Science in the Kitchen-September 2023 : Please Don't Criticize My Food

As we all know, it’s almost impossible to browse TV without coming across a cooking competition. Some of us are taken aback by the harsh and impolite critiques often seen in these programs. This might stem from a misunderstanding of the word "criticism." When we think about it, we see that the term "criticism" is often associated with negative judgments, even humiliation, rather than a constructive and beneficial perspective. However, the Turkish Language Association defines criticism as "the act of examining a person, a work, or a subject to identify and present its strengths and weaknesses." From this standpoint, we can say that true criticism is about revealing both the positive and negative aspects of something in a logical, informed, clear, and unbiased way that benefits others.