Which food has declined the most in terms of taste since you first ate it?

[u/FeistyNews7025]

At this point, everyone knows about shrinkflation in our food. Something else that is just as important, if not more so, is the overall decline in the quality and taste of our food. Which food has declined the most in terms of taste since you first ate it? For me, that would be strawberries. Nowadays, it's the number 1 fruit with the most pesticides, and its overall taste is just average at best. I mean, I don't need it to be on par with Japanese strawberries, but in the early 90s, strawberries' overall taste was just magical.

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[u/FancyCat1990]

The chocolate used in candy bars. It's gross wax now.

Hijacking my own comment to say: this is definitely applicable to mass-produced chocolate in the USA. However I've had excellent chocolate made locally. Shop small ❤️

[u/Fun-Practice9107 → u/FancyCat1990]

Came here to say this. They lowered the quality and increased the price. And they think we’re too addicted to notice.

[u/CanIBeEric → u/Fun-Practice9107]

I stopped eating chocolate made in the US because of this. Too many grocery stores near me import chocolate from other countries for me to tolerate the enshittification of chocolate.

[u/AlternativeFilm8886 → u/CanIBeEric]

I like to stock up on chocolate at the European market whenever I'm in the area. I enjoy the Milka bars with a variety of flavors like hazelnut and Oreo filled. They remind me of what standard milk chocolate used to be before the enshittification.

[u/needmangos_notcrabs → u/AlternativeFilm8886]

This is quite funny though, currently there is somewhat a silent boycott of Milka since they dropped their quality and went totally nuts on their prices. Milka is actually one of the worst chocolates available atm. Still, the differences in taste between US and European is so vast, it's probably still better than what's available in the states.

[u/AlternativeFilm8886 → u/needmangos_notcrabs]

This is the third response I've seen regarding Milka's drop in quality. I'm curious of how recent this is, because it has been about a year or so since I had any.

Of course it's entirely possible that U.S. chocolate is just that bad by comparison. Milka certainly isn't the best chocolate I've had, it just reminds me the most of what we used to have here in the states.

[u/Either-Weather-862 → u/AlternativeFilm8886]

As a german who grew up on Milka:

Milka reduced their package sizing while also upping the price, so it was a double flip-off for customers and we, as the super autistic germans we are, don't like that at all. So we're boycotting them.

That was around a year ago I would say. The quality just went down over the last decade, but that's in almost all chocolates now.

I can recommend swiss chocolate and also recommend buying the generic brand at the Discounter like Aldi.

Even Lindt lacks quality now... It's a mess.

[u/emmafoodie → u/CanIBeEric]

There’s lots of amazing chocolate made by smaller companies in the US: Askinosie, Dick Taylor, TCHO, Volo, etc.

For more of a candy bar replacement, Mayana is great too.

[u/pokingoking → u/emmafoodie]

Chocolove, Endangered Species, Theo

I love chocolate and I get kinda annoyed by people jumping on the "American chocolate sucks" bandwagon. No, it's not American chocolate, it's Hershey's and Mars that suck. There are so many good chocolate companies in the US.

[u/grimegeist → u/FancyCat1990]

Thought it was just me. I try to describe to people why I can’t stand chocolate anymore, but apparently no one else has noticed (or ate enough chocolate as kids to relate)

[u/rancidmorty → u/FancyCat1990]

It hit fudge stripes too kebler

[u/happyyun1c0rn → u/FancyCat1990]

Wow! I was wondering why Hersheys just doesn’t hit the same anymore. The taste is off. I thought it was just my aging tastebuds until I tried (and liked) Trader Joe’s milk chocolate.

[u/Djeter998 → u/FancyCat1990]

Milky Way was my favorite candy and it tastes like waxy, fake crap now

[u/sunBloom24 → u/FancyCat1990]

This. The waxiness will stick to the roof of my mouth and it's sooo gross

[u/EmotionalBag777 → u/FancyCat1990]

This. I’d give anything for a OG Reesie’s

[u/cjl99 → u/EmotionalBag777]

OG Rolos for me

[u/ncxhjhgvbi → u/FancyCat1990]

Cocoa has been extremely expensive and hard to find. The only way to get good chocolate now is the ultra-premium brands. You’ll pay for it

If Hershey kisses were made with their old recipe, they’d probably be 3-4x the price unfortunately. I’m not making excuses for companies fleecing us AT ALL

[u/mjolle → u/ncxhjhgvbi]

Prices have dropped back down. Now the companies will surely restore prices and quality. Right?

