In 2016, research from the University of Michigan discovered that out of all foods, pizza was the most likely to create addictive behavior, with chocolate and potato chips coming in close behind. On the opposite end of the spectrum, cucumbers, carrots, and beans were found to be the least habit-forming...
Facts about food
Thrift and Nostalgia: The History of Desperation Pies
Desperation pies, recognized for their economical and readily available filling ingredients, gained their popularity amid financial depressions, World Wars, and prior to the advent of refrigeration. Different types of these pies, such as Green tomato pie, Shoofly pie, Chess pie, and Vinegar pies, were commonly prepared during these challenging times.
Survival at Sea: A Month with Ketchup and Seasonings
Elvis Francois, a 47-year-old sailor from Dominica, managed to survive almost a month stranded at sea, with ketchup and seasonings as his only source of sustenance. In December 2022, while carrying out repairs on his vessel near St. Martin, unforeseen currents swept him out to the open sea. Losing his...
Hormel Foods’ Unique Terminology: Unwanted Emails over Spam
Employees at Hormel Foods, the company known for producing canned SPAM, are encouraged to call spam emails “unwanted emails.” Back in the 1930s, who would’ve thought that the name of a canned meat product could stir up such a fuss in the realm of the internet? Hormel Foods, famous for creating...
Pizza Farms: A Delicious Blend of Agriculture and Education
Have you ever heard of pizza farms? These are unique establishments that either sell pizzas made from ingredients grown on-site, or they function as educational farms that cultivate pizza ingredients, often on a circular piece of land divided into pizza slice-like segments. Some of these farms primarily focus on selling...
From Bitter to Better: The Evolution of Brussels Sprouts Since the 90s
Since the 1990s, Brussels sprouts have undergone intentional breeding to improve their taste by reducing their bitterness. Plant breeders selected the most promising varieties and crossbred them with newer ones that boasted other beneficial features, such as increased yields and robust disease resistance. This strategic breeding resulted in Brussels sprout...
Inventing the Iconic: Robert C. Baker and the Birth of Chicken Nuggets
Robert C. Baker, a professor of food science at Cornell University, devised the concept of the chicken nugget in the 1950s. He referred to this new food item as the “Chicken Crispie,” which was a small chunk of chicken enveloped in batter and subsequently deep-fried. Rather than seeking a patent...
7 Tantalizing Tidbits About the World’s Favorite Pie: Pizza
Get ready to dive into the delicious world of pizza as we serve up seven scrumptious facts about everyone’s favorite comfort food. From its humble beginnings to its global impact, these tidbits will leave you craving a slice and appreciating the rich history behind this irresistible culinary creation. So, grab...
Salisbury Steak: American Dish Inspired by European Tastes and Health Advocacy
Originating in the United States, Salisbury Steak was created to cater to the preferences of European immigrants and was named in honor of Dr. James Salisbury, an advocate of a meat-centric diet for improved health. Since 1897, the term “Salisbury Steak” has been associated with a main course featuring a...
Government Cheese: A Controversial Chapter in US History
In the 1980s, the US government found itself with a massive surplus of cheese due to volatile milk production and federal support for the dairy industry. With over 500 million pounds of processed American cheese stored in warehouses across 35 states, the government struggled to find a use for it....