What are the exact ingredients in a Twinkie?

Question

I was eating a Twinkie and someone told me that if I figured out the ingredients in a Twinkie, I would be sick to my stomach, and that it wasn't vegetarian! Does anyone know why? What are the ingredients? Please help!

Answer 1

Animal fat is used in Twinkies, they are not vegetarian at all. If you have a local farmer's market, go to the Amish part of it and try the "Whoopie Pies" they are AMAZING!!!!!

Answer 2

Five ingredients come from rocks.

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.

Another newsworthy note—since so many of the ingredients come from overseas, there are hardly any regulations placed on them. We are all familiar with the recent paint issues from China. As for the Twinkie, many of the vitamins listed on its label come from China and are not regulated. There were a few other ingredients Ettlinger sourced, but he was unable to communicate with the agricultural or chemical manufacturer of those ingredients. They simply do not need to make themselves available.

To read more about the Twinkie and Steve Ettlinger, you can buy his book or see his Web site - http://www.sugarloving.com/1026479

One last word for all of us who fried a Twinkie at some point in our lives … I guess we didn’t make it any less healthy.

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Ok, I've got to say that although I knew it was unhealthy as all get up, I was shocked to read the above article! Seriously, ya'll, I don't know if I will ever eat another Twinkie in my life. (Yeah right ... we know this article will go to the back of my brain one day and I'll give in to the call of a Twinkie again, haha. Thankfully, I only eat these once or twice a year!)

Answer 3

you should read this article. It doeswnt say them all... but most are shocking... BTW I <3 twinkies :)

http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22...

Answer 4

why would anyone ever eat those? that disgusting in itself. it doesnt matter whats in them...........ewwwwwwwwww

Answer 5

http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22...

Hope ur sitting down!!!!

Answer 6

they put indian babies in them i know that .. i forget what else though

Answer 7

I'm guessing all the sugar  would make you nauseated.

anyway-

Ingredients:

Enriched Wheat Flour (enriched with ferrous sulfate (iron), B vitamins (niacin, thiamine mononitrate [B1], riboflavin [B2] and folic acid))

Sugar

Corn syrup

Water

High fructose corn syrup

Vegetable and/or animal shortening (containing one or more of partially hydrogenated soybean, cottonseed or canola oil, and beef fat)

Dextrose

Whole eggs

2% or less of:

Modified corn starch

Cellulose gum

Whey

Leavenings (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate)

Salt

Cornstarch

Corn flour

Corn syrup solids

Mono and diglycerides

Soy lecithin

Polysorbate 60

Dextrin

Calcium caseinate

Sodium stearol lactylate

Wheat gluten

Calcium sulfate

Natural and artificial flavors

Caramel color

Sorbic acid (to retain freshness)

Artificial color (yellow 5, red 40)

Answer 8

I think its the same as the cream inside of Oreos.....lard!

Answer 9

http://www.bewarethecheese.com/twinkie.h...

Go to the site above and it lists all the ingredients in a twinkie and explains them too.

Answer 10

Oh god, the ingredients are NOT pretty.. read these, it will help

http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22...

http://teamsugar.com/group/30207/blog/10...

Answer 11

I think a twinkie would be vegetarian but it wouldn't be vegan.  I don't know the ingredients.  You would have to go to the food store and find a box of them and read the ingredients.  They are delicious.  I used to have them a lot.  I grew up on them but now that I am a vegan they are a thing of the past.

Answer 12

http://www.bewarethecheese.com/twinkie.h...

Plus there are many other entries

Answer 13

I don't know what the ingredients really are but try catching it on fire. Not natural at all no way am I eating that plus its just too sweet and tastes like bedding.