Buzz
Many of us have a go-to snack, whether it's a candy bar or a cookie, and it's easy to get swept up in the latest food trends or beliefs about them. However, a lot of these assumptions are simply myths, and it's time to set the record straight. Here are the top ten myths surrounding popular treats that you should stop believing.
Myth #10: Oreos are Fully Vegan
In 2017, Oreos were the highest-grossing cookie brand in the U.S., raking in $710 million in sales. Many vegans were excited to hear that Oreos were a vegan-friendly option. But this rumor isn't quite accurate. As stated on Oreo's official U.K. website, these cookies aren't entirely vegan due to potential milk cross-contact. Cross-contact means the cookies or the equipment used to make them might have trace amounts of milk residue. To get a truly vegan-friendly Oreo, you might want to try making them yourself at home.
It wasn't until December 1997 that Oreos became vegetarian-friendly and received Kosher certification from the Orthodox Union (O.U.). This change came after ice cream manufacturers in the U.S. demanded real Oreos for their products. The issue was that the crème filling contained lard, or pork fat. Nabisco, which makes Oreos, had to overhaul about 100 large baking ovens—a task that took almost three years to complete.
Myth #9: Eating Raw Cookie Dough Is Dangerous
If you've ever been told by your parents or grandparents to stop eating raw cookie dough because it could make you sick, you've likely missed out on one of the best parts of baking. Contrary to popular belief, eating cookie dough with raw eggs is not deadly. Raw eggs are just as nutritious as their cooked counterparts. While there is a small risk of salmonella, the likelihood of contamination is low—only 1 in 30,000 eggs in the U.S. are affected. Additionally, the incidence of contamination has dropped since the 1990s due to advancements in egg processing. In the rare case you do get sick, it's usually limited to mild symptoms like diarrhea, but the cookie dough certainly won't harm you permanently.
Myth #8: Gum Stays in Your Stomach for Seven Years
Despite what you've heard from parents or teachers, gum does not remain in your stomach for seven years. While your body may not break it down, it will eventually pass through your digestive system. Gum is flexible enough to move through the intestines and won't cause any blockages like larger food items might. In rare cases, a child who swallows large amounts of gum, combined with constipation, could experience an obstruction.
Well-known brands like Wrigley have been producing gum since the 1890s. To attract customers, Wrigley marketed gum as a medicinal product in 1907, claiming it soothed stomachs and relieved stress. Recent research has revealed that chewing sugar-free gum can improve dental health, reduce cavities, alleviate stress, and even enhance memory. By 1999, studies estimated the global gum market at 560,000 tons annually, with 374 billion pieces sold worldwide. If each piece is chewed for 30 minutes, that adds up to 187 billion hours spent chewing gum. So not only does swallowed gum pass through your system, but it could also help with your health in other ways.
Myth #7: Twinkies Last Forever
While it's commonly believed that Twinkies could outlive humanity in the event of an apocalypse, they do have an expiration date. Hostess, the maker of Twinkies, states that their iconic treat stays fresh for only 25 days when stored in a cool environment. Not only do Twinkies expire, but they nearly vanished when Hostess filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2012. Thankfully, production resumed after an eight-month hiatus.
So how did this idea that Twinkies will survive the apocalypse come about? The most likely source for this myth is an episode of *Family Guy*. Additionally, Twinkies have no dairy or eggs and are wrapped in cellophane, giving the appearance that they could last longer without spoiling. However, their quality and edibility might still deteriorate over time.
Myth #6: Drinking Soda with Pop Rocks Will Make You Explode
Combining a carbonated drink with the crackling sensation of Pop Rocks may sound like an explosive recipe, but the result is simply a lot of gas. The long-standing myth involves a character named ‘Little Mikey’ from the 1970s and 1980s *Life* cereal commercials, who supposedly died from his stomach exploding after consuming soda and Pop Rocks. While the origin of this story is unclear, we now know that Little Mikey, played by John Gilchrist, survived his childhood and continues to enjoy Life cereal. In 2012, John Gilchrist revealed in an interview with *Newsday*, “The folklore is that I ate Pop Rocks, the exploding candies, and I drank a soda, and my stomach blew up.”
Pop Rocks create their signature popping effect through pressurized carbon dioxide. When combined with carbonated soda, the gas inside the candy is released, producing an even larger burst of carbon dioxide. You can observe this gas buildup with a simple science experiment:
* Take a bottle of soda, some Pop Rocks, and a balloon. * Put the soda and candy inside the balloon and watch as the gas inflates it, building up more and more.
