Food is our main source of energy as humans and for foodies, it’s so much more than just a form of sustenance. While some of us don’t give a lot of thought to how a particular meal originated or how it was discovered, others are passionate about such facts.

There are often interesting stories behind the names, brands, and creation of some of our favorite food. This article will focus on 4 interesting food facts we bet you did not know.

Ron Lach/Pexels| Ketchup

Ketchup Was Once Used as Medicine

Yes indeed, that delicious paste you use with french fries and pizza was once prescribed for conditions such as diarrhea and indigestion. Perhaps you are smiling at the prospect of snacking on some fries and ketchup with a pack of juice as a remedy to your ailments. We hate to burst your bubble but the ketchup that was used for these purposes, in fact, came in the form of a pill.

Pixabay/Pexels | Beetles

Boiled Veetles Are The Source of The Red Dye in Skittles

The name of the red food dye in question is Carminic acid and it is derived by crushing beetle (Dactylopius coccus). Skittles are not the only food in which carminic acid is used–tt is also used in maraschino cherries, lipsticks, and strawberry/raspberry flavoured candies.

Kampus Production/Pexels | Beer was classified as a soft drink in Russia

Russia Did Not Classify Beer as An Alcohol Until 2013

You heard that right. For the Russians, a good old bottle of beer just wasn’t alcoholic enough to be classified as alcohol. In fact, beer and other drinks under 10% ABV were classified as soft drinks, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering the popularity of vodka in Russia. Fun fact, the word vodka comes from the Russian word “voda,” which translates to water–if that’s Russia’s idea of water, you can’t blame them for classifying beer as a soft drink.

Bottled Water Does Not Expire

For some eagle-eyed readers, this might come as a surprise since we have come across a few labels clearly stating the expiry dates of branded bottles of water. However, in this case, the expiry date merely refers to the quality of the water and the real danger is the health hazard posed by the bottle itself. Although the water will not expire anytime soon, the bottle, on the other hand, will. So, if the water were to be retrieved from the bottle and transferred into another one before the expiration date, it would be perfectly safe to drink that water after the due date stated on the label.