In other parts of Europe, people did not want to change their old food habits. Some preferred to die of hunger rather than eat potatoes. In 1774, King Frederick of Germany wanted to stop his people from dying of hunger. He understood that potatoes were a good food, so he told the people to plant and eat potatoes or else his men would cut off their noses. The people were not happy, but they had no choice and so started to eat potatoes. Today, people in this part of Germany eat more potatoes than any other nationality. Each person eats about 370 pounds of potatoes every year!