You might believe you know all there is to know about your favorite foods and beverages. However, we’ve compiled 50 astonishing food facts that will challenge your assumptions. These intriguing tidbits will make you rethink everything you know about food and what you consume. At least, that’s how we felt after discovering them!
From wildly colorful varieties of corn to the secret filling in KitKat candy bars, this list is brimming with surprises. Which of these fun food facts do you find the most surprising?
The filling in Kit Kats is made with crumbs from broken Kit Kat bars.
The bars that don’t make the cut are crushed up and used as the filling between the wafers. In other words, Kit Kats are actually filled with more Kit Kats. No wonder they taste so good!
German chocolate cake isn’t actually from Germany.
The name comes from a man named Sam German, who founded a chocolate company in 1852. His dark baking chocolate bar was used in the original cake recipe.
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reddit
Every year, 4% of the world’s cheese is stolen.
Cheese is the most frequently stolen food item in retail stores. Thieves often target cheese first, leading to approximately 1 in every 25 packs of cheese in the grocery aisle mysteriously disappearing.
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reddit
Take 5 candy bars use Reese’s Peanut Butter as the filling.
Take 5 combines peanuts, chocolate, caramel, and pretzels with creamy Reese’s peanut butter. This makes sense, as both are produced by The Hershey Company.
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Wikimedia Commons
Fruit salad trees grow different fruits on the same tree.
These trees are real, though the fruits must belong to the same family. For example, you can have a tree with six different types of citrus fruits or one with yellow, green, and red apples all on the same branch.
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youtube
There are enough varieties of apples to eat a different one every day for twenty years.
There are around 7500 varieties of apples. And if you divide that number by 365, you get 20.55 years. That means you can go for two decades without eating the same kind of apple twice.
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pixabay
Red wine causes more drowsiness than other types of alcohol.
A study was conducted to determine if different alcohols affected people’s emotions differently. Among all the options, red wine made people the sleepiest. Spirits, white wine, and beer didn’t have the same effect.
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pexels
Glass Gem corn has rainbow kernels that look like little beads of glass.
It might seem unbelievable, but corn with multi-colored kernels is real. It’s called Glass Gem corn. These stunning colors were achieved by crossbreeding several Native American varieties of corn.
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reddit
Food tastes different on airplanes because we lose our sense of taste.
Airplane food isn’t renowned for its deliciousness. One reason might be that at high altitudes in a pressurized cabin, our sense of taste and smell is significantly diminished. Sensation for sweet and salty foods can be reduced by as much as 30%.
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reddit
It isn’t necessary to wash chicken before cooking.
Many believe you should always wash raw chicken before cooking it. However, experts in germ control suggest that washing raw chicken may actually pose more problems. It can spread raw juice onto other kitchen items without effectively removing bacteria from the chicken itself.
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pexels
McDonald’s used to cook their fries in beef fat.
Until just a few decades ago, the fries were cooked in this manner. However, in 1990, the company changed its recipe in an effort to make the dish healthier. This decision was prompted by lobbying efforts from groups advocating against fat and cholesterol in fast food products.
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pexels
Diamonds can be made from peanut butter.
The high carbon content of peanut butter renders it an excellent substance for use in laboratory-created diamonds. This was demonstrated by a scientist on a German TV station a few years ago.
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pexels
Asparagus grows on stalks in the dirt.
Asparagus doesn’t grow on vines or trees; it simply pops up right out of the ground. There are vast fields of this vegetable out there.
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pexels
The only difference between peaches and nectarines is the skin.
Genetically, peaches and nectarines are essentially the same. However, there’s one gene that determines whether the skin is fuzzy (in peaches) or smooth (in nectarines). This gene can be either switched on or off.
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pexels
Coconut water is a potential blood plasma alternative.
The water inside coconuts, not milk, has found uses beyond drinking and cooking. In times of crisis, it has been used as a substitute for blood plasma. Throughout history, there are numerous examples of it being injected intravenously.
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pexels
Cranberries are harvested from marshes.
Contrary to popular belief, cranberries don’t grow on trees. Instead, they thrive in vast marshes of knee-deep water. To harvest them, one must wade into the middle of these marshes.
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pexels
Hawaiian pizza is from Canada.
