Food is a significant part of our lives, and we don’t just eat it for sustenance, we want to enjoy it too. However, many people have noticed that some of their favorite foods no longer taste as good as they used to. Whether it’s due to changes in ingredients, manufacturing processes, or farming practices, the flavors we once loved seem to have disappeared over time. Here are 18 different food items that aren’t as delicious as they once were.
Chicken
Forbes says that “Americans eat twice as much chicken as beef or pork.” However, the chicken you eat nowadays is very different from the chicken people used to eat years ago. Modern chicken farming practices tend to prioritize quantity over quality, which affects the flavor of the meat. Chickens are also now bred to grow faster and larger, and this impacts both the texture and the taste of chicken from the grocery store.
Oreos
Oreos have always been among America’s favorite cookies, but they have evolved over time. Some people believe the cream filling in Oreos is now sweeter and less creamy than it used to be, and this may be because of potential differences in the quality of ingredients due to trying to cut costs. Changes in cocoa sourcing and production methods in more recent years may also have impacted the cookie’s flavor.
McDonald’s French Fries
Fast food joints like McDonald’s often come under a lot of pressure to be healthier. Changing their ingredients and practices to satisfy these requests has made some of their most iconic items taste different. In 1990, McDonald’s switched from beef tallow to vegetable oil for frying for health reasons, and this change altered the much-loved flavor of their french fries. Since then, ongoing modifications to oil blends have further impacted the taste of McDonald’s food.
Girl Scout Cookies
Trans fats are one of the biggest villains when it comes to food and can cause a variety of health issues. The recipes for Girl Scout cookies were altered in the past to remove these trans fats, and this changed the taste and texture of the cookies. Girl Scout cookies may also be sourced from different bakers, which can lead to variations in flavor and quality. Substituting ingredients, for example, using different sweeteners, may also affect the overall taste of these cookies.
Nutella
Nutella is one of America’s most beloved spreads, and people couldn’t help but notice when its taste suddenly changed! In 2017, Nutella adjusted its recipe, increasing the sugar content. They also increased the amount of skimmed milk powder that was used, subsequently altering the taste and texture of the spread. As well as this, changes in hazelnut sourcing can affect the spread’s signature flavor every now and again.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a staple in so many dishes, and even though people are eating tomatoes more than ever, they seem to have lost their flavor. In fact, this high demand is actually part of the reason why their taste has changed, as mass production and breeding for shelf-life have created less flavorful varieties of tomatoes. Today’s tomatoes are also often picked before they’re fully ripe, which can negatively affect the development of their taste.
Twinkies
After Hostess’ bankruptcy, the recipe for Twinkies was altered to give them an even longer shelf life. In 2013, The Atlantic reported that “the infamous 25-day shelf life is now extended to a fairly astounding 45 days.” Some Twinkie fans believe that the cake is also now less fluffy and the filling is less creamy. While there’s no proof of this, changes in the sourcing of ingredients and the processing methods used can impact their flavor and texture.
Pizza Hut
Many Americans seem to think that Pizza Hut’s pizzas are much less luxurious than they used to be once upon a time. Changes in the company’s dough recipes and preparation methods have altered the crust’s taste, and cost-cutting measures may have also led to Pizza Hut using other less tasty ingredients. Different cheese blends and the quality of the toppings would significantly affect the overall flavor of their pizzas.
Strawberries
It can be a bit hit or miss whether the strawberries you buy are as delicious as you’re used to or much less tasty. There are a few different factors that cause strawberries to be lacking in flavor. Strawberries are often bred for size and shelf life, which often comes at the expense of flavor, and they’re also typically harvested early for transport, and this can stop the berries from developing their flavor fully.
Butterfingers
Butterfingers are another snack whose recipe was revised a few years ago, and it caused a stir. The recipe was changed in 2018, and despite the new formulation aiming to improve quality, some Butterfinger fans were disappointed, as the changes were said to make the candy bar taste pretty different. People claimed that there were very noticeable differences in the taste of the chocolate coating and the peanut butter core.
Hellman’s Mayonnaise
A staple in many kitchens, Hellman’s mayonnaise had its recipe adjusted to remove artificial preservatives. While this modification was made to benefit its consumer’s health, Hellman’s customers weren’t too impressed, as the changes impacted the traditional taste and texture of the mayonnaise. People complained that the texture was thinner and more soupy and that it tasted almost rancid. Since then, the world’s most popular mayo brand has never been the same again!
Ice Cream
Everybody’s favorite refreshing summer treat, ice cream, has changed many times since its invention. Most recently, it seems to have become less creamy, and this is because the amount of air that’s used in commercial ice cream (known as overrun) has increased. Substitutes of natural fats with vegetable oils can also impact the flavor and texture of ice cream. Efforts to cut costs can lead to the use of lower quality ingredients and artificial flavors too, further affecting the taste.
Bananas
The dominant variety of bananas changes over time, making bananas vary in taste throughout the years. The dominant variety is currently the Cavendish banana. According to Business Insider, “the bananas your grandparents ate were a variety called Gros Michel, which apparently make bananas at your grocery store seem unbearably bland by comparison.” Other factors, such as modern shipping and ripening methods, also impact the fruit’s natural sweetness and flavor.
Cheese
Cheese is loved by so many people, and unfortunately, the mass production that’s required to meet such a high demand often leads to less aged and therefore less flavorful cheeses. An increase in the use of fillers and artificial ingredients in processed cheeses has also ruined their flavor. On top of this, shifts in dairy farming practices can negatively impact the quality of the milk used in making cheese. It’s all going downhill for cheese!
Red Delicious Apples
Once the nation’s favorite type of apple, Red Delicious apples have significantly dropped in quality over the years. The focus on the appearance of this type of apple in breeding has led to a decline in the apple’s taste, and the importance of long shelf-life has resulted in Red Delicious apples becoming less delicious and less juicy. The storage techniques that are used these days can also further degrade the apple’s natural sweetness.
Cereal
With health and nutrition becoming more important factors in food production, cereal has started to lose its flavor. Many brands have reduced the amount of sugar in their cereals to the detriment of flavor for health reasons. The removal of artificial colors and flavors to benefit customer’s health also alters the classic taste of traditional, sweet cereals. Changes in grain sourcing and processing methods are another factor that might have affected the taste of your favorite cereal.
Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup
Campbell’s chicken noodle soup has also come under fire for not tasting as good as it used to. This food is one of many traditional recipes that have had to be altered and reformulated to meet modern dietary guidelines. The company had to reduce the amount of sodium in their chicken noodle soup for health reasons and it harmed the flavor of the dish. Changes in sourcing the ingredients like chicken and vegetables can also alter the soup’s taste.
Jaffa Cakes
Jaffa cakes are adored by many Americans, but this snack has gone through various changes over time. The cost of making jaffa cakes increased with inflation, so the company did what many companies do in that situation and decreased the size of the product to save money. If the recipe for jaffa cakes needed to be changed to meet cost constraints, the quality of the ingredients would also be affected and its taste would be sacrificed.
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