Now, imagine your stomach as the balloon—what you’ll get is a big burp. While you won’t explode, the excessive gas could lead to discomfort. In 2001, the Janze family from Alamo, California, filed a lawsuit against Baskin-Robbins after their 5-year-old daughter Fifi ended up in the hospital due to Shrek Swirl ice cream containing Pop Rocks. Doctors had to remove gas from her stomach.
Myth #5: The Hole in Lifesavers Is a Life-Saving Feature
There’s a popular myth about the creation of Lifesavers candy and the reason inventor Clarence Crane decided to put a hole in the center. The story claims that his daughter died from choking on a mint, which led him to create a safer mint with a hole to prevent choking. This, however, is not true.
Although Crane did lose a son many years after inventing Lifesavers, the true reason he created the mint with a hole was to make it stand out. In 1912, Crane, a chocolate maker from Cleveland, Ohio, wanted a treat that wouldn’t melt in the summer heat. A visit to the pharmacist inspired him to design a circular mint. He decided to punch a hole in the mint so it would be distinctive from the European mints of the time. Crane named them Lifesavers because they resembled mini life preservers.
Myth #4: White Chocolate Isn’t Real Chocolate
You might have been told that white chocolate isn’t ‘real’ chocolate. While this has some technical truth, it’s based on a misconception. White chocolate doesn’t contain cacao nibs like milk or dark chocolate, but it does include cocoa butter. A cocoa bean is composed roughly of equal parts cocoa butter and cacao nibs. According to both European and American regulations, white chocolate must contain at least 20 percent cocoa butter to be classified as chocolate. Therefore, it is a product made from cocoa beans.
David Lebovitz, a renowned pastry chef and cookbook author, has defended white chocolate, arguing that it's unnecessary to argue about the specifics. He points out that we call various foods hamburgers, even when they don’t contain ham, and milkshakes are now more often blended than shaken. So, why not let cocoa butter count as chocolate?
Myth #3: Fortune Cookies Are From China
You might think that fortune cookies, often served at the end of a Chinese meal, are a Chinese tradition, but that’s not true. These cookies are actually an invention of Japanese Americans in California. The idea of putting a fortune inside a cookie originated in Kyoto, Japan. Back in the 1870s, Kyoto confectioneries sold 'tsujiura senbei,' or 'fortune crackers,' which were larger and made with sesame and miso. These crackers resemble fortune cookies but differ in flavor and size. Fortune cookies likely arrived in the U.S. with Japanese immigrants between the 1880s and early 1900s, particularly in Los Angeles and San Francisco, where the vanilla-flavored version of the cookie was created.
So, how did these cookies end up in Chinese restaurants? According to Jennifer Lee, author of 'The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food,' Japanese immigrants started opening Chinese restaurants early in the 20th century because Americans didn’t like raw fish. Instead, they preferred dishes like chop suey, chow mein, and egg foo young. When Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps during World War II, Chinese Americans took over the production of fortune cookies. In 2014, the Boston Globe reported that Wonton Food's factory in Queens, New York, produces 4 million fortune cookies daily—just from one U.S. factory!
Myth #2: Sugar-free Candy Is Harmless to Teeth
It’s a common assumption that sugar-free candy is automatically better for your teeth, but this isn’t entirely true. While these candies don’t contain sugar, they are often sweetened with artificial sweeteners, some of which can still be harmful. Fruit-flavored candies, especially those with citric acid, can contribute to tooth erosion. Additionally, chewy sugar-free candies like caramels and lollipops can leave sticky residues between your teeth. Cavities aren’t directly caused by sugar; rather, it’s the bacteria that feed on the leftover residues in your mouth that damage tooth enamel and create cavities. So, sugar-free candy can still be a risk to your dental health.
Myth #1: Candy Canes Were a Christian Symbol
The iconic 'J' shape of a candy cane is often thought to symbolize the name of Jesus and is given out at Christmas in honor of his birthday. However, this story is not accurate. A popular myth claims that a candymaker in Indiana invented the candy cane with several Christian symbols in mind, such as:
* The white color representing the Virgin Birth. * The hard texture symbolizing the strong foundation of the Church and God's promises. * The 'J' shape for both Jesus and the staff of the Good Shepherd. * The red stripes as a representation of Jesus's bloodshed on the cross.
The Smithsonian reports that hard candy sticks date back to the 17th century, long before Indiana became a state in 1816. This means the story of an Indiana candymaker inventing the candy cane is unlikely to be true. The candy cane’s association with Christmas in America is more commonly linked to August Imgard, a German immigrant in Ohio.
