Sunday, December 27, 2009

The Twinkie: Ingredients Revealed



I dont know about you but growing up I absolutely loved Twinkies! It wasn't until a few years ago that I came across a book that dissected the Twinkie and discusses all the ingredients that go into this yummy desert, including rocks!
Below is an article I found on twinkies, a must read for those junk food addicts out there!


Source: http://www.divinecaroline.com/22107/35281%20?CMP=DA_HSE_23



This got my attention. However, it only got worse when I discovered that the ingredients come from phosphate mines in Idaho, gypsum mines in Oklahoma, and oil fields in China. Okay, so now I was wondering if I was watching a real news story—come to find out, I was.

The Twinkie, which was created during the Depression, contains thirty-nine ingredients. One of those ingredients is a preservative, sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is an ingredient I see on many packages, and I have never thought twice about it. But author Steve Ettlinger did. He found that sorbic acid is actually derived from natural gas.

If that isn’t shocking enough, he goes on to talk about other ingredients like cellulose gum, Polysorbate 60, and calcium sulfate. Apparently, these ingredients are also used in sheet rock, shampoo, and rocket fuel. No wonder Twinkies make kids run around like crazy and have even been used as a defense for murder!
Mr Ettlinger also found that the vitamins, artificial colors, and flavorings in Twinkies 
come from petroleum.

I started to wonder how this tasty treat made from gas and rocks can be so light and airy. In comes Mr. Ettlinger again. Apparently, it’s limestone that makes Twinkies light. And that tasty cream center—it’s got to be milk, right? No. It’s made of shortening; there is absolutely no cream in the cream.

I have to say I was curious to know what Hostess, the makers of the Twinkie, thought about Mr. Ettlinger’s claims. Well, here’s the quote that ran in my newscast:
Deconstructing the Twinkie is like trying to deconstruct the universe. We think the millions of people … would agree that Twinkies just taste great.—David Leavitt, Vice President Snack Marketing at Hostess.

The news story was inspired by Steve Ettlinger’s new book, Twinkie Deconstructed. Ettlinger uses the Twinkie to demonstrate where our processed food ingredients come from. Since the Twinkie is the product leader—yes, it’s a product and apparently, barely a food—it served as the perfect tool to show consumers what goes into our food.

2 comments:

Lora said...

I learned about what goes into a Twinkie back in college when we learned about the "Twinkie Defense". I haven't eaten one since. Thanks for getting the word out there. People need to be more aware about what they put IN and ON their bodies.

People are starting to read food lables. I hope that people start to read shampoo and cosmetic labels soon too. It's scary

Rene´s Bare Essentials said...

I never used to be one who read food labels, cosmetic and shampoo labels etc until a few years back when I started having health problems. I met a girl who introduced me to organic produce and educated me about what goes into cosmetics and hair products. I was shocked and switched to natural hair products (love aubreys) and natural cosmetics with no harsh chemicals! Such a difference! As soon as I started watching what I put into and on my body I started feeling healthier!