I Think It's All Gone

Call me crazy but I think we're living in a new society.  Now, this isn't going to be some crazy political post, and quite frankly I can't handle those myself, but I would be amiss to not mention things around me that seem terribly obvious and yet no one seems to be commenting on them.  What am I talking about?  Well, for starters, mayonnaise.

Okay, that's not totally true.  This is NOT a post about mayonnaise...but it does start with mayonnaise, and I think it's a perfect example of what I'm referring to.  So, pretty much since the dawn of time (slight exaggeration), there has been a staple of a product called Hellman's Mayonnaise in the east and Best Foods Mayonnaise in the west (same product, btw, just two different names).  This has literally been the mayonnaise of the whole entire country since, well, I was born (the dark ages?).  This product is a staple because it's been consistent beyond belief.  It had a rich texture, full flavor, etc.  Well, not anymore.

Maybe you don't eat or use mayonnaise as much as I do but this product has absolutely, positively, hands down, without any doubt, changed.  It is not the same product.  Hell, just look at it!  Yes, even the color of the product has changed, where it was always just a slight creamy off white and now it has this grayish tint.  And then, there's the taste...  What I loved about this product was that it tasted "good" and not at all like icky bizarre Miracle Whip.  Well, those days are definitely gone.  Take a glob of this new version and tell me your thoughts.

So, what's my point, you ask?  We in this society are getting a snow job.  Products are being altered, changed, cheapened, and who knows what the heck else and no one seems to be noticing.  How is that possible?  I mean, seriously?!

Another one which is more well known is the "pint" of Haagen Daz ice cream.  Maybe you don't already know this but it's no longer actually a pint.  Hmm.  They have stated that they had a choice...either raise the price or decrease the quantity.  This is apparently a phenomenon that's happening to a whole slew of products out there.  If you're like me, you're probably thinking that they decreased the quantity AND increased the price...and I'd dare say you're correct, or at least that's what it seems like.  If nothing else, though, it rolls off the tongue easily to say "I want a pint of ice cream", and it's not quite as easy to say "I want a pint minus two ounces or 14 ounces of ice cream please".  Yes, it's simply not the same, is it?  No wonder math is more important these days.

Ah, but the list of products seems to just grow every day.  More and more products are cutting corners, changing ingredients, and probably, well, poisoning us all in the name of saving themselves a little cash.  Pretty soon, I wouldn't be shocked if water is no longer the main and only ingredient in water...but I shudder at what they'll use to fill in the gaps.

When and where does this end?  Have we no pride in anything anymore?  Will a Twinkie no longer have the infamous lasting 7 years cream center and instead something just shy of shaving cream filler?  And better yet, how have we not noticed?  One thing for sure - I'm beyond tired of the "supply chain issues" excuse.  C'mon, COVID's over, at least as an epidemic.  This is just a money grab, some strange and bizarre experiment to see if the American public notices.  And the scariest part?  We apparently don't.  Sigh.