MANSFIELD, Ohio — Mansfield’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA) responded to a call Wednesday for sprouting peeps. Peeps, marshmallow chicks, have been confirmed to be growing on the hillside and residential yard of 237 Longview Ave. in Mansfield near Route 30.
On Friday, Jan. 30, a semi truck full of eggs overturned, backing up traffic on Route 30 for eight hours.
“This doesn’t happen very frequently but when it does we take it very seriously,” said EMA Director Mike Bailey of the sprouting peeps. “These peeps can get very messy.”
Bailey said the peeps are growing because of the egg spill. Peeps, he explained, have a gestation period of around 60 days. Wednesday marked the sixtieth day from the egg spill.
Resident Jon Ford made the initial call to the EMA.
“I just was having some coffee this morning, looked out my window, and I saw all these yellow looking things in the trees. So I went outside to have a better look, and sure enough there were a bunch of peeps everywhere. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Ford.
“This happens more in Bethlehem, where Peeps are manufactured,” said Peeps Protection Agency Spokesman Doug Wertz. “Every once and a while we’ll get an egg spill like this. When you have big egg tankers that overturn, and you mix the GMC’s egg protein with road salt, oil and phosphorus you have the chance of having Spontaneous Peep Hatchery,” explained Wertz.
Peeps are manufactured in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania by Just Born. The marshmallows share a strand of synthetic protein called albumineepenephrine with genetically modified chickens (GMC).
In alignment with EMA policy, Bailey contacted the Peep Protection Agency for cleanup. “Whenever we’re called in for something like this we confirm and then call whatever agency exists for the cleanup procedure,” he said. “There’s an agency for almost anything really. But if one doesn’t exist we typically do the cleanup,” he added.
PPA First Responder Tim Schlatter said time is of the essence when removing peeps from an unwanted area.
“You have to act fast. Although they’re touted as indestructible, believe it or not they’re often exploited and mistreated by consumers,” explained Schlatter.
“If we catch them before the maturation process begins, usually around the three-month stage, we can preserve them,” said Schlatter.
“Some of the things done to Peeps is incredible. The bodies are maimed by children, their sugar sparkles scraped off. Some even put them in microwaves. And then there’s neglect — they leave them to go stale. And some people even put them in other foods. I don’t understand it. It’s just plain sad; they aren’t enjoyed properly anymore,” said Schlatter.
“Peeps have been around since the fifties. They’re all-American relics. We have to give them a voice, and that’s what we’re here to do,” said Wertz.
If you have made it through the whole article, Richland Source would like to wish you a Happy April Fool’s Day.
