100 Incredible Facts About Food That Will Surprise You

Contrary to popular belief, breakfast is not the most important meal of the day. The phrase was actually coined by General Foods in 1944 to boost the sales of Grape Nuts cereal.

Food facts are often overlooked when enjoying a meal, but they can be fascinating!

Whether it’s a healthy meal or a guilty pleasure, we all have our favorite foods.

Some of these foods have interesting facts that you may not have known before.

For instance, did you know that ranch dressing is dyed? The ingredient used to dye it may surprise you!

You can learn about the origin of American cheese and why crackers have holes in them by reading the following list of 100 random food facts.

Pound cake was named after its recipe.

The original recipe for pound cake called for one pound each of butter, eggs, and sugar.

It’s no wonder the cake is so large!

Most wasabi sold in supermarkets is actually horseradish.

Real wasabi is difficult to make and expensive.

Instead, most wasabi is actually colored horseradish.

The world’s most expensive pizza costs $12,000.

The pizza takes 72 hours to make and can only be prepared by three Italian chefs in your home.

It’s topped with three types of caviar, bufala mozzarella, Norwegian and Cilento lobster, and pink Australian sea salt.

Ranch dressing is dyed.

Titanium dioxide, an ingredient in ranch dressing, is used to make it look whiter.

The same ingredient is also used in sunscreen and paint.

A single fast-food burger may contain meat from 100 different cows.

Ground beef used in burgers, both in fast food restaurants and grocery stores, is made up of a mixture of muscle tissues.

Fruit-flavored snacks have car wax on them.

Carnauba wax, the same type of wax used on cars, is used to give gummy candy a shiny appearance.

It’s a little unsettling!

Nutmeg is a hallucinogen.

Nutmeg contains a natural compound called myristicin that acts as a hallucinogen when consumed in large amounts.

It can have mind-altering effects.

Crackers have holes in them for a reason.

If crackers have holes in them during the baking process, it prevents air bubbles from ruining the product.

Ketchup was once used as a medicine.

Back in the early 1800s, people believed that tomatoes had medicinal qualities and used ketchup as a remedy.

According to one doctor, a tomato ketchup recipe that he created to treat diarrhea and indigestion has been turned into a pill.

White chocolate is not chocolate.

The name of white chocolate is misleading because it does not contain any of the components of regular chocolate. Instead, it is a mixture of sugar, milk, vanilla, lecithin, and cocoa butter.

Farmed salmon is artificially colored pink.

Wild salmon is naturally pink due to their diet of shrimp. However, farm-raised salmon have a different diet, which results in them being white. They are fed plant pigments to achieve the same color as wild salmon.

The red food dye in Skittles is made from boiled beetles.

A common red food dye, carminic acid, is made from the crushed bodies of a beetle called the Dactylopius coccus. This acid is used in products such as maraschino cherries, strawberry and raspberry flavored candy, and lipstick.

Crackers are more harmful to your teeth than sugar.

Contrary to popular belief, acid is the primary cause of tooth decay, not sugar. Crackers tend to stick to your teeth, creating a breeding ground for bacteria.

Peppers do not actually burn your mouth.

The chemical capsaicin found in chili peppers deceives your mouth into feeling like it’s being burned. The pain is all in your head!

American cheese is not an American invention.

Although processed cheese is commonly thought of as an American product, it was actually invented in Switzerland. It was created by Waltz Gerber and Fritz Stettler in 1911 to extend its shelf-life before being shipped overseas.

Beer was not classified as an alcoholic beverage in Russia until 2013.

Until 2013, beer and other alcoholic beverages with an ABV of less than 10% were classified as soft drinks. Drinking beer in public was widespread, similar to drinking soda.

Cheese is the most commonly stolen food in the world.

Approximately 4% of all cheese produced globally is stolen, and it has its own black market!

One in four hazelnuts is used to make Nutella.

Nutella is so popular that 25% of all hazelnuts are used to make it. Some universities are attempting to grow hazelnuts in labs to counteract global shortages.

Astronauts tried to sneak a corned beef sandwich into space.

An astronaut attempted to bring a corned beef sandwich on a 6-hour mission but had to put it away when it started to fall apart in zero-gravity.

Certain types of music can make you drink faster.

