"Because He Ate Too Much"... The Snack That Reduced a Murderer's Life Sentence to 7 Years and 8 Months [Delicious Story]

"Because he ate too many Twinkies"...
Life sentence reduced to 7 years and 8 months
The symbol of junk food...
At the center of controversy
Changing American tastes push Twinkie to bankruptcy...
Dramatic comeback as an internet sensation

In the United States, there is a term called the "Twinkie defense." It is used to mock defenses that are considered completely unreasonable. Twinkie is a yellow cake snack produced in the U.S. since 1930, and it became embroiled in controversy as a key piece of evidence in a murder case that took place in San Francisco in 1978.

"Because he ate too many Twinkies"... Life sentence reduced to 7 years and 8 months

American Twinkies manufactured from 1930 to the present. Pixabay

On November 27, 1978, George Moscone, the mayor of San Francisco, and Harvey Milk, a city supervisor, were assassinated by Dan White, a former city councilman. The murder of two politicians in a single moment shocked the entire United States. After being arrested by the police, White was soon brought to trial. At the time, the legal community speculated that White would receive a first-degree murder verdict, which is the maximum sentence for a defendant convicted of premeditated murder (including death penalty, life imprisonment, or life without parole).

However, the trial took an unexpected turn. White's attorney argued that the defendant had consumed "too much junk food and soda, including Twinkies" just before committing the crime, suggesting that he may have been mentally unstable. Psychiatrists called as witnesses by the defense acknowledged that, based on these facts, White might have been suffering from depression, and eventually, the jury accepted this argument.

As a result, White was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, a much lesser charge than first-degree murder, and was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in prison. The term "Twinkie defense" was coined after the snack that played a key role in reducing White's sentence. Even today, the American media occasionally uses the phrase "Twinkie defense" when referring to arguments or verdicts that seem unreasonable.

The symbol of junk food... At the center of controversy

Dan White, a former San Francisco city councilman, who stood trial for the murder of two politicians. Famous trial archive

Twinkie is one of America's "national snacks," produced by Hostess Brands since 1930. It is a yellow sponge cake filled with sticky sugar cream, with a greasy coating on the outside. The cake is thick and dry enough to parch your mouth, and its intense sweetness can almost numb your tongue?a textbook example of junk food.

Of course, the American jury did not actually accept the claim that Twinkies induced mental illness. In fact, White was known for his obsession with a healthy diet and never ate processed foods. For some reason, however, he consumed only sugar-laden Twinkies and soda before committing the crime. Psychiatrists who testified in court acknowledged that this sudden change in lifestyle could be evidence of symptoms such as depression or other mental disorders.

After the Dan White verdict, riots and protests demanding justice frequently occurred in San Francisco. The photo shows protesters during the 1978 LGBTQ parade protesting the trial outcome. Getty Images

However, these intense courtroom battles were not widely known to the American public, who learned of the verdict only through news reports. As a result, Twinkie became stigmatized as the snack that helped reduce a murderer's sentence. After the White trial, what became known as the "White Night riots" broke out sporadically in San Francisco?violent incidents sparked by protesters angry at the verdict.

The White Night riots also became a catalyst for the LGBTQ rights movement in the United States. Harvey Milk, who was killed by White, was the first openly gay elected official in the country. This led the LGBTQ community in the city to unite in outrage and raise their voices together.

Changing American tastes push Twinkie to bankruptcy... Dramatic comeback as an internet sensation

After the Twinkie defense case, Twinkie sales began to decline. In fact, since the 1970s, American consumers have become increasingly wary of sugar, and Twinkie, known for its sticky, sugary cream, inevitably became an unpopular choice. Hostess Brands tried to reverse the slump by releasing a strawberry-flavored Twinkie in 1988, but it failed to gain traction and was discontinued after only a few years.

Twinkie stock auctioned after the discontinuation decision in 2012. The price soared up to $5,000 (approximately 7.1 million KRW) at once. Screenshot from auction site eBay (2012)

By the 2000s, Twinkie had become regarded as an outdated snack, and Hostess Brands eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2012. In the previous year, 2011, Twinkie sales had reportedly dropped by 20% compared to the year before. At the time, Hostess stated, "Customers have now moved on to healthier foods," and announced plans to sell off iconic brands like Twinkie and downsize the business.

News of Twinkie's discontinuation sparked a buying frenzy among American internet users. Remaining boxes of Twinkies were listed on online auction sites and sold for thousands of dollars. Thanks to this commotion, Twinkie regained fame among younger generations and was able to attract new investment. Just two years after filing for bankruptcy, Twinkie made a dramatic comeback in 2013 when it was acquired by the private equity firm Apollo Global Management.

The Twinkies produced today are slightly different from those of the past. The sugar and fat content, which had long been criticized, has been somewhat reduced, and the weight per cake has been decreased from 42.5g to 38.5g, resulting in a 10% reduction in total calories. While it is still a sweet and greasy junk food, Twinkie is gradually evolving to better suit modern consumer preferences.