Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
MPR News Staff
St. Paul

State Fair vendor won't use syringes in doughnut treat

The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food and vendor lineup.
An assortment of hot, deep-fried cake doughnut holes and three syringes with DIY fillings. After complaints about plastic waste the treat will now be served in a compostable tray.
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

A new food planned for this year's Minnesota State Fair promised plastic syringes filled with cream, custard and jam that consumers could inject into a doughnut treat.

But the pushback over the plastic waste it could generate has led to change.

State Fair officials on Friday said the vendor — The Hangar — will instead serve its Wingwalker treat in a compostable tray with three compartments that can be used for dunking the doughnut holes in Bavarian cream, chocolate custard and Minnesota lingonberry jam.

Fair officials in mid-June released the annual list of "official new foods" for the 12-day food fest that opens Aug. 22 and runs through Labor Day. The fair said it responded after the public raised questions about the potential plastic waste.

More than 3,300 people signed an online petition calling on the fair and the vendor to stop the plan because of the waste as well as the optics of "syringes being cool" and containing treats.

"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 fair said in a statement Friday.

Vendor Nate Janousek said critics raised valid concerns about plastic waste.

"The fair is very important to us, and we want to keep the fair beautiful. We want to keep this planet beautiful for our kids," Janousek said, adding he's looking at other products to replace plastic straws.

And instead of focusing on donuts, Janousek's featured item this year will be a barbecue tower on a seasoned potato cake.