Have my tastes changed, am I getting old, or is food getting worse?

[PorkPieGuy]

Does anyone feel like the quality of food overall is getting worse? Here are some examples:

• Chocolate tastes more like wax than it used to.
• A lot of chicken from the grocery store has a more "game-y" taste to it as does sliced turkey from the deli.
• Was Applebee's always as bad as it is now? Everything tastes frozen and then microwaved to order.
• Cheddar and other block cheeses taste stronger to me now.
• I used to be able to chew gum for a while. Now, when the flavor starts to fade, I have about a 5-7 second window before I start gagging.
• Fast food? Gross. I'll eat it out of necessity because I'm on the road so much, but I don't like it. I used to love it.
• There are substantial differences in bottled water. Smart Water is so much better than Walmart bottled water.
• Those little, yellow, round butterscotch candies? Those are delicious now.
• I'm sure there are others I can't think of right now.

I'm in my mid-to-late 40's. I'm on several different medicines, and I don't eat a lot of sugar these days. With that said, I swear food tastes different now than it used to just a year or so ago. I know it may be age, but I think there's something else to it.

 

[planoranger]

You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!! Food does taste different. All food/snack companies have changed their formulas due to health/dietary concerns. All the stuff that made Oreos and Hostess Cup Cakes taste so good are now "forbidden", and have been replaced. Scientifically speaking: "Yukkk"

 

[Sonar Dave]

Don't be doggin Applebees. They Fancy-Like !

 

[WuHan Solo]

I don't eat a lot of sugar these days.

That right there will affect how things taste now compared to before. Same with going to a lower sodium diet. I've done both.

But you're right, commercially available food has gotten worse. I live where fresh meats and vegetables are readily available so I don't eat out a lot and it's never fast food.

 

[bearblastbeats]

Yes.

To piggyback here, food service has also gotten extremely worse. Not that anyone should eat at such glamorous places as McD's or Taco Bell. But the staff at these establishments either have terrible listening skills or simply do not care and will serve you whatever they want.

 

[larryace]

RingDings don't taste good anymore to me. Tastykakes, same thing. Same with Cocoa Puffs. I have a hard time finding breads that aren't too sweet. Too much sugar. Not a fan of sweet tasting regular bread.

Unprocessed food hasn't changed for me. Tastes the same. I am eating much less food than I used to. Tea and toast when I get up, and dinner is all can do anymore. I was heavy all my life. Not anymore. I'm good wit dat. Walking my dog for an hour a day helps too. I used to be 250, now I'm about 205-210 without trying. Which for me is thin.

My relationship with food is much different now than the rest of my life. I'm in control now. Which could be the hardest thing I accomplished.

 

[C. Dave Run]

I almost always eat home cooked meals, so I'm not seeing it. By home cooked I mean made from ingredients, not heat and eat.

We do sometimes get a premade lasagna or pizza or something, and they are never as good as home cooked.

I will not eat out unless necessary. Other people touching my food causes concern on multiple facets.

Anyone else ever notice that McDonalds cheeseburgers dont mold? Buy one, throw it under your drivers seat and forget about it. Next year when you find it, it will just be another cold McDonalds cheeseburger.

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

• Was Applebee's always as bad as it is now? Everything tastes frozen and then microwaved to order.

Was it ever good?

And yes, fast food, regardless of how fashionable it is to bag on it, was much better.

 

[planoranger]

Yes.

To piggyback here, food service has also gotten extremely worse. Not that anyone should eat at such glamorous places as McD's or Taco Bell. But the staff at these establishments either have terrible listening skills or simply do not care and will serve you whatever they want.

It's not just the food industry where service has become terrible. It's across the board in just about every brick-and-mortar business you can think of. Take a look at all the comments about Guitar Center's "service" that you see just about every day somewhere in the Forums.

But that is getting off track. Sorry...please continue with our regularly scheduled rant.

 

[bearblastbeats]

It's not just the food industry where service has become terrible. It's across the board in just about every brick-and-mortar business you can think of. Take a look at all the comments about Guitar Center's "service" that you see just about every day somewhere in the Forums.

But that is getting off track. Sorry...please continue with our regularly scheduled rant.

I guess I havent witnessed it much. I typically always use a self check out if I am forced into the civilian world. I do notice that the amount of bad drivers out there have increased.

It's just bad everywhere.

 

[Al Strange]

You guys need to visit the UK, where great food and straight teeth…are still in the process of being discovered!

 

[yammyfan]

Hmmm... not much qualitative change here in Canada that I've noticed but shrinkflation is in overdrive this year. Sometimes retailers will mix the old and new container sizes together and you can really see the difference.

Honestly, I would rather they charge us more than give us less. Just be upfront about it - don't treat us like we're dumb and not going to notice.

 

[planoranger]

Hmmm... not much qualitative change here in Canada that I've noticed but shrinkflation is in overdrive this year. Sometimes retailers will mix the old and new container sizes together and you can really see the difference.

Honestly, I would rather they charge us more than give us less. Just be upfront about it - don't treat us like we're dumb and not going to notice.

That's where the U.S.A. beats Canada once again!!!😀 Here they've given us less AND charged more!!! Every time my wife comes home from the grocery store, she's amazed at the noticeable changes in size/quantity and the price of food and other goods.