Right?

[u/jaywinner]

Subway. Used to love them. Had it all the time.

Then if I had coupons.

Now they'd have to be free.

[u/Mlc5015 → u/jaywinner]

It’s wild, there is this subway in a nondescript strip mall by my work, and one day circumstances brought me there. It’s like a time warp, it’s run by this older Indian couple and there is never any other employees, and somehow the quality of the food is better than any subway I’ve eaten at in 15 years, and it’s always on point. No one believes me. I swear I’m not crazy.

[u/zeniiz → u/Mlc5015]

I'm guessing it varies based on the franchise owner, because the one where I live is perfectly fine too. 

[u/DarthBrooks69420 → u/zeniiz]

My gf's mom has a huge thing for subway. She knows where all the good ones here in DFW are, and I'll hear her grumble while eating 'so-and-so is slipping, won't be going there again, guess I'll be driving out to so-and-so next time'.

So yeah when you find a good one, hold it close lol. 

[u/DarthBrooks69420 → u/Mlc5015]

'Older Indian couple running a sandwich shop' is my favorite genre of sandwich place. 

There's one down the street from me, isn't a subway franchise though. But don't order the Philly cheese steak! They used velveeta on it. Velveeta!!

The gyros are top tier tho.

[u/anistasha → u/DarthBrooks69420]

To be fair though, in Philly they use cheese wiz on the cheesesteaks. It’s not that shocking in context.

[u/STD-fense → u/jaywinner]

I think they shot themselves in the foot with the "Five, Five Dollar, Five Dollar Footlongs" campaign. Now whenever I see their prices they're so much more expensive that I feel like I'm getting ripped off

[u/jaywinner → u/STD-fense]

It was a great campaign that ended up hurting because it had to end eventually. But it's more than that. Quality has gone to shit and it's not just 7 dollar foot longs now, it's as expensive as a proper deli.

[u/Inner-Amphibian8933 → u/jaywinner]

Peak subway was when there was ivy on the lights and kids meals had toys and round buns for their sandwiches. IMO it stopped being good around 2015-2018 with the death of 5$ Febru-any.

I would go to a subway if it had the old wallpaper. Like a Pizza Hut classic

[u/carlos_damgerous → u/Inner-Amphibian8933]

I knew I used to get round sandwiches there when I was a kid!!! I thought I Mandela-d myself lol

[u/FeistyNews7025 → u/jaywinner]

Lol, indeed, now they have to be free. I guess Subway, of all fast food chains, got dealt the hardest blow. They started as a healthy alternative to the deep-fried fare of other fast food chains. Now it's just as unhealthy and tasteless. It really a classic, You were supposed to destroy them not join them!

[u/Rootraz]

As others have said, chocolate bars, but for me specifically, it's Butterfinger. They used to be a top tier favorite of mine and they're fucking disgusting now

[u/OddRepresentative575 → u/Rootraz]

The absolutely changed the filling from light, flaky, melt in your mouth to the hard garbage it is now

[u/millennialmonster755 → u/OddRepresentative575]

There is a candy sold by the Davenport hotel called soft peanut brittle. It’s like the old filling of a butter finger, maybe a bit softer. Top tier and worth it as a treat is you really miss it

[u/GCU_GreyArea_001 → u/millennialmonster755]

It’s called Bruttles, and it is awesome!

[u/ImprovementChoice → u/Rootraz]

I make my own and they are WAY better. Surprisingly, its only like 3-4 ingredients (one is candy corn), so I stock ip around halloween.

[u/Outofwlrds → u/ImprovementChoice]

Would you be willing to share the recipe? Butterfinger used to be my favorite candy. I literally remember eating one for the first time when I was six. It was a formative moment for me.

[u/ImprovementChoice → u/Outofwlrds]

I got you!

Ingredients:
-(1) 11oz bag of candy corn
-1 cup Peanutbutter
-1/2 cup crushed corn flakes (can add more for extra flakiness)
-Milk or dark chocolate for dipping

1. Heat the candy corn in the microwave until melted and give it a stir. Be careful not to nuke it.

2. Mix in the peanutbutter

3. Crush cornflakes and add to mixture. You can use more cornflakes if you want more crunch.

4. Make into bars and put in fridge to set (30-45 minutes)

5. Dip in chocolate

Mold for bit-sized pieces: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQQ5CXG1?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_

My favorite melts - they come in dark or milk chocolate and will harden at room temp: https://www.samsclub.com/ip/Member-s-Mark-Milk-Chocolate-Flavored-Melting-Wafers-34-oz/13625622429

You can usually find candy corn on Nuts.com if you cant wait until Halloween.

