SEPTEMBER 21
Today in Food History• National Pecan Cookie Day (Pecan Trivia & Facts) • St. Matthew the Apostle, patron of accountants and tax collectors. • National Farm Safety & Health Week (Sept 15-21, 2024) [Nat'l Education Ctr for Agricultural Safety]
(Farms and Farmers Trivia & Facts) • UK: [British Food Fortnight] (Sept 20-Oct 6, 2024) • UK: [Fairtrade Fortnight] (Sept 9-22, 2024) Celebrate the people who grow our food, people who live in some of the poorest countries in the world and who are often exploited and badly paid.
On this day in:1756 John Loudon McAdam was born (died Nov 26, 1836). Scotish engineer who invented macadam pavement for roads. 1760 Olof Swartz was born. A Swedish botanist who collected plants in Jamaica and Hispaniola, and published several books on the plants of the Caribbean. 1776 The Great Fire of 1776 in New York City. During the British occupation of the city during the Revolutionary War a fire broke out at the Fighting Cocks Tavern, near Whitehall Slip. It destroyed between 10 and 25 percent of the 4,000 buildings in the city. (New York Food Trivia) 1784 The nation's first daily newspaper, the 'Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser', began publication. 1897 Deere and Co. registered 'John Deere' trademark. 1897 The famous editorial 'Is There a Santa Claus' reply to 8 year old Virginia O'Hanlon letter appeared in the New York Sun. (See article: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus) 1930 John T. Dorrance died (born Nov 11, 1873). An American chemist, he developed a method to make condensed soup, and served as president of Campbell Soup Co. from 1914 to 1930. (Campbell Soup Trivia) 1937 J.R.R. Tolkein's 'The Hobbit' was published. Hobbits were well known as both gourmets and gourmands. 1959 Congress passes legislation authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to run a Food Stamp program through 1962. However the Eisenhower Administration never uses the authority. (See February 2, 1961) 1961 Earle Dickson died. He invented Band-Aids for his wife, who had frequent kitchen accidents, cutting or burning herself. He worked for Johnson & Johnson, who soon began manufacturing Band-Aids. 1964 'Bread and Butter' by The Newbeats was #2 on the charts. 1969 Anne Burrell was born. American chef and television food show personality. Host of the Food Network's 'Secrets Of A Restaurant Chef', 'Worst Cooks in America', and 'Chef Wanted.' Author of 'Cook Like a Rock Star'. 1970 Monday Night Football premiered. More snack food please! (The Cleveland Browns beat the NY Jets, 31-21) 1971 Coca Cola introduced the plastic bottle.
(Coca-Cola Trivia & Facts) 1982 A bad day for hot dog vendors. Only 2,251 fans came to see last place NY Mets play the Montreal Expos at Shea Stadium in New York City. (The Mets lost, 5-1)
(Hot Dog Trivia & Facts) 2015 Stewart Parnell, owner and CEO of Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), was sentenced to 28 years in prison. He was convicted of 72 counts of fraud and conspiracy for knowingly shipping peanut butter paste contaminated with salmonella bacteria. In 2008 peanut butter paste manufactured by PCA killed 9 people and sickened 714 others in 46 states. It resulted in one of the largest food recalls in American history. Parnell was the first corporate executive convicted of federal felony charges related to food poisoning.
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