Bankruptcy of Twinkies could stop future truffle shufflers
Hostess, the manufacturer of Twinkie & Ho Ho's, declared bankruptcy in federal court because they are said to be $1.75 billion in debt. According to court documents, Hostess has been generating sales 
between $500 million & $1 billion per year since 2002.
Hostess has stated their biggest debts are owed to the two unions that their employees are members of. The Teamsters Union is owed $860 million & the Bakery & Confectionary Union that controls the company's pension fund is owed $944.2 million.
Hostess executives are blaming the losses in revenue to decreased sales of their ding dongs, Suzie Q's, and sno balls due to the new focus on buying healthier snack items.
Wait a minute. Could it be that America has forced a major manufacturer of unhealthy foods to be shut down? Really? In America?
Could it be that we has citizens have turned a page in our attitude towards healthy eating?
Will I no longer have to hear the cries of my children to buy twinkies when I take them to the grocery store, because they can't be found?
Are we to the point in our culture that when I sit down with my kids to watch The Goonies, they will not understand that Chunk is doing the truffle shuffle because he had too many Zingers & Mini Muffins?
Well folks, while it's nice to think that this bankruptcy may have been due to our society's effort to install healthy living habits into our homes, it's really not.
Sadly, Hostess filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which means that the company will still operate until their financial plan is restructured. Which also means that any debts that they have to the unions can be dismissed by a judge.
To put it bluntly, if a judge agrees to forgive all of the debts Hostess owes to their employee's pension plans, there will continue to be Ho Ho's and truffle shuffles for more generations.
It just means the employees that worked so hard to help us increase our waistlines are out of their retirement funds & lifetime health care.
I guess I'll have to hear the kids continue to beg for the fruit pie that will eventually cover their lips and give them sticky fingers.
