Weird Food Facts

Did you know that ketchup was sold as medicine in the 1830s?

In some countries, ants are used as a topping for desserts.

The average American consumes about 18 pounds of bacon per year.

Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth.

Icelanders eat fermented shark, which has a strong ammonia smell.

Honey never spoils; archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly edible.

The world’s most expensive coffee is made from beans that have been eaten and excreted by a civet.

Saffron, one of the most expensive spices in the world, comes from the tiny red stigma of a crocus flower.

Ancient Romans used to consume a sauce made from fermented fish intestines called garum.

Dragon fruit, despite its name, has nothing to do with dragons and is actually a type of cactus fruit.

The melting point of chocolate is slightly below the human body temperature, which is why it melts in your mouth.

The world record for the largest burger ever made weighed over 2,000 pounds.

The holes in Swiss cheese are created by bacteria that release carbon dioxide as they ferment the cheese.

French fries were not originally from France, but from Belgium.

The world’s hottest chili pepper is called the Carolina Reaper and measures over 2 million Scoville heat units.

Jell-O, a popular dessert, can be used as a substitute for eggs in baking recipes.

Weird Food Facts part 2

Bananas are berries, while strawberries are not.

Australians enjoy eating Vegemite, a salty spread made from yeast extract.

Worcestershire sauce, commonly used in cooking, contains fermented anchovies.

The durian fruit, known for its pungent smell, is banned from many public places in Southeast Asia.

In France, it is common to eat snails as an appetizer.

Mayonnaise was invented in Spain and originally called salsa mahonesa.

The world’s most expensive pizza costs $12,000 and is topped with caviar, lobster, and gold flakes.

Kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish, is made by fermenting cabbage with spices and chili peppers.

Cows need to eat around 100 pounds of food to produce just 10 pounds of milk.

In Japan, people eat fugu, a fish that can be deadly if not prepared correctly.

The largest pizza ever made was over 131 feet in diameter and weighed over 44,000 pounds.

Americans consume about 20 billion hot dogs every year.

In Mexico, grasshoppers are considered a delicacy and are commonly eaten as a snack.

Nutella was created during World War II when an Italian pastry maker mixed hazelnuts with chocolate to extend the limited supply of cocoa.

In some parts of Africa, termites are collected and eaten as a protein-rich food source.

The artificial flavoring used in strawberry-flavored products is often made using a combination of chemicals derived from beaver anal glands.

The world’s largest jello mold weighed over 21,000 pounds and contained over 260,000 cups of gelatin.

Pineapple is native to South America and was named for its resemblance to pine cones.

The first chocolate bar was made in 1847 by Joseph Fry & Sons in England.

Insects, such as crickets and mealworms, are being used as alternative protein sources in some countries.

The world’s most expensive spice is saffron, which can cost up to $5,000 per pound.

Chocolate was once used as currency by the Aztecs and Mayans.

In Sweden, there is a traditional dish called surströmming, which consists of fermented herring.

The world’s largest hamburger weighed over 3,500 pounds and was cooked in Thailand.

Eating spicy foods can increase your metabolism and help you burn calories.

The blue color in blue cheese is caused by the presence of mold.

Apples float in water because they are 25% air.

Some species of ants are known to cultivate fungus gardens, which they feed on.

Marmite, a British spread made from yeast extract, is often described as a love-it-or-hate-it food due to its strong and distinctive taste.