Having said that, we haven't noticed that as much when we order from a restaurant. While prices certainly have increased, the portions seem to remain the same.

 

[planoranger]

You guys need to visit the UK, where great food and straight teeth…are still in the process of being discovered!

Here in Texas the only way you're going to get a full set of teeth is if you get 32 people to stand together.

 

[SmoothOperator]

Does anyone feel like the quality of food overall is getting worse? Here are some examples:

Yes

I almost always eat home cooked meals, so I'm not seeing it. By home cooked I mean made from ingredients, not heat and eat.

We do sometimes get a premade lasagna or pizza or something, and they are never as good as home cooked.

I will not eat out unless necessary. Other people touching my food causes concern on multiple facets.

Anyone else ever notice that McDonalds cheeseburgers dont mold? Buy one, throw it under your drivers seat and forget about it. Next year when you find it, it will just be another cold McDonalds cheeseburger.

The ingredient quality has gone down hill.

My cooking has improved though, when I was working from I home I made an excellent sloppy Joe. I use steak, whiskey, and chili powder.

 

[BGDurham]

I avoid all these issues because I only ingest BRAWNDO!

 

[BGDurham]

But in all seriousness, I think you can take some credit for the taste changes you sense, @PorkPieGuy. As you have ventured forth into more interesting foods your palate has become more sophisticated and many previously tasty items are bound to pale in comparison.

 

[Xstr8edgtnrdrmrX]

Does anyone feel like the quality of food overall is getting worse? Here are some examples:

• Chocolate tastes more like wax than it used to.

I notice this with all but Hershey's. Hershey's actually tastes better to me now

• Was Applebee's always as bad as it is now? Everything tastes frozen and then microwaved to order.

I have never been in an Applebees that was NOT like this, hence I hhave only been in a ew Applebees waayyyy back when they opened up

• Cheddar and other block cheeses taste stronger to me now.
• I used to be able to chew gum for a while. Now, when the flavor starts to fade, I have about a 5-7 second window before I start gagging.

both the same here

• Fast food? Gross. I'll eat it out of necessity because I'm on the road so much, but I don't like it. I used to love it.

I just got sick of it all. Especially burgers. I still do the White Castles about once every 3 months, but when I eat out now, it is usually at local delis, lunch places or sub shops

• There are substantial differences in bottled water. Smart Water is so much better than Walmart bottled water.

I still can not beingg my self to pay for water when I cccan get it out of the tap, which I already pay for

and have, or will never set foot in a WalMart

• Those little, yellow, round butterscotch candies? Those are delicious now.

that just means that you are getting old....those are "grandparents" candies

 

[GretschedHive]

You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!! Food does taste different. All food/snack companies have changed their formulas due to health/dietary concerns. All the stuff that made Oreos and Hostess Cup Cakes taste so good are now "forbidden", and have been replaced. Scientifically speaking: "Yukkk"

You're right about stuff like Oreos and Hostess stuff tasting different, but I believe it's the other way around; it's not that it tastes worse now because it's healthier, it's because it's made with cheaper ingredients. Most stuff is corn syrup now, whereas 30 years ago it was sugar.

When I was growing up, in the 70s and 80s, Breyer's ice cream was considered the crème de la crème of nationwide ice cream brands. Remember those commercials? The little kid would try to read the ingredients on another ice cream brand's carton and get stuck on some long complicated word, like . And then he'd read the entire Breyer's ingredient list: milk, cream, sugar, natural flavors. And I swear you could taste the difference! Their mint chocolate chip ice cream was divine.

Well, look at a Breyer's carton now. Since early this century, they've been unable to legally call most of what they produce "ice cream." Instead, it's "frozen dairy dessert." Because it doesn't actually fit the legal definition of ice cream. And it doesn't really taste or feel like ice cream any more either.

Also, all those damn kids should get off my lawn.

 

[planoranger]

When I was growing up, in the 70s and 80s, Breyer's ice cream was considered the crème de la crème of nationwide ice cream brands. Remember those commercials? The little kid would try to read the ingredients on another ice cream brand's carton and get stuck on some long complicated word, like . And then he'd read the entire Breyer's ingredient list: milk, cream, sugar, natural flavors. And I swear you could taste the difference! Their mint chocolate chip ice cream was divine.

Well, look at a Breyer's carton now. Since early this century, they've been unable to legally call most of what they produce "ice cream." Instead, it's "frozen dairy dessert." Because it doesn't actually fit the legal definition of ice cream. And it doesn't really taste or feel like ice cream any more either.

Also, all those damn kids should get off my lawn.

That's why I'm glad we have a brand called "Blue Bell" here. It's available in many areas, just not sure where though. Maybe their website lists where it might be available locally. Anyway...while some (just a few) of their products are "frozen dairy treats", most of their flavors are the "real deal". Plus...their ice cream comes in real to life 1/2-gallon containers. No "shrinkflation" for them. But the stuff is expensive: $8.49 for a 1/2-gallon if not on sale.

One last thing...they solved the problem, but a few years ago they had a listeria problem at one of their plants. Fortunately, it "only" affected institutional products, not consumer. Just to be on the safe-side, however, they yanked everything from grocery stores anyway. Got "dinged" by the U.S. government, paid a $multi-million fine...they've been good ever since.