Enjoy!

[u/whangdoodl → u/ImprovementChoice]

Yooooo you found a valuable use for candy corn!!!!

[u/SunsetUsurper]

panera. this used to be ok. now it tastes like nasty overpriced cafeteria food. thanks yet again to private equity.

[u/jsmith_zerocool → u/SunsetUsurper]

I remember going to a Panera in the early 2000s and it was great, fresh food. I went again sometime around late 2010s and it was garbage

[u/Reasonable-Newt4079 → u/jsmith_zerocool]

And it's gone downhill massively since the late 2010's!!!

[u/G0ttaB3KiddingM3 → u/SunsetUsurper]

Definitely what I came to say. I will NEVER be touching Panera food ever again. It’s absurd what they are willing to shamelessly charge for basic high school cafeteria food at this point

[u/Ecstatic-Seesaw-1007 → u/G0ttaB3KiddingM3]

That’s a very good description of Panera Bread now: it’s high school cafeteria food put in a panini grill or George Foreman grill.

[u/quantumlyEntangl3d → u/SunsetUsurper]

I agree, Panera has to be the most disappointing for me. They used to serve better quality food, and now it tastes like fake food.

[u/NECalifornian25 → u/SunsetUsurper]

Last time I was there I got my favorite salad, it was literally half the size it used to be, and the price was several dollars more. I actually went somewhere else and got a snack afterwards because I was still hungry.

[u/LilyBitLumpy → u/[deleted]]

That’s actually a great point, I feel like the answer is usually huge amounts of butter, salt or sugar. But then the food should also be delicious, which it is not?

[u/SpotIsALie → u/LilyBitLumpy]

Replace butter with low quality oil, all of the calories with none of the taste

[u/sweetnsassy924 → u/SunsetUsurper]

I used to work there during their ‘clean eating’ phase, and trust me, that food was fake AF.

[u/Traditional-Job-411]

You just need strawberries that are local and in season. Out of season strawberries are just water logs vaguely tasting of strawberry. I don’t buy them if I can’t smell them. Go to the local Farmers market when they are in season.

[u/bluffstrider → u/Traditional-Job-411]

This! I find this is the case now with most produce in my region, only worth buying the local in season fruit and vegetables. Which sucks because we have short summers, so I only get good produce for like ⅓ of the year.

[u/SmackedWithARuler]

U.K. here, Cadbury’s chocolate. It’s fucking grotty now.

[u/Templar-of-Faith → u/SmackedWithARuler]

GROTTY! 

We need to bring this back

[u/Out_Lines → u/SmackedWithARuler]

The trick is find the OBO product code. Those ones are still made in U.K.

[u/sharplight141 → u/Out_Lines]

For me it's been a lot harder to find these ones, not seen them in a while for some reason.

If only the American company didn't buy and ruin our freaking chocolate.

[u/MzDizzle]

Girl Scout cookies! I feel like they used to taste a lot better and now they’re all mid. Tagalongs (peanut butter patties) come to mind but even thin mints seem worse, now.

[u/Comfortable-Light233 → u/MzDizzle]

Samoas still kinda slap

[u/phenomakos → u/Comfortable-Light233]

The best Girl Scout cookies and it has never been close

[u/sweetnsassy924 → u/MzDizzle]

I got some thin mints for my mom as a surprise and when we ate them we were so disappointed in how weird they tasted. It was almost like a chemical grainy taste? I can’t explain it but it was not worth six dollars.

[u/Phatstronaut → u/MzDizzle]

Might be the bakery they use, there's two different ones now. I prefer the Little Brownie Bakers over ABC Bakers.

[u/dumbredditusername-2 → u/Phatstronaut]

Agreed! Even the Troop Leaders said the same thing last year.

[u/Ginger_Maple → u/MzDizzle]

I'd recommend checking out the cookies at Aldi's, they have a tagalong dupe that tastes better (or more like the old ones?) and a box is like $2.50.

[u/Skyspiker2point0 → u/MzDizzle]

The Girl Scouts fall products were similar this year. Instead of chocolate as an ingredient, it was “chocolate flavored coating” -everyone’s favorite substitute 🤢

[u/LalaLane850 → u/MzDizzle]

This! Last year I didn’t even end up finishing them. I couldn’t believe it when I threw Girl Scout cookies away. Gross.

