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The red food dye used in Skittles is made from boiled beetles -

Carminic acid, also known as carmine, is a common red food dye made from the crushed carcasses of a beetle known as the Dactylopius coccus. It's often found in Skittles, berry-flavored junk food, and even lipstick.

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Chili peppers contain a chemical that tricks your mouth into 'thinking' it's being burned -

Chili peppers contain a chemical known as capsaicin, which naturally connects to the pain receptors in our nerves. This is why spicy food hurts so much.

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Many shredded cheeses and cereals contain cellulose -

Cellulose is essentially sawdust. It's used in various shredded cheese products and cereals to prevent them from clumping.

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Honey will never go bad -

When kept in its natural state, honey is very low in moisture and high in acidity. These are the two primary factors against food spoilage.

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An ear of corn has an even number of rows -

You will rarely find an ear of corn with an uneven number. By the way, a typical ear of corn usually has 16 rows.

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Avocados are fruit -

Avocados are actually classified as a berry with a large seed. This healthy food must be picked when matured in order to ripen, which can take between one and two weeks.

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Tomatoes were believed to be poisonous -

In 18th-century Europe, the tomato was nicknamed "the poison apple," because aristocrats would often fall ill and die after eating them. However, this was caused by the tomatoes' high acidity that would cause lead to release from pewter tableware.

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Broccoli contains more protein than steak -

Besides the usual nutrition one gets from greens, there's more protein in broccoli than steak. Plus, it doesn't come with saturated and trans fats or cholesterol.

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Every banana you eat is a clone -

Even if there are over a thousand varieties of bananas all over the world, the most common ones found in the supermarket are all genetic clones of the Cavendish variety. This is because it doesn't have seeds, and it survives longer than the other varieties.

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Gummy candies and cars are coated in the same type of wax -

That glossy sheen coated on gummy candies is actually carnauba wax, which is also used on cars to make them look shiny.

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Pistachios are actually fruits -

Surprisingly, pistachios are actually seeds of a fruit (the outer fruit is removed during processing). They're rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

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One burger patty can contain hundreds of different cows -

This might sound disturbing to some, but hamburgers are almost always a mix of many animals. The same goes for the ground beef that we buy in the supermarket.

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All peppers are not the same vegetable -

Even if some green peppers are unripe red peppers, the green, yellow, orange, and red ones are all different plants with their own seeds.

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Caesar salad originated in the Mexican city of Tijuana -

In 1924, chef Caesar Cardini was hosting a Fourth of July celebration when he ran out of food. He threw together the ingredients he had lying around the kitchen and created this unique salad, which obviously became a success.

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Carrots were originally purple -

The original carrots look nothing like the ones we eat today. Back in the day, they used to be purple or white. However, due to a genetic mutation in the late 16th century, the vegetable turned orange and won out over the original color.

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Crackers will give you cavities faster than candy -

It's actually acid, not sugar, that's the major cause of tooth decay, and crackers have a high acidity content. On top of that, they're really sticky and get stuck between your teeth, which is a haven for bacteria.

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Farm-raised salmon is naturally white and then dyed pink -

Wild salmon are naturally pink due to the large amount of shrimps they eat. However, farm-raised salmon achieve their pink color because farmers add carotenoids, a plant pigment, to their food.

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Consuming too much nutmeg has the effect of a hallucinogenic drug -

Don't sprinkle too much nutmeg into your beverage and foods. Consuming too much of the spice can cause the physical effects of a hallucinogenic drug, including out-of-body sensations, nausea, and dizziness.

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Raspberries are a member of the rose family -

The same goes for cherries, plums, pears, strawberries, and blackberries. They all typically have flowers with five equal petals arranged around a central core.

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Grapes will explode if you put them in the microwave -

If you split a grape almost in half and put it in the microwave, it will create an explosive fireball of plasma and lighting. However, avoid this if you don't want any messy accidents!

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Ketchup was once believed to have medicinal qualities -

In the 1830s, a doctor in Ohio claimed that tomatoes could treat diarrhea and indigestion. He published recipes of tomato ketchup that he later turned into a concentrated pill.

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Peanut butter is healthy -

Eating peanut butter can actually lower cholesterol, aid in weight loss, and help prevent type 2 diabetes. Surprisingly, it can also glow in the dark after intense light exposure!

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Raw oysters are still alive when you eat them -

Some varieties of the shellfish can survive out of the water for up to two weeks. However, oysters need to be served very quickly because once they die they're no longer safe to eat.

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Potatoes can absorb Wi-Fi signals -

Because of their high water content and chemical makeup, potatoes can absorb and reflect radio and wireless signals.

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Before being domesticated, chickens only produced about a dozen eggs a year -

There was a time when chickens only produced about a dozen eggs a year. Today, they produce hundreds of eggs yearly.

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The Aztecs used chocolate as currency -

Known for their love of chocolate, the Aztecs used cocoa beans as currency. They also used cocoa to pay their taxes.

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Ranch dressing and coffee creamer can contain titanium dioxide -

Titanium dioxide is a food additive that is often used to make things appear whiter. It's also found in other items like paint, sunscreen, and laundry detergent.

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Apples give you more energy than coffee -

Thanks to their high carbohydrate, fiber, vitamin C, and mineral content, apples will give you more energy than coffee. So next time you're low on energy, grab an apple!

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Pecans are rich in antioxidants -

It might not be a nut that's often consumed, but pecans are actually one of the most antioxidant-rich nuts out there. A great option if you need a boost.

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Ripe cranberries will bounce like rubber balls -

Cranberries are actually known as "bounce berries" because they bounce when they're rip! In fact, bouncing them is a common ripeness test for farmers. 

Sources: (Insider) (Eat This, Not That!)

See also: Endangered food that may soon disappear from our planet 

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