Wikipedia

Twinkie

For other uses, seeTwinkie (disambiguation).

TheTwinkieis an Americansnack cake,described as "goldensponge cakewith a creamy filling ". It was formerly made and distributed byHostess Brands.The brand is currently owned byHostess Brands, Inc., itself currently owned byThe J.M. Smucker Companyand having been formerly owned byprivate equity firmsApollo Global ManagementandC. Dean Metropoulos and Companyas the second incarnation of Hostess Brands.[1]During bankruptcy proceedings, Twinkie production was suspended on November 15, 2012, and resumed after an absence of a few months from American store shelves, becoming available again nationwide on July 15, 2013.[2][3]

The logo of Twinkies, a product of Hostess.

Grupo Bimbo'sVachon Inc.,which owns the Canadian rights to the product and made them during their absence from the U.S. market,[4]produces Twinkies in Canada at a bakery in Montreal. They are made inEmporia, Kansas,in the U.S.[5]Twinkies are also available in Mexican stores as "Submarinos" made by Marinela, and as "Tuinky" made by Wonder; both Marinela and Wonder are also subsidiaries of Mexican bread company Grupo Bimbo.[6][7]In Egypt, Twinkies are produced under the company Edita. Twinkies are also available in the United Kingdom and Ireland under the Hostess brand name where they are sold inSainsburys,Tesco,ASDA,andB&Mstores. Twinkies are produced and distributed by multiple commercial bakeries inChina,[8]whereHostessdoes not own the brand.[9]

History

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Box of Hostess Twinkies bySaputo Incorporated,sold in Canada

Twinkies were invented on April 6, 1930, by Canadian-born bakerJames "Jimmy" Alexander Dewarfor theContinental Baking Company[10]inSchiller Park, Illinois.[11]Realizing that several machines used for making cream-filled strawberryshortcakessat idle whenstrawberrieswere out of season, Dewar conceived a snack cake filled withbanana cream,which he dubbed the Twinkie.[12]He said he came up with the name when he saw a billboard in St. Louis for "Twinkle Toe Shoes".[13][14]

DuringWorld War II,bananas were rationed, and the company was forced to switch tovanillacream. This change proved popular, and banana-cream Twinkies were not widely re-introduced. The original flavor was occasionally found in limited time only promotions; the company used vanilla cream for most Twinkies.[15]In 1988, Fruit and Cream Twinkies were introduced with a strawberry filling swirled into the cream. The product was soon dropped.[16]Vanilla's dominance over banana flavoring was challenged in 2005, following a month-long promotion of the movieKing Kong.Hostess saw its Twinkie sales rise 20% during the promotion; in 2007, the company restored the banana-cream Twinkie to its snack lineup although they are now made with 2% banana purée.[17][18]

In November 2012, as Hostess announced its plan to shut down its operations,Timeranked the Twinkie #1 in its list of 10 "iconic"junk foods,saying that "they've been a staple in our popular culture and, above all, in our hearts. Often criticized for its lack of any nutritional value whatsoever,[a]the Twinkie has managed to persevere as a cultural and gastronomical icon. "[20]

Hostess bankruptcy

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On January 11, 2012,[21]parent companyHostessfiled forChapter 11bankruptcy protection.[13]Twinkie sales for the year, as of December 25, 2011,were 36 million packages, down almost 20% from a year earlier.[13]Hostess said customers had migrated to healthier foods.[13]On November 16, 2012, Hostess officially announced that it "will be winding down operations and has filed a motion with theU.S. Bankruptcy Courtseeking permission to close its business and sell its assets, including its iconic brands and facilities. "Bakery operations were suspended at all plants.[22]

Box of Hostess Twinkies byHostess Brandsprior to bankruptcy

On November 19, 2012, Hostess and theBakers Unionagreed to mediation, delaying the shutdown for two days. On November 21, 2012, U.S. bankruptcy judgeRobert Drainapproved Hostess' request to shut down, ending Twinkie production in the United States.[23]

Return of Twinkies to U.S. market

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Across-sectionof "Limited Edition" Chocolate Creme Twinkies from 2011

On March 18, 2013, it was reported that Twinkies would return to store shelves in May of that year. Twinkies, along with other Hostess Brands, were purchased out of bankruptcy by Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co for $410 million.[24][25] Twinkies returned to U.S. shelves on July 15, 2013.[26]Apollo subsequently sold Hostess for $2.3 billion.[27]

Before Hostess Brands filed for bankruptcy, Twinkies were reduced in size. They now contain 135 kilocalories (560 kJ) and have a mass of 38.5 grams, while the original Twinkies contained 150 kilocalories (630 kJ) and had a mass of 42.5 grams. The new Twinkies also have a longer shelf life of 45 days, which was also a change made before bankruptcy, compared to the 26 days of the original Twinkies.[28]