An experiment was conducted to observe how people’s drinking habits changed depending on the music playing. The study showed that loud music caused people to consume more alcohol at a faster pace. Additionally, chocolate was once used as currency in ancient civilizations of Mexico and South America, particularly as a means of trade between the Aztecs and Mayans. McDonald’s sells an astonishing 2.5 billion hamburgers every year, which equals to 75 burgers sold every second, every day. Peanuts have an oil that is commonly used in the production of glycerol, a principal component of nitroglycerin. Plastic bottles, not water, have expiration dates, as chemicals from the bottle can seep into the water over time, affecting its taste. People can develop a fear of peanut butter getting stuck to the roof of their mouth, known as arachibutyrophobia. Spam was not originated in Hawaii, but in Minnesota, where there is even a museum dedicated to it. Honey is produced by bees as they collect nectar, which they regurgitate into their hive. The Three Musketeers candy bar used to have different flavors, including vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate, but was reduced to only chocolate during World War II. Despite their colorful appearance, all Froot Loops taste the same. Finally, there is no definitive answer to how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, with estimates ranging from 144 to 411 licks, and one study determining the average to be 364 licks.

Radishes, Onions, and Garlic Were Once Wages in Ancient Egypt

In ancient Egyptian times, workers were paid with radishes, onions, and garlic due to their believed medicinal properties. Radishes, in particular, were thought to help with infectious diseases.

Chefs in Japan Train for Two Years to Serve Pufferfish

Pufferfish is a delicacy in Japan but is also potentially lethal if not prepared correctly. Chefs must undergo rigorous training and certification for over two years to be qualified to serve this dish.

French Fries Actually Originated in Belgium

Despite their name, French fries actually originated in Belgium and are only called “French” because of how they are cut.

Twinkie Cream is Not Made of Cream

The creamy filling inside a Twinkie is actually made of vegetable shortening and not cream. Nevertheless, it remains a beloved snack for many.

Strawberries are Not Technically Berries

Despite their name, strawberries are not true berries because they have seeds on the outside rather than the inside.

Pineapples Got Their Name from Early Explorers

Early explorers who first encountered pineapples thought that they looked like pine cones and thus gave them their name. However, pineapples are not related to pine trees in any way.

The Origin of Chocolate Chip Cookies is Unknown

While there are many theories about the origin of chocolate chip cookies, the true story remains a mystery. Some believe that the creator, Ruth Wakefield, substituted chocolate for nuts in an ice cream cookie recipe, while others think that chocolate chunks accidentally fell into the cookie dough.

Margherita Pizza is Named After a Queen

When Queen Margherita and King Umberto I of Italy visited Naples, they fell in love with a simple pizza made with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil. The pizza was eventually named after the queen.

Thomas Jefferson Brought Pasta to America

Thomas Jefferson is credited with introducing pasta to America after he brought a macaroni machine back from France. He was also a fan of mac and cheese and helped to popularize the dish in the United States.

Cauliflower Comes in Multiple Colors

While white cauliflower is the most commonly seen variety, there are also purple, orange, and green types. The orange and purple varieties are higher in antioxidants than white cauliflower.

Lima Beans Must be Cooked Thoroughly

Raw lima beans contain lethal amounts of cyanide, but cooking them thoroughly renders them safe to eat.

Chickpeas Have Many Names and Colors

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, have many other names including sanagali, ceci beans, chana, and bengal gram. They also come in red, black, brown, and pale yellow varieties.

South African “Popcorn” is Actually Roasted Insects

In South Africa, what is called “popcorn” is often roasted termites and ants. Visitors should be careful if they have a craving for actual popcorn.

Not all wine is suitable for vegans.

Even though wine is made from grapes, it may not be vegan due to the use of animal-derived ingredients such as milk protein, egg white, gelatin, and fish bladder protein.

Consuming sweetened drinks may increase the risk of dementia.

Studies have shown that people who consume one or more artificially sweetened drinks per day have a higher risk of developing dementia.

Nutrition labels are arranged by the quantity of ingredients used.

If you are checking nutrition labels to determine if a product fits your dietary needs, keep in mind that the order of ingredients is based on the quantity used. If sugar is listed first on a protein bar, it may not be the best choice for a pre-workout snack.

Test the freshness of eggs by placing them in cold water.

If you are unsure about the freshness of your eggs, place them in a glass of cold water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom while bad eggs will float.

Coffee is the primary source of antioxidants in the American diet.

Coffee is the most popular source of antioxidants for Americans, which can help prevent aging and heart disease. However, coffee does not contain a significant amount of antioxidants, but Americans consume a lot of it.

Check the ripeness of cranberries by bouncing them.

Cranberries are a natural bouncy ball, so if you want to check their ripeness, simply drop them on the ground. Farmers also use this technique to determine if their cranberries are ready for shipment.

Popsicles were invented accidentally by an 11-year-old boy.

According to legend, an 11-year-old boy left a mixture of soda and water in a cup outside overnight, which froze. He enjoyed the frozen treat the next morning and named it “Epsicle” after his last name, Epperson. Later, his children renamed it “Pop’s Sicle,” and the name stuck.

