motd Tuesday March 20, 2012

[Guest guest]

TWINKIE: THE

URBAN LEGEND

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Have you ever heard the urban legend about

the Hostess Twinkie snack cake? According to myth,

that little sponge cake with it's "cream" filling and

many additives can last for years. Now, I'll admit,

when I first heard it, the story was a little tempting

to believe. But, turns out, it really is just a

rumor. A professor of food science at the University

of Wisconsin tested the Twinkie and discovered the

legend to be untrue. Twinkies have a shelf life of

only about four weeks and actually become more rubbery

than soft after a few weeks.

New and more sophisticated

methods of preserving our foods are leading to foods

that, supposedly, will last forever.

So why am I bringing up the Twinkie's urban legend?

Well, I read an interesting article in Time magazine

that, frankly, I found a little alarming. It seems

new and more sophisticated methods of preserving our

foods are leading to foods that, supposedly, will last

forever. (Oh, my!)

Many of those new preservation techniques were born

out of the need to supply long-lasting foods for our

troops serving in the armed forces overseas. And who

can argue with that?

Get this: in 2002, an "indestructible" sandwich was

introduced. It was a bread "envelope" stuffed with

pepperoni or barbecued chicken designed to last three

to five years--without even being refrigerated! Now

come on, you've got to wonder how a sandwich like that

would taste.

So why, you may be wondering, why would

scientists want to create foods that last almost,

well...forever? There are some practical purposes.

For instance, when there's a global disaster where

feeding thousands of people is necessary, foods are

required quickly that won't spoil before reaching

those people in need. After Hurricane Katrina struck

my hometown of New Orleans, military meals called MREs

were supplied to those people who had no access to

food. So yes, I can see why, in some cases, these

foods with their long shelf lives might be needed. In

emergency situations like those, I have no argument.

But for now, foods with an indefinite

shelf-life are still mostly a work in progress. If

they ever become reality, these foods will give a

whole new meaning to the term "expiration date."

Thank goodness, we still

live in a world where, when it comes to food, fresh

tastes best and is best!

Thank goodness, we still live in a world where, when

it comes to food, fresh tastes best and is best!

Hey, I don't know if I'd ever want to eat a slice of

turkey that's been around since when the Pilgrims came

over on the Mayflower. LOL. I'm just not ready for

that. Until we have no other choice, (and I hope its

a long way off), I'll be heading to my local

supermarket to buy some of that freshly sliced turkey

breast in the deli department, thank you.

In the meantime, a Twinkie, anyone?

Love,