Junk Food Mysteries Solved

[left-of-center2012]

There are a lot of mysteries surrounding our favorite snacks, sweets and sodas. Why do Pop Rocks explode in your mouth? Why are Girl Scout Cookies called Samoas in some places and Caramel deLites in others? What is Cheetos cheese dust? Wonder no more, because we have all the answers to food questions you didn’t know you were asking.

1. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?
Ah, the age-old question from one of the most popular candy commercials of all time (and the longest-running commercial, ever). You can stop licking: Tootsie has gotten to the bottom of just how many licks it takes to get the to chewy, chocolatey center of a Tootsie Pop. Purdue University’s licking machine (yes, that’s a thing) determined the answer to be 364, but volunteer student researchers averaged 252 licks. So what’s the most accurate answer? The world may never know.

2. Why does everyone spell ‘doughnut’ wrong?
How do you spell that sweet ring of deep-fried dough covered in a sugary glaze? Is it “doughnut” or “donut”? Technically, it’s the former, but why does doughnut have an alternative spelling that’s almost more common than the so-called “right” way? The history of doughnut vs. donut, as it turns out, is complicated. The shortened spelling first occurred in 1900 in the book “Peck’s Bad Boy and His Pa” by George W. Peck. “Pa said he guessed he hadn’t got much appetite, and he would just drink a cup of coffee and eat a donut,” one character in the book said. Dunkin’ (formerly called Dunkin’ Donuts) also helped to popularize this simpler, easier-to-pronounce spelling.

3. Why do Girl Scout Cookies have different names?
Whether you call them Samoas or Caramel deLites, Girl Scout Cookies are undeniably delicious. But why do some people call the same cookie Tagalongs and Peanut Butter Patties? As it turns out, the Girl Scouts of America employ two different companies to make their famous cookies: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. Depending on where you purchase your precious cargo, things could look and taste slightly different.

More at:
https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/cheetos-cheese-dust-junk-food-mysteries-slideshow/slide-13

[House of Roberts]

1. Why do they call it a doughnut or a donut?

Where's the nut?.

[cornball 24]

2. In the White House!

[House of Roberts]

4. That's a nut?

I thought that was more of a peach pit!

[Lochloosa]

3. 10 licks. Then a crunch.