That Time Britain Thought Spaghetti Grew On Trees

An April Fool's joke for the ages.

Food
1 min
Colton Kruse
Colton Kruse
That Time Britain Thought Spaghetti Grew On Trees

Spaghetti Farming

In 1957, the completely legitimate and credible BBC new program, “Panorama,” pulled an April Fools joke for the ages. They ran a short special on the Swiss spaghetti farmer, explaining the careful process of cultivating and harvesting pasta.

The public bought the lie completely, but to be fair to them, people in the United Kingdom were not all that familiar with pasta in the 1950s. The reverberations of rationing during World War II could still be felt at the local grocery store while the whole of Europe continued to rebuild. Olive oil, for example, still hadn’t even made their way into most people’s diets, and was primarily sold in chemist’s shops as an aide for removing ear wax.

Couple a relative ignorance of Italian cuisine with the reputation of “Panorama” for providing reliable news, and it’s no wonder people didn’t know any better. According to editors of the segment, the whole plan hinged on the voice-over provided by Richard Dimbleby—a broadcaster and news anchor highly respected by the public. The story’s producers were even afraid to ask him to come in on the stunt, but after reading the script he loved the idea.

By the 1960s, immigration was on the rise, eventually bringing exotic dishes like spaghetti and meatballs to Britain, and putting an end to the spaghetti harvest prank.

About The Author

Colton Kruse

Colton Kruse

Starting as an intern in the Ripley’s digital archives, Colton’s intimately familiar with the travel…

By this author

Does Alcohol Evaporate Out of Food When Cooked?

Does Alcohol Evaporate Out of Food When Cooked?

The Appalachian Apple Hunter Who Saved 1,200 Lost Varieties

The Appalachian Apple Hunter Who Saved 1,200 Lost Varieties

How Long Does It Actually Take to Digest Swallowed Gum?

How Long Does It Actually Take to Digest Swallowed Gum?

Read All Their Stories

Or Explore Our Categories

Have an Amazing Story?

At Ripley’s, we’re always in search of the unbelievable – maybe it’s you! Show us your talents. Tell us a strange story or a weird fact. Share your unbelievable art with us. Maybe even sell us something that could become a part of Ripley’s collection!

Have an Amazing Story?

Read More Ripley's

Get lost in a vortex of weird and wonderful stories! Ripley’s twenty-first edition annual book is full of all-new, all-true stories from around the world.

Dare to Discover book
Buy Now
Swirling Pinstripe backdrop
Ripley's Cartoon of the Day

September 19, 2024

Cartoon of the Day

Strong winds at Slope Point, New Zealand, have left trees with a permanent crooked shape.

Ripley's Cartoon of the Day

Robert Ripley began the Believe It or Not! cartoon in 1918. Today, Kieran Castaño is the eighth artist to continue the legacy of illustrating the world's longest-running syndicated cartoon!