A wave of concern has swept through TikTok recently, sparked by a peculiar observation regarding Nestlé Drumstick ice cream cones.
Influencers on the platform have been sharing their perplexing discovery that the iconic Drumstick, with a legacy dating back to its invention in 1928, refuses to melt, regardless of how long it sits out at room temperature.
In a widely circulated video garnering over 21 million views, TikToker OliverBubs09 showcases a Drumstick cone left out overnight, asserting, “What you’re looking at here is the aftermath of a Drumstick ice cream cone that has been sitting out for 22 hours now.” Expressing concern about the product’s composition, he adds, “Just think. Your kids are eating this. Heck, I was eating it. But I will not eat it any longer. I will never eat these again.”
The apparent resistance to melting, however, can be attributed to a crucial detail often overlooked: these Drumsticks are not made with traditional ice cream but rather with “frozen dairy dessert,” which utilizes different ingredients. As elucidated by Agro and Food Processing, while ice cream primarily comprises milk solids or fats, frozen desserts like Drumsticks incorporate vegetable oil or Vanaspati.
The distinction is evident from the ingredients list displayed on Drumstick packaging:
Dairy Product Solids, Sugar, Skim Milk, Peanuts, Corn Syrup, Bleached Wheat Flour, Coconut Oil, Cream, Maltodextrin, Palm Oil, Cocoa, Palm Olein, Reduced Minerals Whey, Propylene Glycol Monostearate, Soybean Oil, Soy Lecithin, Cellulose Gel, Guar Gum, Monoglycerides, Carob Bean Gum, Salt, Natural Flavor, Cellulose Gum, Milk, Chocolate, Annatto Color.
Certain ingredients, such as guar gum, serve to “thicken, stabilize, add texture to food, and yes, help prevent ice cream from melting,” as outlined by Consumer Reports following a viral video in 2017 featuring a Walmart-branded ice cream sandwich exhibiting similar non-melting properties. Moreover, it’s worth noting that some of these additives may not be suitable for all consumers.
In response to the 2017 incident, a Walmart spokesperson informed HuffPost that their ice cream sandwiches utilize conventional techniques to impede the melting process, including the incorporation of thickeners into the cream, resulting in a honeycomb-like structure that delays melting and leaves behind a foam-like residue as liquid evaporates.
Despite attempts to seek clarification from Nestlé regarding the Drumstick ice cream, no response was received at the time of publication.
For those seeking additive-free alternatives, homemade ice cream recipes offer a solution. However, it’s advisable to consume these scoops promptly, as they are susceptible to melting. Here are 18 homemade ice cream recipes to master before the onset of summer.
