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The decision to abandon banana filling may have ultimately proven fortuitous. The type of banana that had once been used in Twinkies, specifically the Gros Michel variety, faced extinction by 1965 due to a fungal disease that devastated banana plantations. This disappearance made it increasingly difficult—and ultimately impossible—to continue producing bananas on a commercial scale.
While the banana-flavored Twinkie remains a fascinating footnote in the history of this iconic snack, the vanilla version has become synonymous with the Twinkie brand. It has firmly ingrained itself in American culture, evoking nostalgia among generations of fans who have enjoyed the creamy treats over the decades.