Twinkie, Deconstructed: My Journey to Discover How the Ingredients Found in Processed Foods Are Grown, Mined (Yes, Mined), and Manipulated into What America Eats,   ISBN:B001UE7DHI

Customer Rating: 

I bought this book because the title seemed so silly. Plus, I loved the bright orange cover. I usually get strange books like this as gag presents.

However, once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down. I read the whole 300+ pages in one sitting. There are a lot of polemics disguised as books that tell us how bad our food is, how eating this will kill you, etc. They come off as political tracks, and are about as easy to read.

Steve Ettlinger book takes a different track. He simply goes ingredient by ingredient down the list of ingredient found on the side of a Twinkie. He doesn't foam at the mouth, make snide remarks, or smirk. If after reading this book, you decide to forswear any cellophane wrapped goodie from now until the day you die, that's your decision.

Ettlinger genuinely interested in what people have to say and explains the history on the various ingredients and processes that fill up the bulk of the supermarket shelves. He explains how Twinkies were first made, and their short 3 day shelf life, and how they've now gone on to be the almost indestructible snackfood we all know and love. However, despite the details, the book is far from dry. Ettlinger is interesting even as he's describing the most mundane processes.

This book may never make it into a movie, but I do see a PBS documentary series in its future. Move over Ken Burns.

Customer Rating: 

I have never eaten a Twinkie, though my father had a grocery store, and I could have anything I wanted. From a young age, I have been a discrimating consumer...I have specific tastes. I have never eaten beets. I know I would not like them. My mother made everything from 'scratch' and having grown up eating 'real' strawberry shortcake' with berries from her garden, I was never interested in 'junk' food. I prepared food in much the same way as my mother, and my child who was born in 1968 took 'real' junkfree food to school for his lunch. The other children loved his food and he liked some of their. Chef-Boy-Ardee, (? spelling) was one of his favorites; another item I have never tasted. Since Twinkie's seem to be such a wordly favorite, I thought you might enjoy hearing from someone who has never eaten one, nor plans to. I have 70. (i.e., I am 70.) CDN

Customer Rating: 

good book, very detailed in descriptions on what goes into the little snack cake that will not expire.
I will never look a polysorbate 60 the same way again.

Customer Rating: 

This is a HIGHLY informative book for anyone who eats food processed in the Western world. I had no idea what went into manufacturing simple products like flour, eggs, or even salt! I liked the tone of this book - unlike many that chronicle the food industry, this one is non-judgmental and paints an interesting picture of how things are made that enter our food stream. A must-read if you eat anything other than fresh fruits and vegetables!

Customer Rating: 

When I bought this book on sale I wasn't sure what to expect. I was simply looking for information about the world of processed foods and, fortunately, that's what the author provided. I now know the difference between "normal" corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup and have better insight on the role of sugars and other preservatives in processed foods.

Was everything the author attempted to convey absolutely correct? I suspect that, being a human being, the author may have unknowingly introduced some misinformation into his text. As a rule I view everything I read with a critical eye and my impression is that the author did his best to get the facts straight. I don't think there was a plot to deceive readers, as some seem to suggest.

I found the "Twinkie: Deconstructed" readable and down-to-earth. I didn't find it boring at all. In fact, I read up to chapter 8 on the first sitting. I didn't get the impression that the author was endorsing the food industry, nor did I feel he was pressing for radical changes in the world's food supply.

Unlike some, I don't blame the author for not knowing everything about every production process (secret or otherwise) in the food industry. I think to expect such knowledge to be conveyed in a book clearly designed to address processed food production in general terms is unrealistic.

I recommend this book to those who want to know what they are eating and how it got to the market. In my opinion, "Twinkie: Deconstructed" is an eye-opener.