Biggest Food Fads and Flops Ever
Biggest Food Fads and Flops Ever
As the last of the and more baby boomers are retiring, AARP celebrates the generation that changed the world. — Save on shopping, dining, health, travel and more
12 Food Flops in Boomer History
Among runaway successes such as frozen pizza light beer and coffee shops on every corner America has endured plenty of food and beverage disasters
McDonald s Arch Deluxe
McDonald’s reportedly spent $200 million in the mid-1990s to promote “The Burger With the Grown-Up Taste.” A quarter-pound beef patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, a “secret sauce” of mayonnaise and two mustards, and an optional slice of bacon, all on a soft potato-flour roll? Didn’t seem all that different from a Quarter Pounder — and adult burger lovers didn’t bite.Gerber Singles
OK, most of us have sneaked a taste of baby food from a jar. But we wouldn’t want to eat an adult-sized pureed portion of beef Burgundy or chicken Madeira, right? Betting we would, Gerber introduced this short-lived product for college students and adults in the mid-1970s.New Coke
In 1985, Coca-Cola replaced its 99-year-old original formula with a newer, sweeter version. After consumers deluged the company’s headquarters with tens of thousands of angry phone calls, the tried-and-true beverage resurfaced as Coca-Cola Classic — and sales surged. The new taste of Coke (later rebranded Coca-Cola II) hung around for some time.Reddi-Bacon
The maker of Reddi-wip (the sweetened whipped cream in a can) thought it had a time-saving answer for bacon lovers in the 1960s. Precooked strips packaged in foil could be dropped in a toaster and heated to crispy goodness. But grease leaking from packets into toasters proved to be Reddi-Bacon’s undoing.Jell-O Salad Gelatin
“You’ll never again make a gelatin salad that’s a dessert at heart.” This 1960s’ Jell-O promotion for a new line of salad-flavored gelatins — in celery, mixed vegetable, seasoned tomato and Italian salad flavors — sounded a tad defensive. Not even an ad featuring a cute bunny rabbit could make this one a hit.Jimmy Dean Chocolate Chip Pancakes & Sausage on a Stick
In 2006, the venerable sausage maker introduced two new pancake flavors — blueberry and chocolate chip — for its frozen sausage wrapped in a pancake and mounted on a stick. Blueberry is still around. On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart mocked the chocolate chip variety for being so unhealthy that terrorists might consider using it as a weapon. Try to find it now.Fashion Cafe
Supermodels are infamous for lettuce-and-cigarette diets. So perhaps, not surprisingly, diners didn’t flock to a New York spot that supposedly offered favorite recipes from, from left, Claudia Schiffer, Elle MacPherson, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and other top fashionistas. It opened in 1995 and closed three years later.Flower-Flavored Pez
In 1968, the year after the Summer of Love, the Austrian manufacturer of the candy and pocket dispensers overindulged in flower power. The sweet treats were paired with psychedelically colored dispensers — including some bizarrely decorated with eyeballs. It was a bit too trippy.AARP Offer Remember the past help shape the future
Share your stories and help advocate for political support to protect your future.Pepsi A M
In 1989, Pepsi hoped we would ditch our morning cuppa joe for a breakfast cola with more caffeine than regular Pepsi (though still far less than coffee). It didn’t survive the test marketing stage. After energy drinks paved the way decades later, Pepsi fared better with a noncola breakfast soda, Mountain Dew Kickstart.Kellogg s Breakfast Mates
This 1999 innovation was a single-serving cereal package. It came with milk that didn’t require refrigeration and a disposable spoon so that you could eat right from the package. Imagine the steps it saved! We might be lazy in the morning — but not that lazy.Heinz EZ Squirt Tomato Ketchup
The appetizing tomato-red color of ketchup is a big part of the french fry-eating experience. In 2000, though, Heinz introduced a line of crazy green, purple, pink, orange, teal and blue varieties. Kids loved the stuff. Adults, not so much — and it was discontinued in 2006.Thirsty Dog and Thirsty Cat Bottled Water
In the mid-1990s, a Florida company marketed a nutrient-enhanced beverage for pets. Thirsty Dog had a crispy beef flavor, and Thirsty Cat was tinged with fish.View More Slideshows
As the last of the and more baby boomers are retiring, AARP celebrates the generation that changed the world. — Save on shopping, dining, health, travel and more