The classic pineapple and ham Hawaiian-style pizza is beloved by many, but most don’t realize it has nothing to do with Hawaii. This topping combination first gained popularity at a pizza restaurant in Ontario during the 1960s.
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reddit
It requires 1700 liters of water to make a 100-gram chocolate bar.
Cocoa beans require an astonishing amount of water to grow. The most ideal cocoa-growing locations are found around the equator of the Earth. On average, it takes 1700 liters of water to produce a typical bar of chocolate.
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pixabay
Mountain Dew is mostly orange juice.
Many people suspect that Sprite is lemon-lime flavored, but upon closer inspection of the ingredients, you’ll notice that concentrated orange juice is the third listed ingredient, right after high fructose corn syrup and carbonated water.
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Wikimedia Commons
The name Spam is a combination of “spice” and “ham”.
Spam isn’t just some random mystery meat. Its primary ingredient is actually pork. The name was essentially meant to be a play on “spiced ham.”
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reddit
Potatoes were once used to test Wifi signals on planes.
Due to their chemistry and water content, potatoes absorb signals much like humans do. In fact, Boeing once placed sacks of potatoes in their plane seats to test their wireless system.
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pixabay
European chocolate is legally required to taste better.
By most people’s standards, European chocolate is considered richer than American chocolate. This is because European law mandates a higher percentage of milk fat in chocolate compared to the USA. This higher milk fat content contributes to the rich flavor that many people love.
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reddit
Most wasabi is horseradish with green food coloring.
It’s highly probable that you’ve never actually tasted authentic wasabi. The green paste served at most sushi restaurants in the United States is typically a blend of horseradish, mustard, and food dye. Even in Japan, genuine wasabi is rare to find.
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reddit
Monk fruit extract is about 250 times sweeter than sugar.
If you’re seeking a natural sweetener with intense sweetness, consider monk fruit. Compared to sucrose (common sugar), the difference is significant. Only a small pinch of monk fruit extract is needed to achieve the same level of sweetness.
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wikipedia
Potatoes contain an extremely high percentage of water.
It’s surprising to consider that 80% of a potato’s weight is water, with the remaining 20% consisting of solids. Despite our perception of potatoes as solid, the majority of their weight is actually due to their high water content.
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pixabays
Pineapple plants can take two to three years to produce a fruit.
Before a pineapple is ready to be harvested, there’s a lengthy process involved. If grown from seed, a pineapple plant takes an entire year before it even begins to form fruit.
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Wikimedia Commons
Most 100% orange juice isn’t actually 100% natural.
The extraction process often results in the loss of many natural flavors. To compensate for this loss, companies may mix in artificial flavors with the juice. Thus, even if a juice is labeled as 100% juice, it might still contain artificial additives to enhance its flavor.
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reddit
Butter doesn’t really need to be refrigerated.
As long as you plan to use it relatively soon, there’s no real need to store butter in the fridge. It can be left out for up to ten days without any risk, as long as the room temperature doesn’t exceed 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
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reddit
Eating too much nutmeg can cause you to get high.
In large quantities, nutmeg can indeed induce a buzz that can last for multiple days. This effect is due to its active compound called myristicin. However, because of its unpleasant side effects, nutmeg is not very popular as a recreational substance.
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reddit
Eskimos use refrigerators to keep their food cool.
The old saying “you can’t sell ice to an Eskimo” implies that selling something unnecessary to a person who already has plenty of it would be futile. However, in some extremely cold areas, communities actually need refrigerators to keep their food warm and prevent it from freezing or getting “freezer burnt” while sitting outside.
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Wikimedia Commons
The word “cookies” originates from the Dutch word “koekje”.
The literal meaning of the word “cookie” in Dutch is “little cake.” When you consider it, that’s essentially what a cookie is—a small cake served in a portion size that’s only a bite or two.
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pexels
Cashews grow on the ends of cashew apples.
The apple portion of the cashew plant is indeed edible and is used in some juices and recipes. However, the plant is primarily renowned for the nut that grows on the end. These nuts are plucked from the apple portion, then dried and cracked.
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Wikimedia Commons
Ketchup was sold in a pill form as diarrhea medicine in the 1800s.
Originally, tomatoes were not only considered delicious but also medicinal. In fact, ketchup was believed to cure all sorts of illnesses and ailments. It’s fascinating to see how this condiment has evolved over time.
