Fun Facts About Food

McDonald's "Big Mac" slogan, introduced in 1975, is: "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and a sesame seed bun."

The Agen plum which would become the basis of the US prune industry was first planted in California in 1856.

The difference between apple juice and apple cider is that the juice is pasteurized and the cider is not.

Refried beans aren't really what they seem. Although their name seems like a reasonable translation of Spanish frijoles refritos, the fact is that these beans aren't fried twice. In Spanish, refritos literally means "well-fried," not "re-fried."

Tequila is made from the root of the blue agave cactus.

Saffron, made from the dried stamens of cultivated crocus flowers, is the most expensive cooking spice.

Potato chips were invented in Saratoga Springs in 1853 by chef George Crum. They were a mocking response to a patron who complained that his French fries were too thick.

Since Hindus don't eat beef, the McDonald's in New Delhi makes its burgers with mutton.

McDonalds and Burger King sugar-coat their fries so they will turn golden-brown.

Per capita, the Irish eat more chocolate than Americans, Swedes, Danes, French, and Italians.

Laws forbidding the sale of sodas on Sunday prompted William Garwood to invent the ice cream sundae in Evanston, IL, in 1875.

Mayonnaise is said to be the invention of the French chef of the Duke de Richelieu in 1756. While the Duke was defeating the British at Port Mahon, his chef was creating a victory feast that included a sauce made of cream and eggs. When the chef realized that there was no cream in the kitchen, he improvised, substituting olive oil for the cream. A new culinary masterpiece was born, and the chef named it "Mayonnaise" in honor of the Duke's victory.

Rice is the staple food of more than one-half of the world's population.

The California grape and wine industries were started by Count Agoston Haraszthy de Moksa, who planted Tokay, Zinfandel, and Shiras varieties from his native Hungary in Buena Vista in 1857.

Potato chips are American's favorite snack food. They are devoured at a rate of 1.2 billion pounds a year.

The dye used to stamp the grade on meat is edible. It's made from grape skins.

Sliced bread was introduced under the Wonder Bread label in 1930.

Nabisco's "Oreo's" are the world's best-selling brand of cookie at a rate of 6 billion sold each year. The first Oreo was sold in 1912.

The average child will eat 1,500 PB sandwiches by high school graduation.

Research show that only 43% of homemade dinners served in the US include vegetables.

Persians first began using colored eggs to celebrate spring in 3,000 B.C. 13th century Macedonians were the first Christians on record to use colored eggs in Easter celebrations. Crusaders returning from the Middle East spread the custom of coloring eggs, and Europeans began to use them to celebrate Easter and other warm weather holidays.

The color of a chile is no indication of its spiciness, but size usually is - the smaller the pepper, the hotter it is.

Large doses of coffee can be lethal. Ten grams, or 100 cups over 4 hours, can kill the average human.

Swiss Steak, Chop Suey, Russian Dressing, and a Hamburger all originated in the US.

The daughter of confectioner Leo Hirschfield is commemorated in the name of the sweet he invented: Although his daughter's real name was Clara, she went by the nickname Tootsie, and in her honor, her doting father named his chewy chocolate logs Tootsie Rolls.

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