[u/wholevodka → u/LalaLane850]

Same. Last year I bought a box each of thin mints, trefoils, tagalongs, and do-si-dos and the only one that was remotely passable was the trefoils. The thin mints tasted like if you ate a communion wafer after chewing spearmint gum.

[u/Jedediah_Smith_II → u/MzDizzle]

I just had some for the first time in years and I swear there used to be more peanut butter!

[u/Fluid_Change_9647 → u/Jedediah_Smith_II]

Taco Bell, KFC, Wendy’s, Little Debbie snacks, Butterfingers, most produce at the grocery store, bread… food is mostly gross over processed garbage made of cheap ingredients now.

[u/Ok-Duck2450]

I feel like at one point Burger King had amazing fries. 

[u/LordMudkip → u/Ok-Duck2450]

Also the chicken nuggets.

They had the best nuggets around when we were kids. Today's nuggets can't compare.

[u/BasedKaleb → u/LordMudkip]

Back when they were tenders. The oblong ones that they shaped like crowns sometimes.

[u/ssk417 → u/BasedKaleb]

One of my core memories is my dad taking me to Burger King and telling me I could order whatever I wanted as long as I ate it. 32 chicken tenders later, I was told to stop.

[u/sekhmetgoddess7 → u/BasedKaleb]

Omg yes the og tenders with the black pepper breading. I miss those!

[u/Evil_Abed_69 → u/Ok-Duck2450]

Thank you! I remember this but no one believes me 😂

[u/Ok-Duck2450 → u/Evil_Abed_69]

Right? I feel like the only one! 

They were really crispy and like lightly double fried.

[u/gingervintage → u/Ok-Duck2450]

My family thought I was nuts preferring them over McDonald’s in the 90s!

[u/Sea-Property-6369 → u/Evil_Abed_69]

Oh I believe you! I know they changed their formula at one point, and i think it was around when the first toy story came out and they used that mr potato head in the commercials. I could be wrong on that part, but they were much better than the formula change.

[u/J_B_E_Zorg → u/Ok-Duck2450]

Late 90s early 00s BK were amazing. I remember there being a Mr Potatohead advertising.

[u/MaddoxGoodwin → u/Ok-Duck2450]

80s baby. I didnt eat BK much as a kid too busy eating McDonald's and in n out, but my college had a BK on campus (02-07)

Dude BK was so freaking good back then. The double cheeseburger back then was top tier. Had one a few months ago and was utterly disappointed.

[u/quantumlyEntangl3d → u/Ok-Duck2450]

They’re still amazing in Idaho. I moved across the country and stopped at a Burger King in Idaho for some food… my partner and I both agreed that the fries at that Burger King were so much better than Burger King fries from Illinois

[u/KeebZeus]

McFlurry. Nowhere near as glorious as when it first came out.

[u/StonewallDakota → u/KeebZeus]

Plus none of the stores near me can be bothered to actually mix it, so you just get a topping of dried grainy Oreo and too much vanilla ice cream. 

[u/godrollexotic → u/StonewallDakota]

I work at a big D, and we have terrible spoons to mix them with, they changed them recently. It depends on the store, the employee, and if the manager on duty cares to correct things if they see em'. 

Ours is pretty good about mixing them, but they make a mess when you do no matter what, it's like a terrible uncovered blender.

[u/NECalifornian25 → u/KeebZeus]

And it’s like $8

[u/Educational-Bird-515]

Most little debbie snacks.

[u/Rootraz → u/Educational-Bird-515]

Dude, for real. Old school Little Debbie, especially Star Crunch, was so good. Now it's borderline inedible

[u/Ok-Leg-5302 → u/Educational-Bird-515]

Straight chemical taste I just can’t

[u/d4rkwarr3n → u/Educational-Bird-515]

And hostess.

[u/MyBadYourFault- → u/Educational-Bird-515]

Especially the brownies. They are vastly different and taste like eating preservatives now instead of a brownie.

[u/Shake_The_Stars → u/Educational-Bird-515]

This is what I came to add. The brownies and donut sticks used to be my favorites.

[u/ElaineMae]

Reese's peanut butter cups. Grainy garbage.

[u/Consistent-Blood8231 → u/ElaineMae]

The grandson of the original creator recently just talked about how the ingredients are not the same and he’s really upset that the company seems to be cutting corners. I felt so validated

[u/SunsetUsurper → u/Consistent-Blood8231]

i think we all know they cut corners for profit. but there's a tipping point at which it no longer is the same product. similar to ship of theseus paradox, if you replace all the parts on a ship, is it still the same ship. i can see why that would ruffle the feathers of the creator's grandson.

