This Twinkie May Be 40 Years Old But It Looks 20

In 1976, chemistry teacher Roger Bennatti of George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, Maine, was lecturing on preservatives in food and shelf life when he decided to provide his students with an applicable life experiment. He had them purchase a Twinkie from the store, then placed it on top of the blackboard with the intentions of leaving it there until the end of the year.

What started as a fun, interesting experiment has turned into the case study of a lifetime. The Twinkie was left atop the blackboard for that year, and every year to come after that. The aged pastry, now officially 40 years old, shows very few signs of deterioration other than a dry exterior and a bit of shrinkage. Libby Rosemeier, the current principal of the school, now holds the Twinkie in her office in a small glass display case.

According to ABC News, Rosemeier was happy to receive publicity for her tiny school, even if it was for a Twinkie and not academics or athletics.

“It’s really funny that we’re this wonderful coastal community in Maine, and we have this school of 325 kids that is a gem and we’re doing great things and kids are going to great colleges, and the thing people know about us is this 40-year-old Twinkie.”

The best part? Not only was Principal Rosemeier previously a student at George Stevens Academy, but she was also one of the students in that class in 1976! Clearly Bennatti’s lecture had a lasting effect on her.

I guess the only thing to do now is wait and see who will outlast the other, Rosemeier or the Twinkie? My money is on the Twinkie.

Photo Credit: ABC News, Bangor Daily News, BroBible