Bird’s nest soup made from bird saliva is a luxury dish in China.

One of the expensive delicacies in China is bird’s nest soup, which is made from the saliva of small swiftlets and has been used in Chinese cuisine for over four centuries.

It is acceptable for food to contain a certain amount of insects.

The FDA allows a certain level of insect traces in food products. For example, chocolate can contain no more than 60 insect fragments per 100 grams, while peanut butter cannot have more than 30 insects per 100 grams.

Coffee beans can help freshen your breath.

Roasted coffee beans can prevent bad breath by fighting bacteria. Drinking coffee also helps, but it’s not as effective. The popular soda, Mountain Dew, surprisingly contains orange juice as its third ingredient. Chimichangas, considered Mexican food, actually originated in Arizona and were named “thingamajigs” by a cook in the 1950s. Altitude affects your taste buds, making food taste different when flying. Shredded cheese contains cellulose, a digestible wood pulp approved by the FDA to prevent clumping. Humans share 60% of their DNA with bananas. Pizza Hut used to be the biggest purchaser of kale, which was used as a garnish for their salad bars. Figs can contain dead wasps due to their unique pollination process. Potatoes are 80% water, making them a close second to celery. India produces, consumes, and exports the most chili peppers, including some of the spiciest ones like the bhut jolokia. 49% of Americans over 20 eat a sandwich every day, a drastic change from the Revolutionary War era when sandwiches were avoided due to their association with Britain. Serbia is home to the most expensive cheese, Pule, made from donkey milk at a single location.

Discounted Pule was sold for $576 per pound, which is normally over $1,000 per pound.

Turkey leads in tea consumption per person.

Although Turkish coffee is famous, tea is the most popular staple. Turks consume almost 7 pounds of tea per person every year, which is more than England.

The Netherlands tops in coffee consumption per person.

Each person drinks about 2.5 cups of coffee daily, which is higher than Finland and Sweden at 1.8 and 1.3 cups, respectively.

Movie snack preference varies across countries.

While Americans prefer popcorn, dried ants are popular in Colombia, dried cuttlefish in Korea, and dried salted plums in China.

Brown sugar is not different from white sugar.

White sugar and brown sugar are equally refined. Molasses, which is removed during the refining process, is added back to make brown sugar.

German chocolate cake is not from Germany.

A Texan invented German chocolate cake using “German’s Chocolate,” which is named after the creator, Sam German.

Tonic water glows due to quinine.

Quinine, found in tonic water, causes it to glow in the dark.

Flamin’ Hot Cheetos were invented by a janitor.

In 1976, Richard Montanez, a Frito-Lay plant janitor, pitched the idea for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to the CEO after getting the idea while eating elote (grilled corn on a stick).

Cilantro and coriander are not the same.

Cilantro refers to the plant’s leaves and stems, while coriander refers to the dried seeds.

Jelly and jam differ in their fruit content.

Jam is made with fruit, making it chunky, while jelly is made from fruit juice and spreads evenly.

Alabama celebrates pecans.

The pecan is Alabama’s state nut, and the state hosts a yearly pecan festival with carnival rides, country music, and a western show.

India has the lowest meat consumption globally.

On average, Indians only consume 7 pounds of meat per person per year, which is significantly less than what I eat in just one week!

Junk food is cheaper than healthy food.

While it may be tempting to opt for junk food to save money, it’s important to note that healthy food is typically more expensive.

In fact, nutritious food can cost up to 10 times more per ounce than junk food.

Coconut water can be used as a substitute for blood plasma in emergencies.

Coconut water has high levels of sodium and low levels of potassium, making it similar to blood plasma.

However, it should only be used in dire emergencies as it can cause adverse effects, such as fever, headaches, itchiness, and aching sensations.

Fortune cookies are not actually a Chinese invention.

Despite being commonly associated with Chinese cuisine, fortune cookies were actually invented in San Francisco in the early 1900s.

It is possible to survive solely on breast milk.

As breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients for the human body, it is possible for both babies and adults to survive on it alone, provided they consume enough of it.

Eskimos use refrigerators to prevent their food from freezing.

Contrary to popular belief, Eskimos need refrigerators in order to prevent their food from freezing in the arctic temperatures.

Regular consumption of fast food can have a negative impact on the liver.

Even just one month of regularly eating fast food can cause significant changes to the liver, due to the high levels of fat and saturated fats present in such foods.

These changes can be similar to the effects of hepatitis on the liver enzymes.

Enormous amounts of Nutella are sold worldwide every year.

The amount of Nutella sold worldwide is so large that it could cover The Great Wall of China 8 times over, circle the globe 1.8 times, and weigh as much as the Empire State Building.

