How products have changed over the years.

I am in my late 60s and I have notice how the products I use every day have changed, and not always for the better. I know that package size has gotten smaller and products from China, mostly junk, with a few exceptions.

So let us not discuss package size or products that moved from the USA, unless it does not deal with how poorly the product is made now. And let us list products that have actually gotten better also.

I will start with a few. And I don't care if you name names. That would be preferred. Most of the products I will list, I have been using for years.

Crest Toothpaste and most other brands. Worse A lot thinner than they used to be. I would call them more of a cream than a paste. You whipped it a little more and you get less product in the same amount of space.

Ice Cream. Worse. Same applies for this products as it does for toothpaste.

Best Foods or Hellmen Mayo. Worse Whipped it up more and you can get less weight in a jar. Now it falls off the knife where as it used to stick. Since packaging has gotten smaller, it is hard to tell what the equivalent weight would have been in the old days for the same packaging.

Nabisco Graham Crackers. Worse. For years this was my late night snack. In a bowl with milk. They changed the formula years ago, probably taking out the "Bad Stuff". After trying one of the new boxes, I no longer bought it.

Bounty Paper Towels. Better I like the multisize packaging. It allows you to use only the amount you need. Before that, I found that most paper towels, were too big for what I needed.

Toilet Paper. Worse The rolls got narrower and the sheets are thinner. You now need more to do less. Don't even get me started on how thin the toilet paper has gotten in commercial establishments. I really don't know how they can make paper that thin.

Cordless, Rechargeable drill motors. Better My first cordless was a 7.5 volt Makita. It was decent. A game changer. Now with the 20volt Dewalts, I find they have gotten a lot better.

Portable phones. Better and Worse. This would be a thread by itself and there would be as many advocates on both sides. I won't mention my reasons for either way.

Greg W.

 

Chapstick lip balm is same size, just half full. !

 

I have to agree with the Hellman's mayo. We switched to Duke's a few years ago, and I think it tastes like Hellman's used to.

 

I don't know any of the products you speak of. What we're seeing here is that many local products have disappeared, when the companies were bought, or driven out of business, by Unilever, P&G, Nestlé, or comparable giants. They were replaced by generic brand products that aren't always better, but usually are more expensive.

 

Only related in terms of quantum physics, but you've just reminded me of a package of stroopwafels that I need to take out of the freezer for Christmas.

 

Funny you state that! I was just telling my wife that same thing yesterday.

 

If you check out restaurant supply you may find the ultimate mayo Hellmans's Extra Heavy. Everything you want in a mayo and more. Love it!

 

Tuna cans are the same size, but there is 1/5 less in them. Also for some brands, the contents looks like the scrappings off the cut table.

Greg W.

 

I think those vicks inhalers may be the same. Just a guess, but look the same.

 

Case sodbuster looks the same.

 

Miracle Whip or nothing at all.

 

Beef jerky used to be a dried beef product. Now all they have is stuff that is moist. Even has a must sell by date. I am sure the cowboys in the old days, wanted there beef jerky moist and would only last so long.

Greg W.

 

As far as ice cream goes, we have a local dairy, Halo Farms, that makes it's own(pints only), makes Hagen Dazs look like the JV squad. Their milk is great too.

 

Used to love the days when the Milkman came to the house, along with the Iceman and the Helm's Bakery man. Grandma had an Ice Box, that she used till about 1956, and then got a fridge.

Greg W.

 

The iceman still comes here in the summer-period. Love authentic cream ice in many varieties. As soon as the kids hear the bell in the neighborhood from the van, they run to the door. I've tried to teach'em that a bells sound means an empty ice cream-van, but I think they've called my bluff!

 

Breakfast cereals......they've taken all the sugar out!

 

The addition of olive oil to some Hellman's must be the leading reason for it falling off the knife.

 

There's still a lot of it in Raisin Bran. Such a shame, minus the sugar issue it's a nutritious cereal.

 

Coffee has definitely improved. At least the way I do it nice beans from South America for around $6 a pound at Sams grind it myself......

 

I'm fairly certain the significant amount of sugar within the box hasn't changed at all. Manufacturers have simply chosen to not highlight the sugar content on the outside of the box