7 Facts About Food Everyone Should Know

1. Fortune cookies do not originate in China.

These cute cookies are traditionally, considered a part of Chinese cuisine. But, this is a myth. You will hardly find them in China. In reality, fortune cookies were invented in San Francisco by Japanese (and not even Chinese) Americans.

2. We eat insects and don't even know about it.

The food pigment carmine, also known as E120, is used to add red color to food products. But, not everyone knows that carmine is produced from carmine acid, generated by some scale insects such as the cochineal scale.

3. Ketchup can be produced without tomatoes.

Despite the fact that tomatoes are inexpensive (in comparison to wasabi, for example), they are quite often replaced with cheaper ingredients, such as applesauce, different thickeners, colourings and other additives. To distinguish a fake ketchup, first look at its color — it should be red or dark red. As for consistency, real ketchup shouldn't be too watery.

4. Why do crackers have holes in them?

The holes in crackers are not a decorative touch. They actually ensure that the treats bake properly. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so thin and crispy. By the way, the first crackers that were produced in the USA had holes that were made manually. Their number was 13, which corresponded to the number of states of the country at that time.

5. Canola and rapeseed oil are the same product.

The name 'canola' actually means Canadian oil, low acid. It is different from the regular rapeseed oil only by the reduced amounts (up to 2%) of erucic acid, which not only negatively affects the taste but is also toxic to the heart.

6. The calorie count shown on packs can be inaccurate.

The problem is that the calorie measuring system is already out of date. For example, it does not account for how absorption varies based on the type of food or the individual who is consuming it. Recently, scientists figured out that whole almonds have about 20% fewer calories than originally thought, and pistachios have 5% fewer calories.

7. Chewy fruit snacks contain the same wax as automobile waxes.

Apart from gelatine, colourings, and other ingredients, chewy fruit snacks also contain carnauba wax, which is a wax from the leaves of palm trees. The same wax is used for automobile waxes, furniture waxes, and it’s even used in the beauty industry.