Fair food is not for the faint of heart. Everything on the menu is either deep fried, laden with sugar, or both. The Minnesota State Fair, which runs from August 22nd through early September, attempted to add a new creation to their roster of bonkers fair food to no avail. People were so upset by a flight of donuts served with a side of syringes that the fair food was banned before it even hit the fairgrounds.
Dubbed the Wingwalker Donut Flight, this to-go treat from The Hangar starred a pile of deep-friend donut holes served with three syringes.
Each syringe contained a different filling — Bavarian cream, chocolate custard, and Minnesota lingonberry jam. Customers could inject their own fillings into the donut holes, thus creating a more interactive experience.
After announcing the Minnesota State Fair would feature The Hangar’s Wingwalker Donut Flight on June 18th, displeased rumblings from fairgoers began to flood social media. One fair patron, Jason Holtz, even created a petition to ban the Wingwalker Donut Flight from the fair due to the fact that hundreds, if not thousands, of plastic syringes would be tossed, thus contributing to the plastic waste already affecting the environment.
“The waste generated (three syringes times thousands and thousands of orders) over the 10 day fair run is absurd,” Holtz wrote via his Change.org petition.
“Filled donut holes sound like a fine idea. Fill them for us from a big dispenser that’s not going to last centuries in the ocean or landfill.”
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE YEAR IS HERE! 🤩🙌😋
— Minnesota State Fair (@mnstatefair) June 18, 2019
The #mnstatefair is beyond thrilled to add 31 official new foods and seven new food vendors to the expansive menu already offered at the Great Minnesota Get-Together!
Make your "gotta-have-it" list now: https://t.co/uJzPQvtG05 pic.twitter.com/X9Xs6JFj1Z
Furthermore, Holtz noted that “the image conveyed by syringes being cool and containing treats, not to mention being littered around on the ground is not one we should be wanting to promote.” All of the State Fair trashcans would look like biohazard disposal bins and that’s just gross on so many levels.
Minnesota State Fair pulls plastic syringes from donuts after backlash
— Julie B (@TheBaniac) July 12, 2019
1st thought was because so many ppl are dying of opioid overdoses don’t want use a syringe for food bcause it trivializes it. Didn’t even see the plastic waste aspect.
(Via KARE 11) https://t.co/Xuaflq7Qgu
As of today, July 16th, over 4,200 people have signed his petition to remove the Wingwalker Donut Flight from the fair menu. Obviously, Holtz wasn’t the only one who was ticked off by the idea.
Those syringes 💉 are going to be littered all over the North-End. Ick! All we need is more trash. Otherwise, yummy! #mnstatefair #mnstatefairnewfoods
— Tracy (@Tracys_Nook) June 18, 2019
In fact, Holtz garnered enough signatures by July 12th that the Minnesota State Fair issued a response.
“We began communications with the vendor, The Hangar, who has been working with us, as well as a sustainability consultant, to explore options to address those concerns and determine a solution,” the fair wrote.
Hi, Laura. Check out our response below. pic.twitter.com/moCOovtm2Z
— Minnesota State Fair (@mnstatefair) July 12, 2019
“We understand the impact food packaging has on the environment, and The Hangar, along with the fair, has decided that plastic syringes will not be used as part of the Wingwalker Donut Flight,” the statement continued.
Instead, The Hangar agreed to use a compostable tray so customers can dip their donut holes in the selected sauces, rather than inject them.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We understand your disappointment about the impact this food packaging has on the environment and are in communication with the vendor. We are now exploring options to address the concerns with the vendor and a sustainability consultant.
— Minnesota State Fair (@mnstatefair) June 18, 2019
After removing the Wingwalker Donut Flight from the lineup, The Hangar replaced it with Tailspin, which is a fried onions dish, pulled pork, and BBQ sauce dish. The entire savory mess is served on a hash brown waffle.
Donuts served with a syringe is not a new idea. Photos of donuts with syringes sticking out of them have been traveling around social media for the past few years.
Bet you've never seen a donut with a syringe of salted caramel. pic.twitter.com/DO27ejM6s4
— Alyssa (@lyyysssaaa) October 4, 2014
The appeal of injecting a donut with filling really took off. Bakeries across the country began picking up on the trend and implementing the marketing technique into their own businesses.
An entire brand — called Dr. Donuts — was actually built on the aesthetic. We can’t tell if that’s cute or weird.
We’d be more put off by the sight of a syringe sticking out of our donut than anything else. But maybe that’s just us.
My donut came with a sugar syringe stuck in it. Portland might kill me. pic.twitter.com/C9c6jlpEQE
— Brian Altano (@agentbizzle) September 19, 2015
Luckily, The Hangar and the Minnesota State Fair heard what the people wanted and refrained from placing the syringe donuts on the menu. The Hangar’s Tailspin sounds just as tasty.
State Fair is ditching those donut and syringe treats for the year. It feels a little DARE to suggest they'd lead to drug use, but the plastic waste would be pretty incredible if they did it. https://t.co/oJSzPl1Fxs
— Dustin Nelson (@dlukenelson) July 14, 2019
The Minnesota State Fair is known for its outrageous fair food, so even thought the Wingwalker Donut Flight is off the table, there’s no way fairgoers are leaving hungry. This video alone is making our stomach growl.
That unicorn ice cream is right up our alley. Although, who are we kidding? All of this food is right up our alley.
From burgers…(Yum)
…To donuts (without syringes), the Minnesota State Fair is bound to serve up some mega good eats. We’re booking our flight right now.
Keep the syringes in the hospitals, guys. We like our donuts pre-filled and plastic-free.