Goat meat is the most commonly consumed type of red meat globally.

Despite burgers being a common staple, goat meat is actually the most popular type of red meat consumed worldwide, accounting for 70% of such consumption.

This is good news, as goats are better for both the environment and our health.

Seattle has made it illegal to throw away food waste.

Since 2015, businesses in Seattle can be fined $50 per dumpster and single-family homes can be fined $1 for failing to compost their food waste and compostable paper.

Agricultural scientist Norman Borlaug saved over a billion lives.

Norman Borlaug is one of the most influential men in history due to his development of new strains of crops, which yielded four times as much food.

It is estimated that he saved over a billion lives through his work.

California is one of the world’s largest food suppliers.

Despite facing droughts, California remains one of the world’s largest food suppliers and a leading user of irrigation water in the U.S.

In 2015, astronauts were able to eat food grown in space for the first time.

The lettuce was grown in a specially designed chamber and was sampled on August 10, 2015. This breakthrough means that we can explore space for longer without worrying about running out of food supplies.

40% of produce grown in the U.S. is wasted because it’s deemed too ugly to sell.

Grocery stores refuse to stock imperfect fruits and vegetables because consumers won’t buy them.

The taste of food can be influenced by sound.

High-frequency sounds can enhance sweetness in food, while low frequencies bring out bitterness.

Death row inmates in Texas no longer get to choose their last meal after one inmate requested an expensive meal and then didn’t eat it.

State legislators ended the tradition of allowing inmates to request their final meal after this incident.

Australians consume the most meat, followed closely by Americans.

On average, Australians eat 200 pounds of meat per person every year.

Americans consume 500 million pounds of peanut butter each year.

This amount of peanut butter would be enough to coat the floor of the Grand Canyon.

There are more Indian restaurants in London than in Mumbai or Delhi, and most of the owners are of Bangladesh descent.

Out of the 15,000 restaurants in the U.K., most are located in major cities, specifically London.

The Columbian Exchange led to the worldwide spread of plants and seeds, introducing new foods to different regions.

Christopher Columbus started this exchange, resulting in oranges in Florida, bananas in Ecuador, and potatoes in Ireland, among other things.

Hot chocolate tastes better when served in an orange cup, according to a scientific study.

The same hot chocolate was served in white, cream, red, and orange cups to 57 volunteers, who preferred the taste when served in an orange cup.

The Margherita pizza was created to represent the Italian flag, with basil for green, tomatoes for red, and mozzarella for white.

Skipping dinner or having an early dinner can increase the amount of fat burned while sleeping.

It’s impossible to cook an egg on a sidewalk.

The record for the highest temperature ever recorded is 131 Fahrenheit. To cook an egg on a sidewalk, it would need to be 158 degrees, but even with the reflection of heat, concrete is not a good heat conductor, so it’s not possible to cook an egg that way!

Breakfast isn’t the most important meal of the day.

The idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day only became popular because a company called General Foods used it as a marketing campaign in 1944 to sell more of their cereal Grape Nuts. The campaign stated that “Nutrition experts say breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

The Domino’s co-founder traded his shares for a Volkswagen.

One year after opening, James Monaghan, a co-founder of Domino’s, traded his half of the shares for a used VW Beetle. 38 years later, the other co-founder, Tom Monaghan, sold his shares for $1 billion.

These were 100 random facts about food. Which one of these facts surprised you the most? Or maybe there are a few that you already knew about? It just goes to show that no matter how hard we try to eat well, sometimes it’s hard to avoid the bad stuff. All we can do is try our best and read the facts about the foods that we love – or hate – the most!

FAQ

1. How many pounds of cheese does the average American consume per year?

The average American consumes around 35 pounds of cheese per year, making the United States the largest cheese consuming nation in the world. That’s a lot of cheese!

2. Is it true that bananas are berries?

Yes, it is true! Bananas are actually classified as a berry, while strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are not. This is because a berry is defined as a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary, and bananas fit this description.

3. How long does it take for a pineapple to grow?

A pineapple takes about 18 to 20 months to grow from a seed to a full-sized fruit. This is why pineapples can be quite expensive, as they require a lot of time and care to grow and harvest.

4. What is the world’s most expensive spice?

The world’s most expensive spice is saffron, which comes from the stigmas of the crocus flower. It takes about 75,000 saffron flowers to produce just one pound of saffron, which is why it is so expensive. Saffron is commonly used in dishes such as paella and risotto.

5. How many varieties of apples are there?

There are over 7,500 varieties of apples grown around the world, with the most popular varieties being Gala, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith. Apples are a great source of fiber and Vitamin C, and can be eaten raw or cooked in a variety of dishes.