The Daily Dish: Eat A Lot Of Seafood? You Also May Be Eating As Much As 11,000 Pieces Of Plastic A Year

Eat a Lot of Seafood? You Also May Be Eating As Much As 11,000 Pieces of Plastic a Year

A new study from researchers at the University of Ghent in Belgium has estimated that, on average, people eat 11,000 pieces of plastic in their seafood every year.These plastic pieces are usually microscopic, but they can be harmful. However, the human body does pass around 99 percent of these plastic pieces without problem; it's the 1 percent unknown that is a big question mark. "Now we've established that they do enter our body and can stay there for quite a while, we do need to know the fate of the plastics," Dr. Colin Janssen, who led the study, told Sky News. "Are chemicals leaching out of these plastics and then causing toxicity? We don't know and actually we do need to know."

Pesky Stink Bugs Might Make Your Wine Taste Like Cilantro

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, stink bugs, specifically brown marmorated stink bugs, may change the taste of wine. Stink bugs feed on grapes in vineyards, and due to their small size, they can sometimes make it to the winemaking process. During crush, the stink bugs release the stress compounds tridecane, which is odorless, and E-2-decenal, which has a musty, cilantro-like smell, according to EurekAlert. Researchers suggested that winemakers can limit the effects of stink bugs if no more than three insects occupy each grape cluster, which would lessen the level of stress compounds and decrease their impact on the quality of wine. Since pesticides are not 100-percent effective, researchers looked into ways to minimize the damage of stink bugs after harvesting the grapes.

Don Your Scuba Gear for This Unique Underwater Restaurant

Dive into a new experience at The Pearl — a unique restaurant in Brussels that's actually 16 feet under the surface of a giant pool. You'll have to wear scuba gear to get down to the actual dining area, but don't worry: your food won't get soggy. The Pearl is actually an air-tight globular bubble in the middle of the six-and-a-half-foot-wide pool, so you can enjoy your seafood salad, foie gras, and Champagne (served in airtight jars by expert scuba divers) without fear. The experience is a little bit pricey at the equivalent of $106 per person, but it's probably worth it to be able to say, "I ate dinner under the sea last night!"

UK's Pinkster Gin Makes Boozy 'Gin Jam' With Recycled Raspberries

British company Pinkster is making a profit off of a natural byproduct of its gin by using fresh, gin-soaked raspberries left over from production to make its latest product, Gin Jam. "From a business and sustainable point of view, we are able to create a delicious new product and minimize waste," Marsh told Beverage Daily. The slightly alcoholic jam (only 2.5 percent ABV) is produced by The Wooden Spoon Preserving Company, which is dedicated to artisan products and independent retailers. Gin Jam is available online for £6.50 (or $8.11) and at select retailers and bars in the UK. 

These Are the Most Romantic Cities in America

Where in America can you experience the most romantic meal? OpenTable compiled data on restaurants labeled as romantic, percentage of eateries with tables for two, and number of Valentine's Day reservations to unveil the 25 most romantic cities in America.  The winner is, unsurprisingly, in the South. Oklahoma City ranked No. 1, followed by St. Louis and Savannah, Georgia. "Food is the universal language of love, so it's not surprising that romance and dining go hand in hand," said Caroline Potter, chief dining officer for OpenTable, in a statement.