Twinkies Cereal, made byPost,was introduced in December 2020.[29]

In 2017, Chocolate Cake Twinkies came on the market.[citation needed]

Deep-fried Twinkie

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A deep-fried Twinkie

Deep fryinga Twinkie involves freezing the cake, dipping it intobatter,and deep-frying it. A story inThe New York Timesabout the deep fried Twinkie with one of its claimed inventors — Christopher Sell, originally fromRugby,England — described this way: "Something magical occurs when the pastry hits the hot oil. The creamy white vegetable shortening filling liquefies, impregnating thesponge cakewith its luscious vanilla flavor.... The cake itself softens and warms, nearly melting, contrasting with the crisp, deep-fried crust in a buttery and suave way. Thepièce de résistance,however, is a ruby-hued berry sauce, adding a tart sophistication to all that airy sugary goodness. "[30]

In 2002, Brooklyn restaurateur Clint Mullen introduced the fried Twinkie at severalstateand county fairs to great popular acclaim, and the notion spread to other establishments that specialize in fried foods.[31]Fried Twinkies are sold throughout the U.S. in fairs as well as ball games, and in various restaurants. Starting in August 2016,Walmartbegan selling prepackaged, frozen versions of the deep-fried Twinkie at stores nationwide in the US.[32]

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Television and film

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In 1984, the Twinkie became known worldwide in countries that did not sell the confection, due to a reference in the hit filmGhostbusters.[33]In the film, the characterEgon Spenglerdescribes a speculated level of psychokinetic energy and uses a regular-sized Twinkie to represent the normal level of such energy inNew York City.He then says that based on a recent sample, the Twinkie representing New York would be over 35 ft (11 m) long and weigh approximately 600 lb (270 kg), to which the characterWinston Zeddemorereplies, "That's a big Twinkie."[33]

On theChristmas Eveof 1988,Al Powell,one of the most iconic characters ofDie Hard,is introduced to the audience as a bigTwinkiefan, in a scene where he is buying a lot of Twinkies at a local7-Elevennear the Nakatomi Plaza, also known as2121 Avenue of the Stars.He jokingly says "they are for my wife... she's pregnant".[34]

The 1999Family Guyepisode "Da Boom"involves theGriffin familymoving toNatick, Massachusetts,in search of a Twinkie factory following theY2K apocalypse.The factory is shown to have survived completely intact, allowing the Griffins to use it as a food source and a means to rebuild society.

In the 2009 filmZombieland,Twinkies are the favorite snack of the character Tallahassee, who develops an obsession with finding one in the middle of aZombie apocalypse.

Song lyrics

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"Habits (Stay High)",a 2013 song by Swedish singerTove Lo,mentions Twinkies in the line "I get home, I got the munchies / Binge on all my Twinkies / Throw up in the tub / Then I go to sleep."[35]In an interview, the singer confessed she had thought that "twinkie" was a synonym for "cookie" and that Hostess had sent her a sample of the product after the success of the song.[36]

Twinkie defense

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Main article:Twinkie defense

"Twinkie defense" is a derisive label for an improbablelegal defense.It is not a recognized legal defense injurisprudence,but a catch-all term coined by reporters during their coverage of the trial of defendantDan Whiteforthe murdersofSan Franciscocity SupervisorHarvey Milkand MayorGeorge Moscone.White's defense was that he suffereddiminished capacityas a result of his depression. His change in diet from healthful food to Twinkies and other sugary foods was said to be a symptom of depression. Contrary to common belief, White's attorneys did not argue that the Twinkies were the cause of White's actions, but that their consumption was symptomatic of his underlying depression.[12]

Shelf life

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A commonurban legendclaims that Twinkies have a theoretically infiniteshelf life,and can last unspoiled for a relatively long time of ten, fifty, or one hundred years due to the chemicals used in their production.[37]More radically, it is even claimed Twinkies could survive anuclear war.[38]

The TV showThe Simpsonsdepicted this claim in its 5th-season episode "Homer and Apu".A customer at theKwik-E-Martscrews up a Twinkie and throws it on the floor in anger. Apu shouts after him, saying he cannot hurt a Twinkie. It then pops back into shape and Apu puts it back on the stand.[39]

The 2012 Super Bowl Chevy Silverado Apocalypse commercial also gives a nod to the Twinkie's reputed durability.[40]

In reality, Twinkies are on the shelf for a short time; a company executive toldThe New York Timesin 2000 that the "Twinkie is on the shelf no more than 7 to 10 days."[41]

The maximum shelf life was reported to have been 26 days, until the addition of stronger preservatives made beginning in 2012 increased it to 45 days.[42][38]A box of Twinkies from shortly before Hostess's bankruptcy in 2012 was opened eight years later; one had completely molded over withcladosporium,another had a small amount of mold, and the creme filling in a third Twinkie had turned brown with the taste of "old sock".[43]