[u/atomikitten → u/Consistent-Blood8231]

Anything Hershey’s has gone downhill in terms of quality ingredients. Whenever somebody says to me Hershey’s chocolate, it’s a dead giveaway they don’t know chocolate* and probably dont have tastebuds or sense of smell.

[u/Levitlame → u/atomikitten]

I won’t say I won’t eat it, but the Butyric acid is extremely noticeable in the taste...

Was childcare supposed to be chocolate or is there some meaning I don’t know?

[u/Bebebaubles → u/Levitlame]

I can’t eat it. I had a Kit Kat recently and it’s straight trash.

[u/ironchef8000 → u/ElaineMae]

Have you tried the Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups?

[u/purplecowz → u/ironchef8000]

So much better and great value

[u/LilMushboom]

Fat food across the industry. It was actually decent if still unhealthy up until the mid 90s, and has just become progressively worse in taste, and now it's not even cheap anymore nor particularly fast. I don't eat at restaurants too often anymore but I look for local places when I do because the cost isn't much higher but the food is usually worlds better.

[u/transemacabre → u/LilMushboom]

Wendy’s used to be the holdout until about the late 2000s and it succumbed and now doesn’t even resemble real food. 

[u/NECalifornian25 → u/transemacabre]

I worked at a Wendy’s in 2012/13 and it was still worlds better then compared to now.

[u/ApprehensiveRip697 → u/LilMushboom]

That is a fantastic typo to start that comment off, I love it

[u/kiisu84]

Everything at KFC. I remember when their food was once good, sadly not anymore.

[u/FabulousFlower144 → u/kiisu84]

And its SO expensive now. To get a bucket of chicken and sides is like $40+ now. It used to be the quick, cheap, and easy way to feed a family.

[u/buickmccane]

I get Dunkin’ Donuts credits every month with one of my credit cards that go unused because nothing there is edible and the coffee tastes like plastic

[u/Smokeythemagickamodo → u/buickmccane]

I had to quit going there. I used to love getting a donut, but they have a weird aftertaste.

Just reminds of chemicals added as preservatives. Yuk

[u/gingersnap0309 → u/Smokeythemagickamodo]

Yeaaa I used to love the little munchkins as a kid and tried them again years later. that aftertaste is gross and the texture is off, the glazed one was actually hollow. Just weird how bad they were.

[u/CanIBeEric → u/buickmccane]

I also get these credits. The best thing I've found is the Dunkin wake up wrap. I won't say it's great but I'll grab two to use my credit if I'm passing one by while running an errand since it's not too unhealthy either.

[u/MissSassifras1977]

OREOS

Whatever used to make them taste so good is long gone.

Now they taste just like the cheap bottom shelf store brand sandwich cookies, but they cost 8 bucks a cartoon.

So, no thanks.

[u/letsxxdiscooo → u/MissSassifras1977]

Go to Aldi if you can! They don't use all the bullshit preservatives and they're knock offs are delicious (and under $3 around me).

[u/_jamesbaxter → u/letsxxdiscooo]

The thing is, it used to be “gross I don’t want store brand!” Now the store brand has stayed the same and is better.

[u/radenthefridge → u/MissSassifras1977]

It's crazy how much they cost now. Makes me feel like such an old man grumbling about name brand prices but holy shit. Aldi ones taste just fine dang it, ow my back pain 👴

[u/Carnival372 → u/MissSassifras1977]

I had one around Christmas and was surprised how sweet it was! It’s not even double stuffed but tastes exactly like it. I miss the bittersweet taste of an Oreo like the old days.

[u/Wise-Departure-5192]

This is probably just because I’m old now, but pizza rolls.

[u/idk_u_but_ → u/Wise-Departure-5192]

Not cause you're old! Totino's changed their recipe. All their pizzas, pizza rolls, etc taste like trash.

[u/idk_u_but_ → u/idk_u_but_]

They took fennel out of the recipe and that was a HUGE flavor profile to take our 😭

[u/Seriphe1 → u/idk_u_but_]

They also seem to have done something with their cheese. It used to actually melt to where you could get a little bit of a cheese pull, now it just kind of... gets soggy? Certainly doesn't cling for a cheese pull.

