Saturday

From raw materials to finished products, FOOD FACTORY goes behind the scenes to reveal how our favourite foods are made: 50 million Big Hunks of peanutty nougat are produced every year; potato pellets become Smart Fries in just two minutes flat; one million gummy bears are produced every hour; and, apple chips feature one single ingredient and deliver the crispy satisfaction of potato chips without all the calories.

From raw materials to finished products, FOOD FACTORY goes behind the scenes to reveal how our favourite foods are made: One million kilograms of ChocoRocks are produced every year; pretzel nuggets get their crunch in a 15-metre oven; the secret to perfect French fried onions is a multi-step battering process; and, Italian Brio soda gets its signature zing from a citrus fruit called chinotto.

Survivorman Les Stroud arrives in the stunning yet sizzling hot plains of South Africa via hot air balloon. Les must immediately contend with potential danger from lions, hippos, water buffalo and the deadly black mamba so feared by humans. Everyday Les is on the move, trying to survive on only one small bottle of water, a machete and his trusty multi tool. Luckily, the rainy season brings more water to the area, but he must always stay alert to avoid the dangers of Africa’s wildlife. The air balloon comes in handy, serving as both a hammock and shelter, but it won’t solve the problem of having no food and staying alive, in the remote African plains.

Alaska is known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun.” As Stroud enters an ocean bay called “Taroka Arm” by sea kayak, there’s only about four hours of twilight per day and he knows that Mother Nature is going to wreak havoc upon his internal clock. At this time of year, the salmon in this bay are active and so are the black bears and grizzlies, which Les will have to steer clear of if he’s going to make it through this week alive. This coastline has the second highest tides in the world and finding high, dry land is first priority. Les builds a shelter made from rubbish combed from the beach and then attempts to fight off hypothermia and the ever present mosquitos by making a fire. He then uses the primitive method of flint knapping to make a hook to attempt to catch salmon but, as the fish jump around the kayak without a single bite, Les is reminded once again that hunger doesn’t make fishing any easier.

In the dangerous depths of the Amazon Rainforest lurk predators of all shapes and sizes. Just one touch from a poisonous spider, army ant and caterpillar can kill and the constant rain and humidity do not make matters any better. After brushing up on wilderness and hunting tactics from the skilled Waorani tribe, Les will have to survive on next to nothing while capturing it all with the camera equipment he lugs around, trying to keep everything dry and in working order.

With temperatures of the sand reaching 60 C, Les has his work cut out for him surviving in the scorching red sands of the Kalahari Desert. With only enough water for four days, Les mimics the Bushmen and sits still in the shade during daylight. Night is another story, however, when temperatures drop to as low as 7 C. Can Les survive on locust and scorpions, or will he have to surrender to the sand?

Although snowmobiles are the main mode of travel in Labrador, dog sledding is the way Les will get around the freezing north. Even though he brought along a survival kit, including fishing supplies, duct tape, rope, his multi tool and a .22 rifle, he is still without the crucial essentials needed to survive Labrador in the winter. Unable to catch a break, Les hits a low point as he is forced to steal food from the dogs. When he finds himself completely stranded due to a rapid thaw and unable to continue on his journey, his only hope is to turn to the skies.

The Cook Islands are situated about as far away from everywhere as you can possibly get; the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. Being one of the most deceptive places on the planet, this tropical paradise hides some horribly unperceivable dangers including the world’s most venomous fish, the stone fish. Les, equipped with only his scuba gear, is abandoned by his crew at sea to recreate a frightfully common occurrence; separated from your boat and left alone in the ocean waters. Utilizing a shipwreck on the beach of a small tropical island to live amongst the rats for 7 days, he uses his knowledge as a survival expert to make it through the week, alone. With a constant bombardment of tropical storms, Les must gather food, collect rain water and make his own tools, while surviving in the Cook Islands.

Johnny and Jordyn investigate a museum with paranormal activity, culminating in intense activity inside a historic train car.