Twinkie diet

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In 2010,Kansas State Universityprofessor Mark Haub went on a "convenience store" diet consisting mainly[44]of a snack of Twinkies,Oreos,orDoritosevery 3 hours in an attempt to demonstrate to his students "...that in weight loss, pure calorie counting is what matters most, not the nutritional value of the food." He lost 27 pounds (12 kg) over a two-month period, returning hisbody mass index(BMI) to within normal range.[45][46]

In addition to Twinkies, Haub ateLittle Debbiesnack cakes, cereals, cookies, brownies, Doritos, Oreos and other kinds of high calorie, low-nutrition foods that are usually found at convenience stores. However, despite calling it the "Twinkie diet", Haub also consumed 1protein shakeper day and one serving ofcanned green beansor 4celery stalks,along with the Twinkies,Oreos,andDoritos.[47]Besides the protein shake and multivitamin, Haub also ate nutritionally dense whole milk, carrots, and vitamin fortified cereal.[48][49][50]This contradicts representations by other media outlets stating that Haub "only" ate junk food.[51]He ate the vegetables at the dinner table in order to set a good example for his children.[52]

It is claimed legendary bodybuilderSergio Olivawould sometimes indulge in eating a box of Twinkies (with a 2 liter bottle ofMountain Dew) after his notoriously strenuous workouts.[53][54]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^This is a case ofhyperbole;thenutritional factsof 1 serving (2 Twinkie cakes) describes,inter alia,2 grams ofproteinand 1 milligram ofiron.[19]

