Twinkies: Contrary to Belief, They Do Expire After All
Let's Dish About Those Iconic Twinkies!
Ever since they hit the shelves in 1930, Twinkies have been a fan-favorite sweet treat and graced the screen in numerous pop-culture moments, like the movie "Ghostbusters." But it ain't all glitter and gold for these golden sponge cakes. They've weathered the Great Depression, changes in ownership, health scares that led to dropping sales, and even a brief disappearing act between 2012-13. Some folks even joke that Twinkies would be the only grub left standing during an apocalypse. However, this longevity legend didn't arise because Twinkies miraculously managed to stay on store shelves through thick and thin. Nope, it's more about the cakes outlasting most packaged baked goods by a mile.
The joke about Twinkies surviving a nuclear holocaust might've started back in the 1990s when comedian Jay Leno cracked a joke about their resilience. Legend has it that this off-the-cuff remark evolved into a perpetuated myth about the undying nature of these snack cakes. But, don't be fooled - Twinkies ain't got nothing on tardigrades when it comes to a long life. According to the Associated Press, the actual shelf life of a Twinkie clocks in at a more reasonable 45 days. That's a good 19 days longer than the original recipe, which got a facelift in 2012, mere months before being sold to Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co. in 2013. To ensure ultimate freshness, the brand took to chilling some of its products before shipping them out to retailers.
[[1]] (https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/twinkies-nuclear-disaster-proof/)[[2]] (https://www.businessinsider.com/myth-twinkies-dont-expire-big-explainer-2020-10)[[3]] (https://time.com/5726179/twinkies-shelf-life/)[[4]] (https://www.today.com/food/why-do-twinkies-never-expire-t106050)[[5]] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dScywWAmPxw)
Twinkies have been a popular topic in pop-culture conversations, as seen in the movie "Ghostbusters." Their lasting fame in pop-culture and lifestyle discussions is not because of their miraculous shelf life, but rather due to their endurance on store shelves for an extended period compared to other packaged baked goods. However, it's important to note that the myth that Twinkies could survive a nuclear holocaust is an exaggeration; they actually have a shelf life of 45 days, with their recipe being revised in 2012.