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Wikimedia Commons
They don’t have fortune cookies in China.
The fortune cookies, with their little messages inside, are a purely American invention. They are primarily found in American Chinese restaurants and are not typically served in China. In fact, if you were to serve them in China, people would likely be very confused.
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pixabay
Cilantro and coriander are the same thing.
If you’ve seen both names used in recipes before, we can understand your confusion. In the United States, the spice is typically referred to as cilantro, while in the United Kingdom, the term coriander is more commonly used.
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pixabay
Garlic applied to the skin can cause chemical burns.
While garlic smells pungent when cooked, some of the same chemicals responsible for its aroma can make it caustic to the skin. In extreme cases, leaving crushed garlic cloves on the skin can cause second and third-degree burns.
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Wikimedia Commons
Parmesan cheese is essentially lactose-free.
Each serving of Parmesan contains less than one gram of lactose, which is essentially negligible. As a result, Parmesan is considered one of the most easily digestible cheeses, even for individuals with lactose intolerance.
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pexels
There is more vitamin C in peppers than in oranges.
Oranges are often the first choice for boosting vitamin C levels, but peppers are actually an even better source. A cup of chopped red bell pepper contains approximately three times as much vitamin C as one orange.
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pexels
McDonald’s sells around 75 burgers per second.
Burgers are in high demand worldwide, with orders flying off the grill faster than we can count. McDonald’s success over the years is largely due to their specialization in speed, efficiently serving customers with quick and convenient meals.
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pexels
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos were invented by a janitor.
Richard Montañez worked at the Frito-Lay plant at the time. One day, he had a big idea after experimenting with spices in his kitchen. Today, he is a top marketing executive at PepsiCo.
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reddit
Lemons float in water while limes sink.
It’s an interesting phenomenon you can test out yourself. Limes are slightly more dense than water, while lemons are slightly less dense. As a result, one sinks while the other floats.
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pixabay
Astronauts from NASA ate food grown in space in 2015.
They feasted on a small lettuce plant, marking the first-ever type of food that was both grown and consumed in space. This achievement was part of a vegetable-growing experiment.
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pexels
Drinking expired milk is often okay.
Many people are comfortable drinking milk that is a few days past the expiration date. While the flavor might be slightly off, it shouldn’t be unsafe at that point. However, beyond a few days, it’s best to discard it.
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pexels
The singular word for spaghetti is spaghetto.
If you’re referring to all the pasta in the dish, it’s spaghetti. However, if you’re talking about a single noodle, it’s spaghetto. That’s just how the Italians do things!
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pexels
Water left out in a glass for a day is still safe.
People often say you shouldn’t leave a glass of water out overnight and then drink it, but there’s no scientific reason why you can’t. Water itself doesn’t spoil quickly because it has no ingredients. However, it could potentially absorb flavors from the air if left out, which might affect its taste.
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pexels
In the USA, Haribo Green Gummy Bears are strawberry flavored.
In the United Kingdom and Germany, the green ones are apple-flavored. It’s possible that other places have different preferences, but a green strawberry does seem a bit odd!
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reddit
President John Adams drank a quarter pint of cider daily and lived to be 90.
It was his morning ritual: drinking about four ounces of cider daily upon awakening. Remarkably, his practice seems to have caused him no ill health effects over the long term.
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Wikimedia Commons
The first bananas were mostly inedible.
They looked nothing like the bananas we’re accustomed to today. Initially, they were green and had very little edible fruit inside. It took years of careful domestication to develop the modern banana that we enjoy today.
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Wikimedia Commons
All fruit and vegetables need to be washed before consuming them.
If fresh fruits or vegetables don’t specifically say they’ve been pre-washed, it’s a good idea to give them a rinse. This helps remove any remaining dirt or pesticide residue. When it comes to consuming fresh produce, it’s better to err on the side of caution and ensure they’re clean before eating.
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Wikimedia Commons
Any foods with “added fiber” have cellulose in them.
That “added fiber” often comes from cellulose, otherwise known as wood pulp. It’s commonly found in cereals, shredded cheeses, and similar products. While the idea might sound a bit unappetizing, it’s generally safe to consume in small amounts.
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pixabay
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