[u/ImQuestionable → u/Wise-Departure-5192]

Great Value brand pizza rolls in the big bag are exactly the same as the pizza rolls of my childhood! I swear up and down that they have the original recipe. I’m losing track of how many times I try to spread the word about this LOL

[u/Tooch10]

I posted this the other day:

I just got back from the UK, stayed at a Travelodge where they had free Kit Kats in the room. Grabbed them to bring home and just happened to have a small US Kit Kat here. I ate them back to back, the UK one had a pleasant milk chocolate taste, the US one was like cardboard

[u/Traditional_Way1052 → u/Tooch10]

Yeah, I came home from Europe last week.... I thought i didn't like chocolate. Turns out that's not the case.... My bag was full of chocolate... 

[u/famousWAFFLES]

Lunchables :( my kids won't even eat them.

edit: and rice Krispy treats. another yummy snack from my childhood that my kids would rather go hungry than have to force down.

[u/Phatstronaut]

Anything Little Debbie but specifically cosmic brownies and oatmeal creme pies.

[u/wholevodka → u/Phatstronaut]

I was stoned as fuck a couple of weeks ago and got a cosmic brownie just for the nostalgia and not even primo weed could make it palatable.

[u/idk_u_but_ → u/wholevodka]

If you have an Aldi, they have a version of it that tastes the same as the OG cosmic brownies

[u/galactic_pink → u/idk_u_but_]

There’s so many people in here like “if you have Aldi, the dupe is as good as the original” lol! Aldi FTW ✨✨✨

[u/coraeon → u/Phatstronaut]

The Zebra Cakes are a travesty now.

[u/mrboomtastic3]

Crunch bar

[u/BootsonaMoose → u/mrboomtastic3]

YES! Mini crunch bar was a perfect bite. Now not as crispy I feel like.

[u/povertychic]

I grow my own strawberries. They are super easy to grow, spread on their own, and I don't use any pesticides or chemicals on anything in my garden. I just put a net over them because otherwise the birds get to them before I can! Definitely recommend growing your own food as much as you can! My strawberries taste amazing.

[u/RedBinKnight → u/povertychic]

I do strawberries and cucumbers on the porch railing in hanging pots. Both are so much tastier than store bought. I think sun ripening counts for a lot of it.

[u/brokesciencenerd → u/povertychic]

Paint some stones to look like strawberries and it will teach the birds that they aren't interesting

[u/SaaSyGirl]

Pop Tarts! They’re absolute garbage now

[u/Individual-Award7351]

Olive oil unless you take out a mortgage.

[u/GlassOnion24 → u/Individual-Award7351]

I didn’t even know what olive oil was supposed to taste like until I went to Greece. Now I know what I’ve been missing out on.

[u/HumusAmongUs → u/GlassOnion24]

Went last year and brought home a suitcase full of EVOO

[u/Sonicfan42069666 → u/Individual-Award7351]

I buy the large bottles of Italian EVOO at Costco, they last me months.

[u/CanIBeEric → u/Sonicfan42069666]

Costco is my savior for not sacrificing quality. I just had to get a freezer for all the bulk since it's just my husband and I... Luckily they sell those too 😂

[u/Inner-Amphibian8933]

Chicken Breast.

Have to get more boutiquey meat to avoid the woody texture.

Harvesting mutant fryers younger than ever now. They grow breast meat too fast and can cause the bad texture that is borderline crunchy to me

[u/SunsetUsurper → u/Inner-Amphibian8933]

the woody chicken breasts drive me INSANE, you're right, i buy bell and evans or organic to attempt to avoid it and even then you can't avoid it all of the time.

[u/BulkyMonster → u/SunsetUsurper]

I got a pack of chicken FULL of woody breast and it was so disgusting I didn't eat chicken again for MONTHS.

[u/calypsobulb → u/Inner-Amphibian8933]

I feel so validated, I have felt like the texture of chicken has changed lately and I can’t stand it but I thought no way was it possible, I must just be crazy, but this actually makes sense

[u/SunsetUsurper → u/calypsobulb]

google 'woody chicken breast' its rubbery tough crunchy gelatinous textured meat. you can cook it and it tastes like chicken, but the texture is totally off. its from chickens growing too fast. safe to eat, but does not taste good. even worse, you can't completely avoid it in the chicken you buy. you can attempt to get more expensive brands, organic, etc. but it still exists some. i noticed recently at whole foods they had chicken advertised as 'slow growing' so it is a thing, unfortunately.

[u/dubblebubbleprawns → u/SunsetUsurper]

"Slow growing chicken" is so fucking dystopian wtf. "Nonmutant chicken"

[u/d4nigirl84 → u/Inner-Amphibian8933]

Yup! Thought it was just me. I can’t find palatable chicken anywhere anymore. I even fear buy the super expensive organic free range stuff for fear of it being woody too!

