We are only one month into 2024, and it seems that a lot has already happened. In the world of food and culinary trends, this month has been full of strange developments and intriguing incidents. As usual, bizarre food videos and creative recipes have caught our interest. But beyond these, several other large-scale trends and global stories have given us food for thought. As January 2024 comes to an end, we have rounded up some of the top food-related stories that made headlines around the globe and in the country this month.
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January 2024 Recap: 10 Food-Related News Stories That Got The Internet Talking
1. Mona Lisa Was The Target Of A 'Soup Attack'
Photo Credit: AFP
Two activists belonging to the environmental group, "Riposte Alimentaire" hurled soup at Leonardo da Vinci's world-famous masterpiece at the Louvre museum in Paris. The incident took place on the morning of January 28. Before the room was evacuated, the protesters spoke to stunned onlookers and shared their message about the need for "healthy and sustainable food". Read the complete story here.
2. Bars In Dubai Are Using Ancient Glacier Ice For Drinks
Greenland-based Arctic Ice specialises in harvesting broken away from the glaciers and shipping them to the United Arab Emirates. This "pure" chilly ingredient is now available in exclusive establishments and bars. The company's website states, "Arctic Ice is sourced directly from the natural glaciers in the Arctic, which have been in a frozen state for more than 100,000 years. These parts of the ice sheets have not been in contact with any soils or contaminated by pollutants produced by human activities." The company has received a lot of criticism regarding the environmental consequences of its operations. Read more here.
3. US And UK Officials Reacted To The Idea Of Adding Salt To Tea
Michelle Francl, a professor at a US college, recently suggested that a perfect cup of tea requires a pinch of salt. Her suggestion quickly gained traction online, prompting responses from officials from the US and UK. The US Embassy in London stated, "Tea is the elixir of camaraderie, a sacred bond that unites our nations. We cannot stand idly by as such an outrageous proposal that threatens the very foundation of our special relationship". Clarifying that the professor's method is "not official United States Policy and never will be," they added that they "will continue to make the tea proper way - by microwaving it". The Cabinet Office of the UK government responded, "We appreciate our Special Relationship, however, we must disagree wholeheartedly... Tea can only be made using a kettle." Check out the X post here.
4. Reese Witherspoon Shocked The Internet By Having Snow
Famous Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon shared a video showing how to make a "snow salt chococinno". In the clip, we see fresh snow being collected from outside her house to make the cold treat. The snow is topped with salted caramel syrup, chocolate syrup and cold brew. Reese herself is observed tasting the chilled creation. The video sparked a heated online debate about the relative safety of consuming snow in this way. Reese later shared a series of videos in which she defended her decision. To know more, click here.
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5. Indians Jumped On The Bandwagon Of The 'Orange Peel Theory'
Towards the end of 2023, the orange peel theory had taken parts of the internet by storm. In January 2024, we saw that Indians started taking a special interest in this viral trend. The idea of this theory is to determine your partner's 'true' feelings for you by testing their willingness to peel an orange for you. This small act of service is supposed to be a sign of their genuine affection. Desis have shared several hilarious memes and posts in connection with the orange peel theory. Check out some of them here.
6. Stanley Cup Craze Reached New Heights
For several weeks now, the USA has been gripped by a Stanley Cup frenzy. The overwhelming demand for certain limited edition products of the Stanley brand has led to tussles between customers, serpentine queues outside shops and even theft. Videos and memes on the subject have gone viral on different social media platforms. A woman in California was also arrested after stealing Stanley merchandise worth around 2 lakh rupees. Read more here.
7. South Koreans Eat Toothpicks, But Health Concerns Were Raised
We often hear of bizarre food trends taking over foreign countries. In South Korea, a viral trend of eating fried toothpicks made headlines this month. The picks are made from starch and are biodegradable. However, they could contain unsafe additives or be contaminated in other ways. Videos of people relishing this delicacy in different ways went viral. It prompted the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to raise awareness that their safety as a food item has not been tested.
8. Price Of Louis Vuitton Sandwich Bag Left Internet In Disbelief
Luxury brand Louis Vuitton unveiled a leather bag inspired by the conventional brown paper bag used to carry items like sandwiches. The coveted accessory comes with "a zipped pocket and a double flat pocket to keep things organized," as per the official site. But its eye-watering price was the main point of concern online. Those wanting to own this luxury sandwich bag need to be ready to shell out Rs 2,80,000. Yes, you read that right. Learn more about it here.
9. Masala Chai Was Named The Second Best Non-Alcoholic Beverage In The World
India's beloved drink, masala chai, received global recognition when it was featured among the best non-alcoholic beverages in the world. The accolade was announced as part of the Taste Atlas Awards for 2023-24. Several other Indian dishes, ingredients and restaurants were also recognised by the popular food guide. Find out more here.
10. A Person Ordered More Than 100 Roomali Rotis On New Year's Eve
As we rang in 2024, various stories about New Year's Eve celebrations came to our attention. Some of them only came to light a few days after the fact. But one of the incidents that immediately fascinated Indians was that someone in Kolkata ordered 125 roomali rotis from Zomato on New Year's Eve. The company's CEO, Deepinder Goyal, shared an X post regarding the same. Read the complete article here.
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