Did soul food kill Jackie Hurt?
His son, Plainfield filmmaker Byron Hurt, explores the health impact and cultural significance of traditional black southern cuisine in his documentary “Soul Food Junkies,” which will air Jan. 14 at 10 p.m. on PBS stations.

Hurt puts soul food under a microscope, examining its positives and negatives through candid interviews with cooks, food historians, doctors, and everyday people. Hurt can speak from personal experience. His parents came from a small Georgia town where soul food is a source of pride and comfort, beloved by black and white folks alike. But it can lead to obesity and other health issues when grits and scrambled eggs are covered with cheese, buttered biscuits smothered with gravy, collard greens seasoned with ham hocks, sweet potatoes candied, and the meats deep fried.