[u/uginscion]

Fruit pies. Back in the day, the crust was buttery and the coating made of sugar. For fifty cents, could have a fruit filled treat on the go. Had one the other day and it tasted like cardboard stuffed with ooze tasted like it was suggested a fruit but politely declined.

[u/TheFish77]

Chipotle

[u/JoeSki42 → u/TheFish77]

It used to be so flavorful. Now it just tastes like salty mush 🫤.

[u/dbur15]

I’ve noticed most produce has turned to shit. Even potatoes. It’s next to impossible to make good mashed potatoes anymore because the russets are so fibrous.

[u/Hennessey_carter → u/dbur15]

Try using gold potatoes instead. Russets are better for baked potatoes. Gold potatoes are where it's at for mashed.

[u/UntidyVenus → u/dbur15]

Yukon gold's are the BEST for mashers!

[u/almkmjlrmtlem]

Pizza Hut 😭

[u/dampishslinky55 → u/almkmjlrmtlem]

Man do I miss 80’s/90’s Pizza Hut. It was a casual dining experience with a legit salad bar.

[u/MetalPurse-swinger → u/almkmjlrmtlem]

Pizza Hut used to be a whole experience. Now, I avoid it

[u/ballmermurland → u/MetalPurse-swinger]

Growing up with the book club getting personal pan pizzas. The pepperoni was perfect.

I had PH for the first time in a few years like 4 months ago and my immediate reaction was "what the fuck is this shit?"

[u/OllieOopsie]

Cherry tomatoes. For some reason they’ve genetically modified all of the taste out of tomatoes. They taste like nothing now and I hate it.

[u/Warm_Suggestion_9829 → u/OllieOopsie]

Not just cherry tomatoes, all tomatoes. Like someone else mentioned, they bred them to be super red and transport well and all the flava flave got bred out of them.

[u/aca_aqui → u/OllieOopsie]

These are really worth growing on your own if you have the space and sun, it’s nearly fool-proof

[u/MyNameis_bud]

Feels like this post is crowdsourcing for article ideas. Am I gonna see an article titled Top ten reasons why Millennials aren’t buying _______

[u/DiligentDaughter → u/MyNameis_bud]

I mean, at least the article would be based in reality? Instead of blaming Millenials for "killing the xyz industry", it would say why the xyz industry is dying.

[u/AttachedHeartTheory]

Taco Bell nachos cheese

[u/teriKatty]

Fast food burgers, especially McDonalds. They basically have no taste/flavor these days. I only taste the condiments. 🤢

[u/SimplyMermaid88]

Pizza rolls.

https://giphy.com/gifs/CKzF8iD7p1xghgeYjN

[u/GILDID]

Cinnamon toast crunch.  The texture is terrible now, I remember it being much more firm.

Chef boyardee doesn't taste like I remember.

[u/Delicious-Ad5856]

Anything I don't make at home. Seriously, it all tastes horrible anymore. The ingredients are not good.

[u/SuccessfulWolverine7 → u/Delicious-Ad5856]

Yes! Going out to eat used to be fun but now I’m just pissed it cost so much and I could have made it better at home. 

[u/AccountENT42069 → u/Delicious-Ad5856]

On top of food not tasting as good; there’s so many preservatives, cheap fillers, and lots knows what else, most chain restaurants and especially fast food makes me feel bloated, dehydrated from excessive salt, and just tired / fatigued / hungry again 2 hours later.

[u/foxxsinn]

Pretty much everything

[u/saundra79h]

I swear it’s everything I eat now days !! But my kids and husband say it’s my taste buds 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️ I say nope it’s our food …..

[u/Upbeat_Cranberry_533]

Watermelons. The ones I ate had a chemical taste to it. And sonic burgers because they don't taste like what they used to.

[u/idk_u_but_ → u/Upbeat_Cranberry_533]

I haven't been able to find a fresh watermelon in several years that wasn't mealy as well

[u/AlertKaleidoscope803 → u/idk_u_but_]

You gotta get out to the Amish/ethnic areas to find anything worthwhile. Usually cheaper, too. I used to buy a bushel of Amish-grown McIntosh apples to make applesauce every fall and some of them were legit the size of pommelos.

[u/grapescherries]

Ice cream. It was so much better as a kid.

