What do Frederick and Louis Rueckheim, Frank W. Epperson, Walter E. Diemer, and James A. Dewar have in common? Each was a junk food genius. To these men we owe the invention of Cracker Jacks, Tootsie Rolls, Popsicles, Dubble Bubble gum, and Twinkies, respectively. "Food Guys" Jon Jackson and Greg Patent survey their favorite childhood treats via Manny Fernandez's 2010 New York Times article titled, "Let Us Now Praise the Great Men of Junk Food."
Where has each of these merchandising strokes of genius landed us? "It started us down a long, slippery slope which keeps going on and on, getting bigger and bigger - like most Americans," observes Jon Jackson.
(Broadcast: "The Food Guys," 7/24/11, 4/3/16 and 4/7/16. Listen weekly on the radio at 11:50 a.m. Sundays and again at 4:54 p.m. Thursdays, or via podcast.)
