Pasta Fun Facts

“Lotsa Pasta” Fun Facts “Lotsa Pasta” Fun Facts

• Pasta is one of America's favorite foods. Last year, 1.3 million pounds of • Pasta is one of America's favorite foods. Last year, 1.3 million pounds pasta were sold in American grocery stores. If you lined up 1.3 million of pasta were sold in American grocery stores. If you lined up 1.3 million pounds of 16 oz. spaghetti packages, it could circle the Earths equator pounds of 16 oz. spaghetti packages, it could circle the Earths equator almost nine times! almost nine times!

• The first commercial pasta plant in the U.S. was founded in Brooklyn, • The first commercial pasta plant in the U.S. was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1848. (By a Frenchman!) New York in 1848. (By a Frenchman!)

• According to a survey by the National Pasta Association, 77% of • According to a survey by the National Pasta Association, 77% of Americans surveyed eat pasta at least once a week, and 1/3 eat pasta 3 or Americans surveyed eat pasta at least once a week, and 1/3 eat pasta 3 more times a week. or more times a week.

• By 3,000 B.C., the Chinese were eating noodles: long and flat, wide or • By 3,000 B.C., the Chinese were eating noodles: long and flat, wide or thin, made with wheat, corn, rice or peas. Italians swear, however, that thin, made with wheat, corn, rice or peas. Italians swear, however, that pasta was in Italy long before Marco Polo's first trip to China (the first in pasta was in Italy long before Marco Polo's first trip to China (the first in 1255). At least 10 years before Marco Polo's trip to China, Romans were 1255). At least 10 years before Marco Polo's trip to China, Romans were eating ravioli, lasagna and macaroni, and there are references to fettuccine eating ravioli, lasagna and macaroni, and there are references to dated even earlier than that. fettuccine dated even earlier than that.

• Thomas Jefferson brought a pasta-making machine back with him in • Thomas Jefferson brought a pasta-making machine back with him in 1789, when he returned to America after serving as ambassador to France. 1789, when he returned to America after serving as ambassador to It was not until 1848 that pasta was first produced commercially in the France. It was not until 1848 that pasta was first produced commercially U.S., and not until the late 19th century that it became popular. in the U.S., and not until the late 19th century that it became popular.

• One bushel of wheat will make about 42 pounds of pasta. • One bushel of wheat will make about 42 pounds of pasta.

• According to the National Pasta Association, Americans consume about • According to the National Pasta Association, Americans consume about 20 pounds of pasta per person each year. Italians eat more than 3 times 20 pounds of pasta per person each year. Italians eat more than 3 times that amount. that amount.

• There are more than 500 different pasta shapes. Translating their names • There are more than 500 different pasta shapes. Translating their into English does not exactly make them sound appetizing: worms, names into English does not exactly make them sound appetizing: spindles, hats, butterflies, twins, tubes, thimbles, little boys, little ears, quill worms, spindles, hats, butterflies, twins, tubes, thimbles, little boys, little pens, strings, ribbons etc. ears, quill pens, strings, ribbons etc.

“Lotsa Pasta” Fun Facts “Lotsa Pasta” Fun Facts • Pasta is one of America's favorite foods. Last year, 1.3 million pounds • Pasta is one of America's favorite foods. Last year, 1.3 million pounds of of pasta were sold in American grocery stores. If you lined up 1.3 million pasta were sold in American grocery stores. If you lined up 1.3 million pounds of 16 oz. spaghetti packages, it could circle the Earths equator pounds of 16 oz. spaghetti packages, it could circle the Earths equator almost nine times! almost nine times! • The first commercial pasta plant in the U.S. was founded in Brooklyn, • The first commercial pasta plant in the U.S. was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1848. (By a Frenchman!) New York in 1848. (By a Frenchman!) • According to a survey by the National Pasta Association, 77% of • According to a survey by the National Pasta Association, 77% of Americans surveyed eat pasta at least once a week, and 1/3 eat pasta 3 Americans surveyed eat pasta at least once a week, and 1/3 eat pasta 3 or or more times a week. more times a week. • By 3,000 B.C., the Chinese were eating noodles: long and flat, wide or • By 3,000 B.C., the Chinese were eating noodles: long and flat, wide or thin, made with wheat, corn, rice or peas. Italians swear, however, that thin, made with wheat, corn, rice or peas. Italians swear, however, that pasta was in Italy long before Marco Polo's first trip to China (the first in pasta was in Italy long before Marco Polo's first trip to China (the first in 1255). At least 10 years before Marco Polo's trip to China, Romans were 1255). At least 10 years before Marco Polo's trip to China, Romans were eating ravioli, lasagna and macaroni, and there are references to eating ravioli, lasagna and macaroni, and there are references to fettuccine fettuccine dated even earlier than that. dated even earlier than that. • Thomas Jefferson brought a pasta-making machine back with him in • Thomas Jefferson brought a pasta-making machine back with him in 1789, when he returned to America after serving as ambassador to 1789, when he returned to America after serving as ambassador to France. France. It was not until 1848 that pasta was first produced commercially It was not until 1848 that pasta was first produced commercially in the in the U.S., and not until the late 19th century that it became popular. U.S., and not until the late 19th century that it became popular. • One bushel of wheat will make about 42 pounds of pasta. • One bushel of wheat will make about 42 pounds of pasta. • According to the National Pasta Association, Americans consume about • According to the National Pasta Association, Americans consume about 20 pounds of pasta per person each year. Italians eat more than 3 times 20 pounds of pasta per person each year. Italians eat more than 3 times that amount. that amount. • There are more than 500 different pasta shapes. Translating their • There are more than 500 different pasta shapes. Translating their names names into English does not exactly make them sound appetizing: into English does not exactly make them sound appetizing: worms, worms, spindles, hats, butterflies, twins, tubes, thimbles, little boys, little spindles, hats, butterflies, twins, tubes, thimbles, little boys, little ears, quill ears, quill pens, strings, ribbons etc. pens, strings, ribbons etc.