Secret English Muffin Recipe for ‘Nooks and Crannies’ Safe For Now

ABC's Bradley Blackburn blogs from New York: The makers of Thomas' English Muffins are out of a jam, thanks to a ruling that will keep an ex-employee who knows their secret muffin recipe from jumping to a competitor. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled this week that Chris Botticella, an ex-employee of Thomas' muffin maker Bimbo Bakeries, is not allowed to take a job with rival baker Hostess, the maker of Twinkies and Ding Dongs. Botticella was one of seven executives who knew the full recipe for the famous breakfast food with "nooks and crannies."  The gaps in the muffin make Thomas' product unique, the company says, holding in butter and other toppings. The ex-employee “could produce an English muffin that might look a bit different, but that would nevertheless possess the distinctive taste, texture and flavor character that distinguish the Thomas' English Muffin," Bimbo's lawyers argued in court briefs, further adding that he copied work-related files in his final days on the job. Botticella denied those allegations, but the court says he can now be banned from working at Hostess while the lawsuit plays out. Thomas' breakfast muffins are big business, making up some $500 million in annual sales, the company said.  Englishman Samuel Bath Thomas developed the recipe in the late 19th century in his New York city bakery. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click here to return to the 'World News' page.