Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Dead Page-- "Get That Cheez Whiz Out of Your Mouth" --Edwin Traisman

Edwin Traisman (1915-2007)

Food scientist who helped create Cheez Whiz

Also created McDonald's process for freezing French fries

Edwin Traisman died June 5th in Madison, Wisconsin. He was born in Chicago Nov. 25, 1915, and got a chemistry degree from U of I in 1937.

He worked with Kraft Foods in the 1950s and participated on the team that developed Cheez Whiz and individualized cheese slices and rose to division director of food research.

He decided to open a franchise in the mid-50s and went into a Chicago area McDonald's and approached a man sweeping the floor asking to see the manager. The man said the manager wasn't in but he might be able to help. His wife said the man turned out to be Ray Kroc and the two men became friends.

He opened the first McDonald's in Madison in 1957 and had five restaurants within 14 years.

McDonald's had a problem with french fries when Idaho potatoes were not in season. Freezing cooked potatoes ruined their flavor Mr. Traisman developed and patented a process for partially cooking the fries and freezing them.

Would You Like Fries with That Burger?

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