2:  Vitamins  II
Vitamins Quiz  #2 June 11
Recorded Zoom June 11 Updates/Q-A on material
Session #2
Topic  3: June  11 Lesson  1:  Minerals  I
Micronutrients Lesson  2:  Minerals  II
Minerals Lesson  3:  Minerals  III
Quiz  #3 June 14
Topic  4: June 14 Lesson  1:  Carbohydrates
Macronutrients Lesson  2:  Sugar
Lesson  3:  Fats
Lesson  4:  Protein
Quiz  #4 June 16
Midterm  #1 Starts June 16th 9:00 AM Ends June 19th 9:00 AM EASTERN TIME
Add/drop deadline: June 21st Web withdrawal: June 22nd
Unit  2:  Food  Production  –  Techniques,  Issues  &  Health  Impacts
Topic  5: June  21 Lesson  1:  Food  Additives  I
Food  Additives Lesson  2:  Food  Additives  II
Lesson  3:  Artificial  Sweeteners
Quiz  #5 June 23
Recorded Zoom June 21 Updates/Q-A on material
Session #3
Topic  6: June  23 Lesson  1:  Agricultural  Science  I
Agriculture Lesson  2:  Agricultural  Science  II
Lesson  3:  Agricultural  Science  III
Quiz  #6 June 25
Topic  7:  Adverse June 25 Lesson  1:  Adverse  Food  Reactions  I
Food  Reactions Lesson  2:  Adverse  Food  Reactions  II
Lesson  3:  Cooking  Demo
Quiz  #7 June 28
Midterm  #2 Starts June 28 9:00 AM Ends July 1st 9:00 AM EASTERN TIME
th
 Unit  3:  Food  and  Health
Recorded Session #4 July 2 Updates/Q-A on material
Topic  8: Weight   July 2 Lesson  1:  Chocolate
Control Lesson  2:  Weight  Control  I
Lesson  3:  Weight  Control  II
Quiz  #8 July 5
Topic  9: July 5 Lesson  1:  Diet  &  Cancer
Diet  &  Disease Lesson  2:  Diet  &  the  Heart  I
Lesson  3:  Diet  &  the  Heart  II
Quiz  #9 July 7
Topic  10:  Wrap July 7 Lesson  1:  The  Health  Food  Business
-Up Lesson  2:  Wine
Lesson  3:  Cheese
Lesson  4:  Sense  and  Nonsense
Quiz  #10 July 9
Final  Exam Starts July 9 9:00AM Ends July 12h 9:00AM EASTERN TIME ZONE
th

* Topics with a schedule date indicate a suggested date to begin reviewing the associated course
materials. These dates are provided to assist you in appropriately pacing your studies and are a
suggestion only. Please schedule your work accordingly, as no quiz extensions will be granted (see note
below for more information).
** The quiz due dates indicated are suggested due dates. There is NO time limit for the quizzes. ALL
quizzes are graded electronically and will close automatically on July 8th at 11:59pm EST. Given the
ample amount of time to complete the quizzes, no extensions will be granted.

Quizzes
This course has 10 quizzes. If you have any questions about a quiz we encourage you to post them on
the discussion forum so that other students can provide input along with the course moderators and
professors. You may complete the quiz multiple times but only your first submission will be recorded as
part of your course grade. The use of class notes during the quiz is permitted Please verify that you
successfully submitted all your answers before the deadline.

Exams
This course includes 2 midterms and a final exam. Each test is composed of approximately 80 multiple
choice questions and is non-cumulative. Midterm #1 will cover topics 1-4 in Unit #1 and Live Session #2.
Midterm #2 will cover topics 5-7 in Unit #2 and Live Session #3. The final exam will cover topics 8-10 in
Unit #3 and Live session #4. There are no assigned readings for this course.

All three examinations will be completed online though the Quiz feature on MyCourses and will be
available for a 72-hour time period as per Faculty of Science Regulations. Please note that during the 72-
hour exam windows, you will NOT have access to the course content nor the lecture recordings. For
example, given that midterm 1 starts on June 16th at 9AM, you will not have access to Topics 1-4 and
lecture recordings 1 and 2 from June 16th at 9AM to June 19th at 9AM.

Midterms 1 and 2 will have a 3 hour and 30 minute time limit. In other words, once you start the exam,
the timer begins. Ex. If you open the exam at 5:30pm you must submit the exam by 9:00pm. The final
exam with have a 6 hour and 30 minute time limit. Ex. If you open the exam at 10:00am you must
submit the exam by 4:30pm.

Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD): The timing above should accommodate all students including
those registered with OSD. If you have further questions, please email exams.osd@mcgill.ca. 

Should a student encounter irreversible conflicts evolving from other academic schedules or work-related
situations inform Professor Harpp via email (david.harpp@mcgill.ca) one week prior to the exam date. If
an exam is missed due to illness, a doctor's excuse is required- please email the note to Professor Harpp

Grading
Quizzes 10%
Midterm #1 30%
Midterm #2 30%
Final exam 30%

"McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning and
consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct
and Disciplinary Procedures (see www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest/ for more information).

(Approved by Senate on 29 January 2003)

“In accord with McGill University’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students in this course have the right to
submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded.”

(Approved by Senate on 21 January 2009 - see also the section in this document on Assignments and
evaluation.)