{"id":61669,"date":"2022-07-26T19:29:36","date_gmt":"2022-07-26T19:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/07\/26\/could-the-defense-production-act-save-klondikes-choco-taco\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:39:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:39:55","slug":"could-the-defense-production-act-save-klondikes-choco-taco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/off-duty\/military-culture\/2022\/07\/26\/could-the-defense-production-act-save-klondikes-choco-taco\/","title":{"rendered":"Could the Defense Production Act save Klondike\u2019s \u2018Choco Taco?\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What would you do for a Klondike Choco Taco?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., says he would invoke the Defense Production Act to keep them on store shelves after the ice cream giant announced it would discontinue the iconic packaged dessert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., who is also an Army veteran, said he would introduce a similar bill in the House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll introduce the House companion @ChrisMurphyCT<\/a>,\u201d he tweeted. \u201cThis cannot stand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cChoco Taco\u201d is ice cream wedged in a cone shaped like a taco shell, and smothered in peanuts and chocolate. It\u2019s been in production since 1983, meaning Klondike made the decision to kill it on the eve of its 40th birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while the senator and congressman were tweeting in jest, there really is no basis for the Defense Production Act to be used this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the Defense Production Act<\/a> is a \u201cprimary source of presidential authorities to expedite and expand the supply of materials and services from the U.S. industrial base needed to promote the national defense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So unless there was significant proof that the lack of Choco Tacos is a detriment to national security, it\u2019s unlikely that President Joe Biden would intervene on their behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And although there is a provision<\/a> defined under the Defense Production Act for \u201cFood Resources,\u201d the necessity of the Choco Taco doesn\u2019t seem like it would past muster compared to things like the need for potable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, it\u2019s hard to imagine which defense company would win the contract after the Pentagon puts out a Request for Proposal to build the best Choco Taco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrup Grumman? The F-35 of Choco Tacos would likely take decades to field, and the cost overruns would be unimaginable. Frankly, we just don\u2019t have the time or money for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Til Valhalla, Choco Taco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\ud83d\udea8NEWS: Tomorrow I am introducing legislation to invoke the Defense Production Act to mandate the continued manufacture of Choco Tacos. Please call your Senator and demand they co-sponsor. https:\/\/t.co\/7XLgs6IfOn<\/a><\/p>— Chris Murphy \ud83d\udfe7 (@ChrisMurphyCT) July 26, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>