Events of September 23

Today’s Food History

on this day in…

1869 Mary Mallon was born. ‘Typhoid Mary’ was an infamous household cook who was responsible for major outbreaks of typhoid in the New York City area in 1904, 1907, and 1914. She was immune to typhoid herself, but was a carrier of the bacillus, and spread it wherever she worked as a household cook.

1880 Sir John Boyd Orr was born. A Scottish scientist and nutrition expert, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to eliminate world hunger.

1923 Nancy Green died. Nancy Green was hired to represent and demonstrate Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix. At the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the exhibit was so popular that police had to control the crowds at the Aunt Jemima booth. Fair officials awarded her a medal and proclaimed her Pancake Queen. She played the part of Aunt Jemima until her death in a car accident.

1947 Jerry Corbetta of the music group ‘Sugarloaf’ was born.

1969 ‘Sugar, Sugar’ by the Archies is #1 on the charts.

2008 Flatulent Assault or Battery by Fart: A man in West Virginia was charged with battery on a police officer when he passed gas and allegedly ‘fanned’ it toward the police officer. He had been taken to the police station for a Breathalyzer test when the alleged ‘fart and fan’ caper occurred. The prosecutor’s office later requested that the criminal complaint be dropped.