Twinkie, Deconstructed

The next time you're savoring a Hostess Twinkie, think about what is inside that treat: carbon monoxide, petroleum and rocks. Confused? Author Steve Ettlinger will visit Wheaton on Wednesday, Nov. 5 to explain.

The author of Twinkie, Deconstructed, Ettlinger will be on campus to talk about the ingredients of that iconic snack and the industrial processes used to make it. This event, which complements the First-Year Seminar summer reading, The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, is open to the public and is free of charge.

The journey to uncover the complexity of modern, processed foods began when Ettlinger's daughter asked an innocent question about her afternoon snack: "Where does polysorbate 60 come from, Daddy?" The answer to that simple question forms Ettlinger's book and offers a startling look at the products on supermarket shelves.

Steve Ettlinger has been an author, editor, and book producer since 1985, and has helped produce over forty books. He helped create the bestselling series, Wine for Dummies. Ettlinger is an occasional contributor to The Huffington Post and has written op-ed articles for the Los Angeles Times and the New York Sun, among others.

Ettlinger has appeared on The Today Show, CBS This Morning, ABC Nightline, Good Morning America, Fox News, Montel, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The Food Network, and dozens of other national, syndicated, and local television and radio shows.

During his visit, Wheaton will host several events:

3 to 4 p.m. Twinkie Taste Test. Compare the taste and texture of home-baked cakes to processed snack cakes, and see if you prefer to ''hold the polysorbate 60.'' Atrium, Balfour-Hood Campus Center. Free and open to the public.

7 to 8:30 p.m. Lecture/slide show. Ettlinger will present a slide show about his travels to see where these artificial ingredients come from. Hindle Auditorium, Science Center. A book signing in the lobby will follow the talk. Open to the campus community and the public.

For more information about the author and Twinkie, Deconstructed, visit www.twinkiedeconstructed.com