Food for Thought: ‘The Green Fairy' is back

In December, the long-banned and much-fabled absinthe made its return to the U.S. market. The potent alcoholic drink - also known as "The Green Fairy" - was rumored to cause hallucinations and psychotic behavior, mostly because of one of its ingredients - wormwood. However, studies have shown that the facts don't live up to the legends (one has Vincent van Gogh cutting off his ear because of absinthe), and absinthe isn't quite the drug supposed, although it does have a high alcoholic content: up to 70 percent.