References

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  1. ^Roeloffs, Mary Whitfill."Smuckers Buying Hostess Brands In $5.6 Billion Snack Food Deal".Forbes.RetrievedSeptember 13,2023.
  2. ^Parija Kavilanz (July 12, 2013)."'First batch' Twinkies go on sale at Walmart ".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on April 1, 2019.RetrievedJuly 13,2013.
  3. ^Staff and wire reports (July 12, 2013)."Hostess Twinkies make an early return to Southland shelves".Los Angeles Daily News.Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2013.RetrievedJuly 24,2013.
  4. ^Marotte, Bertrand (November 16, 2012)."As Hostess winds up, who will bite on Twinkies?".The Globe and Mail.Archived fromthe originalon November 16, 2012.RetrievedDecember 18,2012.
  5. ^"The Kansas City Star".Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2020.RetrievedNovember 7,2022.
  6. ^"Donatwinkiesaunamericano.org".April 9, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon April 9, 2016.RetrievedJuly 19,2018.
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  9. ^"How Hostess Surrendered The Twinkies Brand In China".Seeking Alpha.Archivedfrom the original on November 24, 2016.RetrievedNovember 26,2016.(subscription required)
  10. ^Biemer, John (April 30, 2006)."Homeowner Discovers That Mr. Twinkie Slept There".U-T San Diego.Archivedfrom the original on August 31, 2007.RetrievedJune 5,2011.
  11. ^Staff and wire reports (August 21, 2014)."Hostess closing bakery that created the Twinkie".MSN Money. Archived fromthe originalon August 23, 2014.RetrievedAugust 21,2014.
  12. ^abBelcher, Jerry (June 3, 1985)."Man Who Concocted the Twinkie Dies: James A. Dewar's Treat Is Part of America's Diet and Folklore".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on January 14, 2012.RetrievedAugust 3,2011.It was Dewar's inspiration to fill the cakes with a sugar-cream mixture, the formula for which is still a tightly held secret.
  13. ^abcdOvide, Shira (September 2, 2011)."Great Moments in Twinkies History".The Wall Street Journal.Archivedfrom the original on October 31, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 10,2011.
  14. ^Harper, Douglas R."Twinkie".Online Etymology Dictionary.RetrievedJanuary 2,2024.
  15. ^"The History of the Hostess Twinkie".Kitchenproject.Archivedfrom the original on January 1, 2011.RetrievedAugust 30,2011.
  16. ^Continental Baking Company (1988)."Fruit and Cream Twinkies commercial".Continental Baking Company.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2021.RetrievedMarch 8,2011.
  17. ^"Banana Twinkies: Made with Real Bananas -- in the 1930s".CBS News.March 25, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on November 7, 2022.RetrievedNovember 7,2022.
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  19. ^"Classic".Hostess.March 9, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 3,2024.
  20. ^Grossman, Samantha (November 16, 2012)."Top 10 Iconic Junk Foods".Time.RetrievedOctober 15,2021.
  21. ^Knipp, Christopher."City of Saginaw, Michigan; Notice of Chapter 11"(PDF).Hostess Brands, LLC.Archived(PDF)from the original on December 23, 2012.RetrievedNovember 17,2012.
  22. ^Erik_Halvorson, Blynn Austin."Hostess Brands is closed; HOSTESS BRANDS TO WIND DOWN COMPANY AFTER BCTGM UNION STRIKE CRIPPLES OPERATIONS".Hostess Brands, LLC. Media_Division. Archived fromthe originalon November 18, 2012.RetrievedNovember 16,2012.
  23. ^"Twinkie maker Hostess to 'immediately' fire 15,000 workers as liquidation approved".Business.financialpost.Archivedfrom the original on January 11, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 14,2013.
  24. ^Chris Isidore (March 13, 2013)."Twinkies due on shelves by summer as $410 million bid OK'd".CNNMoney.Archivedfrom the original on September 19, 2020.RetrievedAugust 3,2020.
  25. ^Mark Lacter (March 12, 2013)."Hooray, Twinkies are coming back".LA Observed.Archivedfrom the original on May 31, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 17,2013.
  26. ^"Twinkies, Hostess snacks back in stores today".Chicago Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2013.RetrievedJuly 15,2013.
  27. ^Corkery, Michael (December 10, 2016)."How the Twinkie Made the Superrich Even Richer".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on February 22, 2017.RetrievedDecember 12,2016.
  28. ^Choi, Candace (July 15, 2013)."New Twinkies weigh less, have fewer calories".USA Today.Archivedfrom the original on April 22, 2016.RetrievedJuly 15,2013.
  29. ^Heil, Emily."Review | The new Twinkies cereal tastes like a spoonful of sugary nostalgia — and never gets soggy".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Archivedfrom the original on February 10, 2021.RetrievedDecember 15,2020.
  30. ^"Fry That Twinkie, But Hold the Chips".The New York Times.May 15, 2002.Archivedfrom the original on June 1, 2013.RetrievedAugust 30,2011.
  31. ^"New junk food fad: Deep-fried Twinkies".CNN. September 18, 2002.Archivedfrom the original on November 10, 2016.RetrievedJuly 25,2018.
  32. ^"Walmart is selling deep-fried Twinkies".CNN.August 12, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on August 19, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 1,2016.
  33. ^abHays, Julia (February 26, 2016)."Celebrate the New Ghostbusters With Slime-Filled Twinkies".E! Online.Archivedfrom the original on February 27, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 26,2018.
  34. ^https:// youtube /watch?v=xtS-Ay_Bsyg
  35. ^Pathak, Shirani M. (October 6, 2014)."Heart Break For The Self-Respecting Woman".Relationship Center of Silicon Valley.Archived fromthe originalon April 2, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 11,2016.
  36. ^Held, Joey (April 7, 2015)."Tove Lo on Coming Back from Surgery and the Stupidity of Censorship".Paste Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon August 15, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 11,2016.
  37. ^"Forever Twinkies".Snopes – Urban Legends Reference Pages. May 19, 2011.RetrievedAugust 30,2011.
  38. ^abTIME, The Editors of (June 24, 2016).TIME American Originals: The Things That Shaped Our Culture.Time Inc. Books.ISBN978-1-68330-278-0.{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help)
  39. ^"Twinkie".Wikisimpsons.
  40. ^"Chevy Guys Live, Ford Guys Die in Silverado's Super Bowl Ad".Adweek -Creativity. February 3, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on April 19, 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  41. ^Kelley, Tina (March 23, 2000)."Twinkie Strike Afflicts Fans With Snack Famine".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on September 4, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  42. ^Kim, Susanna (July 9, 2013)."What's New About the Twinkie and Other Hostess Brands Favorites".ABC News.Archivedfrom the original on July 16, 2013.RetrievedJuly 22,2013.
  43. ^Greenfield-Boyce, Neil (October 15, 2020)."A disturbing Twinkie that has so far defied science".All Things Considered.Archivedfrom the original on October 23, 2020.RetrievedOctober 23,2020.
  44. ^"Nutrition prof's 'convenience store' diet shows calories count most when shedding pounds".MinnPost.November 12, 2010.Archivedfrom the original on December 18, 2019.RetrievedDecember 18,2019.
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  50. ^"K-State Professor Talks About His Junk Food Diet And Nutrition Labels".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 14,2021.
  51. ^"Professor aims to dispel diet myths with calorie-controlled junk food diet".foodnavigator-usa.September 2010.Archivedfrom the original on October 6, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 22,2017.
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  53. ^Jordan (July 4, 2021)."Sergio Oliva's Workout Routine".Iron and Grit Fitness.RetrievedJanuary 3,2024.
  54. ^"Best Genetics Ever? Why It Has To Be Sergio Oliva".musculardevelopment.RetrievedJanuary 3,2024.

Further reading

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