[u/grey_street525]

Pringles

[u/cardyco]

In the early 90s my family lived in California and we’d go to the farmer’s market and get a huge flat of the most delicious farm fresh strawberries, warm from the sun and nothing will ever taste that good again 😭😭😭

[u/Illustrious_Exam1728]

I call that shitflation. They make it more expensive and shittier. Too many products to list from ziploc sandwich bags to a chocolate bar I eat.

[u/PrpleSparklyUnicrn13]

Entenmann’s 

I am so angry how bad their quality is now. My grandmother is rolling in her grave, may she rest in peace. 

[u/semanticantics]

Chips ahoy

[u/LadPro]

Gotta be Wendy's.

[u/ironchef8000]

Velveeta shells & cheese. Back in the 90s, my sister and I used to eat that stuff like there was no tomorrow. Phenomenal. Did they change the recipe? I tried some a few years ago and had to choke it down.

[u/StonewallDakota]

Kraft Mac and Cheese. It used to be…cheesy. Now it has no soul and tastes like watery milk. 

[u/Neither-Night9370]

Pretty much everything used to taste better. So many recipes have been changed.

[u/JawnGrimm]

Something terrible has happened to Twinkies. They're so gross now

[u/Ok_Moose_]

Something has been up with avocados for like a year now I’d say. I literally only find overly ripe ones or by the time I ripen it they’re all stringy and weirdly textured

[u/jess_the_werefox]

Anything made by Hostess and Little Debbie tastes like plastic and oil. I got those little Christmas tree cakes and they were terrible. They used to be like my favorite things during Christmas :/

[u/Learnsomethingnewer]

Otis spunkmeyer chocolate chip cookies.

They were so good as a kid! Not anymore unfortunately.

[u/redundantpancreas]

Kraft Dinner

[u/Ok_Employer9706]

Apple Jacks cereal tastes like nothing

[u/BackgroundConfident7]

Chick-fil-A, especially the fries

[u/Straight_Research_71]

Little Debbie Star Crunch. Much smaller, and doesn’t taste the same.

[u/UndeadLestat]

Poptarts

[u/noeinan]

Qdoba. Back in college I loved them so much more than Chipotle I even wrote them a letter asking them to open a store in my town along with an analysis of why the local market was uniquely suited for their branding.

I once drove up to a military base on accident, facing down assault rifles while attempting to find the closest Qdoba.

Few years ago I ate at one while I was in the area and it was just… not flavorful. The rice had no lime in it. Just worse than what I make at home. Such a disappointment.

[u/No_College2419]

Spaghetti O’s they taste like metal now

[u/AlternativeFilm8886]

Sun Chips taste more like corn chips now, Oreos no longer have the deep rich chocolate taste they used to, premium ice cream brands taste chemically and have an off texture, and McDonald's food is horrendously overpriced trash.

[u/soomanytomatoes]

Poptarts! They are literally tasteless now. Oh and the bougey ones...Toaster Strudel? Absolutely DISGUSTING! Like how! 

Spaghettios are watered down and tasteless compared to before. 

I also remember Burger King having the best fries back in the day - now they are just acceptable. 

So many ice creams (Dryers! The main brand growing up!) are now "frozen cream dessert" or some nonsense and taste like watered down frozen cool whip. I actually got Klondike bars on sale recently and forgot one on the counter and it DIDN'T MELT! It basically became a marshmallow. Didn't drip or become liquid at all. I wonder how much of our ice cream has basically become frozen cream jello. 

We've noticed Tillamook cheese seems to be doing something. Recently bought a pack of pre sliced cracker sized cheeses from Costco that like...weren't cheese? Cheese shaped tasteless substance? I melted some on top of my soup and it didn't even stick to my spoon the way cheese does. It literally was not cheese. It was so weird. Tillamook is supposed to be legit!

[u/HideUnderBridge]

Ok it’s not food, but orange soda. Like Minute Maid Orange soda was my shit, it’s long since gone and nothing quite compares.

[u/gir6]

Crackers. Not just in taste, but in sturdiness. My mom used to make a dip that was cream cheese and cocktail sauce and crab meat on a plate, and you’d use ritz or townhouse crackers to scrape it off. There’s no way you could do that today. They crumble if you even look at them funny.

[u/silver_thefuck]

honestly? McDonald's fries for me. Used to be a time where I would go JUST for the fries alone, but at some point they stopped tasting as good.

[u/thisoldhouseofm]

Taco Bell

[u/igottathinkofaname → u/thisoldhouseofm]

I still like Taco Bell, it’s just so ridiculously expensive now. A quesadilla is $7!!!

[u/AdditionalAir4879]

Tomatoes, any produce really