These Fun Food Facts Don’t Seem True, But Totally Are!
Everyone needs food to survive. It's something we all think about in our daily lives, but we may not know some of the more peculiar details about our food. There's a lot to discover about ketchup, peanut butter, sardines, and more that isn't taught in school. Continue reading to learn some weird, but true facts about food!
German Chocolate Cake Isn't From Germany
With a name such as German chocolate cake, it's expected that this food would come from Germany. The name for the cake actually comes from the inventor.
Sam German was the first person who invented a type of baking chocolate. He created the recipe in 1852 by adding more sugar than the average semi-sweet baking chocolate.
Honey Never Goes Bad
One of the very few foods that will never expire is honey. This is because it contains very little water, so bacteria and microorganisms can't take over.
It's important to store it in a cool, dry place. Also, the oldest batch of honey ever found was discovered in Georgia. It was over five thousand years old.
Why Students Give Apples To Teachers
There's a reason why teachers are gifted apples by their students. According to the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, from the 16th to 18th-century teachers had extremely low salaries.
So, students and their families would try to compensate the teachers by giving them apples, which were a popular crop during this time.
How Chicken Noodle Soup Got Its Name
Campbell's came up with their recipe of broth, chicken, and noodles in 1934 and called it Noodle with Chicken Soup.
When a radio announcer was advertising the soup, he misread the script and called it Chicken Noodle Soup. The name stuck and Campbell's officially changed it to Chicken Noodle Soup a few weeks later.
The Most Stolen Food In The World
Food gets stolen every day, but the most common stolen item is cheese. About four percent of all cheese that's made around the world will be stolen.
There's even a black market dedicated to just stolen cheeses. Also, there are certain cheeses that are illegal in the United States such as raw cheese.
The Odd Ingredient In Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing is usually found in salads or as a dipping sauce, but it may be important to check the label.
One ingredient commonly found in this dressing is titanium dioxide. It's used to make the Ranch look even whiter. Titanium dioxide is also found in sunscreen and white paint.
Froot Loops Are All The Same Flavor
Froot Loops are a popular children's cereal with bright pieces that come in all the colors of the rainbow. While there are six different colors in the box, they all actually taste the same.
This is because each piece is a blend of many fruit flavors, so none of them overpower each other.
Why Jelly Beans Are Shiny
Jelly beans come in many flavors and colors, but something else consumers may notice is just how shiny they are.
They are shiny because of an ingredient called shellac. It will usually be labeled as "confectioner's glaze," but it's also the same ingredient found in gel nail polish. Shellac is made from the hardened, resinous material secreted from the lac insect.
Mushrooms Can't Be Overcooked
Some people may get nervous when cooking because it's very easy to over or undercook food. Mushrooms are one of the few foods that can't be overcooked.
They have a special polymer in their cell walls that keeps them tender. Also, the mushroom capital of the world is located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
The Popsicle Was Invented By A Little Boy
According to NPR, the very first popsicle was invented by 11-year-old Frank Epperson in 1905. He left a mixture of soda and water out overnight, which froze into the sweet treat.
Epperson originally called his creation the "Epsicle," but changed it to "Pop's 'Sicle" or "Popsicle" as an adult because that's what his children called it.
Sesame Seeds Were Very Valuable
Most usually see sesame seeds as a topping on a bagel or hamburger bun, but they used to be one of the most valuable currencies.
Many centuries ago, sesame seeds were considered magical with people believing they could bring good luck and great fortune. They were so desired that they used to be worth more than gold.
Wally Amos Did A Lot More Than Invent A Cookie Recipe
Some may remember Wally Amos as the man who invented the recipe for Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies. While this is a great accomplishment, he did so much more.
Before inventing the cookie recipe, Amos worked as a talent agent and discovered many famous musicians such as Simon & Garfunkel, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye.
This Fast Food Chain Was The Biggest Purchaser Of Kale
While it may seem unlikely, fast food restaurants need to purchase a lot of fruits and vegetables regularly. Pizza Hut used to be the biggest purchaser of kale.
The pizza chain would buy tons of kale because it was used as a garnish at their salad bar. They lost the top spot in 2012 when kale started becoming more popular.
An Astronaut Smuggled A Sandwich To Space
Astronaut John Young was desperate to bring his favorite sandwich into space. In 1965 he smuggled a corned beef sandwich onto his spacecraft for his six-hour mission.
When he took it out of his pocket, he realized he made a big mistake and quickly put it away. The floating crumbs and debris could've done severe damage to the shuttle.
McDonald's Sells This Many Hamburgers Per Year
McDonald's is the most popular fast-food chain in the world, so they are bound to sell a lot of food. The restaurant chain sells 2.5 billion hamburgers every year.
This is equivalent to 6.5 million hamburgers every day or 75 hamburgers every second. Also, McDonald's feeds 68 million people daily, which is about one percent of the world's population.
Almonds Aren't Nuts
One of the biggest misconceptions about almonds is that they are nuts. Almonds are actually seeds and have been classified as a drupe.
The Plant Information Center defines drupe as a "fleshy fruit with a stony endocarp." Also, almonds are 100 percent reliant on wild and honey bees for crop pollination.
Oysters Are Still Alive When Served
While it may not seem too appetizing to eat food when it's still alive, it is sometimes necessary. Oysters are served alive because non-living ones contain a high amount of bacteria.
This can cause people to become extremely sick. Also, oysters change their gender throughout their lives by switching from male to female.
Peanut Butter Can Be Turned Into Diamonds
Many people prefer peanut butter when it's combined with some jelly or chocolate, but it has a whole other use.
Scientists at the Bayerisches Geoinstitut in Germany discovered that peanut butter, specifically Skippy, can be turned into diamonds. This is because it's so rich in carbon. It becomes a diamond after the oxygen is taken from the carbon dioxide with immense pressure.
Sardines Are Extremely Healthy
Sardines only eat plankton, which means they have low levels of mercury. The nutrients in sardines are a great way to reduce the risk of heart attacks and high blood pressure.
Those looking to get some nutrients from fish should turn to sardines. They contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B-12 and D, calcium, iron, potassium, and protein.
Ketchup Was Used As Medicine
During the 1800s, people thought ketchup had medicinal purposes. It was believed that ketchup could cure indigestion and diarrhea.
An Ohio doctor concentrated ketchup into pill form in 1830 to treat various illnesses. Ketchup eaters may not know that there are good and bad ketchup years, depending on the harvest.
