Food and Culture Facts

Food & Culture deals with how we perceive food in our daily lives and how it can affect us in both positive and negative ways.

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Truffles: The Rarest and Most Expensive Fungi in the World

Truffles are prized the world over for their pungent, earthy flavor, but what's so special about them, and why is the truffle trade so cutthroat and secretive?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Nov 25, 2019 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

If at First You Don't Succeed, Try Tripe Again

Humans have been cooking and eating tripe for centuries. Think you can stomach it?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler Nov 18, 2019 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

6 Cheesy Facts About Cheeseburgers

We're celebrating, what else? The all-American cheeseburger.

By Tara Yarlagadda Sep 17, 2019 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Why Are Certain Foods Eaten Mainly at Breakfast?

Americans have come to expect certain foods for breakfast. But why did these particular foods end up as morning meals?

By Shaun Chavis Sep 3, 2019 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Take a Bite Out of Cheese Curds

Fried cheese curds are ooey, gooey and oh-so-delicious!

Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

How Food Forests Fight Hunger in Cities

Forests in the city? A growing collection of urban edible forests aims to put a dent in world hunger and food insecurity.

By Alia Hoyt Jul 12, 2019 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Snap, Crackle, Pop — the Ultimate Cereal Quiz

Did you love cereal as a kid? Do you still love it? Discover how much you do with our cereal quiz.

By Alia Hoyt Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Poutine Is Routine in Canada

Poutine is just fries, gravy and squeaky cheese curds — how did it get to be Canada's national dish?

By Jesslyn Shields Apr 29, 2019 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

We're Car-hopping at the Varsity, the World's Largest Drive-in!

HowStuffWorks heads to Atlanta's Varsity drive-in to learn about the historic restaurant's car hops, and chat with Frank Jones, a car hop that's worked there for nearly 65 years.

Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Did Quinoa Get Too Popular for Its Own Good?

As quinoa's popularity skyrocketed on the world stage, concern grew that it was becoming too expensive for the South Americans who originally depended on it. But what was really happening?

By Alia Hoyt Nov 5, 2018 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Why Is Lobster So Expensive, and Will it Stay That Way?

Lobster has long been associated with luxury and fine dining. But could newly imposed Chinese tariffs change that?

By Shaun Chavis Sep 18, 2018 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

How Michelin Became Synonymous With the World's Best Restaurants

Michelin's iconic dining guide rates the best restaurants in 30 countries and four continents. But how did a tire company start rating restaurants?

By Cherise Threewitt Sep 13, 2018 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Who the Heck Orders a Burger at IHOP?

The famed pancake chain is now a burger chain? What is happening?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Jun 11, 2018 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Barbecue Kings Are Crowned at Memphis in May

More than 230 teams will compete at the 2018 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, also known as Memphis in May.

By Shaun Chavis May 15, 2018 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

How You Eat May Reveal Who You Are

There are a lot of quirky eaters out there. Are you one of them?

By John Donovan Apr 26, 2018 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

5 Things You Didn't Know About Pizza

On a cold winter's day, a hot piece of pizza really satisfies. It works just as well on a hot summer's day with an icy soda too. But who invented pizza? And what did Chuck E. Cheese's have to do with Atari?

By Kathryn Whitbourne Feb 9, 2018 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Do Our Food Choices Demonstrate Our Political Preferences?

Whole Foods or Randalls? Cracker Barrel or Au Bon Pain? And what do your answers say about the way you voted, if anything?

By John Donovan Jan 24, 2018 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Antarctic Farm Could One Day Journey to Mars

The high-tech greenhouse will brave frigid temperatures, a long, dark winter and extremely low humidity in order to provide fresh produce to Antarctic residents.

By Tracy Staedter Oct 13, 2017 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Why Toys and Breakfast Cereals Have Been Linked for Decades

Kids have clamored for toys in their cereal boxes for decades, so how did the two become linked?

By Shaun Chavis Oct 13, 2017 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

5 Things You Didn't Know About Bacon

The sound and smell of bacon sizzling on the stove sends your taste buds into overdrive. But how bad is it really?

By Kathryn Whitbourne Sep 1, 2017 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

How Cricket Farming Works

Cricket farming is growing in popularity as people learn their nutritional importance, and environmental, economic and social sustainability.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Why We Feel Hungry … Even When We're Not

Hunger doesn't always feel like a grumble in the tummy. And a grumble doesn't always mean you're truly hungry, either.

By Kate Kershner Jul 6, 2017 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

5 Things You Didn't Know About Doughnuts

Homer Simpson's favorite snack was once called 'oily cakes.' Find out more about this and other fun facts on doughnuts.

By Kathryn Whitbourne Jun 2, 2017 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Wasted Food in the U.S. Could Feed Much of Population

Americans toss nearly 40 percent of the nation's food supply — enough to provide more than two-thirds of the country with a healthy daily diet of fresh fruits and vegetables.

By John Perritano May 31, 2017 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture

Why the U.S. Cares So Much About Corn ... Is Complicated

The United States grows billions of dollars of corn every year. Though little of that goes to feeding its citizens. Is that the best farm policy going forward?

By John Perritano May 8, 2017 Food Facts & Fun / Food & Culture