Food Politics

Should Pennsylvnia Make Tofu Its State Food Just Because Ben Franklin Liked It?

Benjamins? It's all about the tofu.
Benjamins? It’s all about the tofu. Photo: iStock

Sure, we know that with his sprawling vegetable gardens and vast stores of imported and domestic wines at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson was the foodiest of America’s Founding Fathers. But what about fellow patriot Benjamin Franklin? It seems there was more to his diet than tankards of his beloved ale and tipples of milk punch. In fact, Franklin, who was once a vegetarian — he reportedly gave up meat as a young man so he would have more money to spend on books — and advocated a veggie-heavy diet all of his adult life, introduced tofu to the colonies in 1770. And now PETA is pushing for Pennsylvania to make it the state food.

That’s right: Despite being the second state to ratify the Constitution, Pennsylvania is the only in the union without a state food.

While this is awesome for those in the Keystone State who shun meat, veggie lovers and carnivores alike are probably thankful that Franklin’s too far gone to be featured in one of PETA’s naked vegetarian PSAs.

Eating Tofu: The Original Patriot Act? [PETA Files]
Related: Thomas Jefferson: America’s Foodiest President

Should Pennsylvnia Make Tofu Its State Food Just Because Ben Franklin Liked It?