For millions of American households, canned food has long been a pantry staple, offering a product that is economical, convenient, and shelf-stable. However, not all canned food items that people liked then have withstood the test and remain with us today. Sales of canned food in the U.S. were valued at approximately $16.35 billion in 2022, reflecting the high regard consumers have for canned fruit, beans, and other products.
New research suggests that almost 60% of shoppers now opt for fresh or frozen options – a significant shift in shopping habits. Others have disappeared from grocery store aisles, never to return, thanks to evolving consumer tastes, concerns over ingredient safety or environmental impact, or, yes, simply that nobody was that into them anymore.
But on what grounds were these old favorites banished? Here are 12 canned goods that were likely destroyed forever, and the reasons why.
Campbell’s Pepper Pot Soup
Dubbed “the soup that won the war,” Campbell’s Pepper Pot Soup was a mid-century favorite. However, the evolving consumer palette was not kind to this product, as its strong taste, combined with less traditional ingredients, contributed to its decline.
Campbell’s formally discontinued it in 2010, citing a decade-long decline in sales. In fact, according to soup trends, 78% of Americans currently prefer lighter, globally inspired soups, which means traditional, heavy offerings such as this have a right old fight on their hands.
Libby’s Corned Beef Spread
This canned good spread was the king of party snack trays until concerns about sodium and preservatives dethroned it. Studies indicate that as many as 62% of Americans are cutting back on eating processed meats due to the risks associated with sodium, including an increased risk of high blood pressure.
Libby’s repositioned itself as a line of fresh-perception, flexible products meeting those trends, and the corned beef spread got left behind.
Gerber Canned Kids’ Dinners
Gerber entered the canned dinner business decades ago with dinners like beef stew or spaghetti for older children. However, sales of the product dropped as parents turned to fresher options and organic players that emphasized “clean” labels.
“Gerber made no absence claims on its packaging of the toddler foods studied,” the Rudd Center said in a 2020 study, adding canned kids’ meals are a less attractive option. Eventually, Gerber discontinued the line, preferring to concentrate on baby food and snacks.
Chef Boyardee Pizza Maker Kits
Do you remember the iconic pizza maker kits that dominated American homes in the 1980s? Yet, increasingly poor-quality perceptions and the popularity of readymade frozen pizza meant that sales dropped. A 2022 report compiled by the American Frozen Food Institute reported that sales of frozen meals soared to USD 25.8 billion, with frozen pizzas also featured in these numbers.
The kits had quietly disappeared from shelves by the early 2000s.
Hormel Canned Ham Patties
Hormel’s canned ham patties were a diner-style road alternative at home. Still, fewer people had an appetite for such processed meals. Farm-to-table becomes mainstream: 64% of Americans are saying no to processed meats as of 2023, as more and more ‘mainstream’ Americans are opting for fresh-from-the-farm.
“Due to shifting consumer lifestyles as well as heightened competition in the ready meal spirit category, Tyson Foods’ Chicken and Waffles was recently discontinued,” the company said in a statement.
Del Monte Mixed Vegetables with Lima Beans
Lima beans are frequently a point of controversy, and that is the weak point of this Del Monte offering. Although mixed vegetables continue to sell well, sales of mixes that include lima beans have remained flat, prompting Del Monte to simplify its portfolio.
The NHANES survey data on dietary consumption (2011–2014) show that the percentage of U.S. adults reporting intake of mature legumes (which includes lima beans) decreased from 12.8% to 8.3%, and “dry beans” decreased from 10.0% to 6.5%.
Van Camp’s Pork and Beans with Sausage Links
Van Camp’s pork and beans attempted to set itself apart with mini hot dogs. Still, they failed to resonate with a demographic that increasingly craved healthier dishes.
Products like this one, with its focus on meat-heavy offerings, have seen their market share shrink amid a rise in demand for plant-based alternatives in households at an annual rate of 27%. Its parent company, ConAgra, retired the product to focus on plant-forward innovation.
Nabisco Canned Cheese Spread
Canned cheese spread was once a staple at parties, but concerns about nutrition and artificial additives led to its decline in popularity. In the current food climate, 54% of U.S. grocery shoppers buy natural or clean products; a new report states that Nabisco has abandoned the highly processed spread to focus on its popular snack brands, including Ritz and Triscuits.
Franco-American (commercial) Macaroni and Cheese
The canned version of Franco-American’s macaroni and cheese was convenient. Still, it didn’t taste as good as the refrigerated and frozen kinds.
Kraft Foods discontinued the Franco-American brand in the early 2000s and, following a merger with Heinz, decided to strengthen its core Kraft Mac & Cheese brand instead. According to consumer survey data, [68%] of shoppers prefer the smooth texture of refrigerated versus canned.
Underwood Deviled Tongue Sandwich Spread
Underwood’s tongue spread fizzled because it was too niche. Even if “There’s still deviled ham,” more obscure iterations like the tongue spread failed to catch on with the masses. Current meat consumption data indicate that the demand for organ meat has declined significantly, with fewer than 6% of U.S. households actively purchasing such products in recent years.
The percentage of households that do not buy meat at all has increased slightly; meanwhile, all other households are buying, on average, nearly 15 percent more meat in terms of weight than other types of food.
Beans in Castleberry’s Chili
Castleberry’s Chili was in the news in 2007 due to a botulism-induced recall that had a significant impact on consumer confidence. However, those efforts to reintroduce the product did not seem to generate strong demand, as competitors like Hormel and Wolf Brand Chili continued to grow stronger.
An investigation revealed that after being made aware of a recall, only 18% of the surveyed respondents indicated they would attempt to repurchase the brand, which had been voluntarily withdrawn from the market. Four cases of botulism in Texas and Indiana were lab-confirmed by the CDC and were linked to Castleberry’s canned hot dog chili sauce, resulting in the FDA issuing an immediate recall on July 18, 2007.
Canned Green Giant Brussels Sprouts
Few vegetables divide opinion as polarizingly as Brussels sprouts, and the canned variety from Green Giant was left languishing too. A Packer survey (Spring 2023) found that 44% of shoppers purchase frozen vegetables once a week, whereas only 38% purchase canned vegetables, indicating a preference for fresher formats.
Sales slumped, and Green Giant shifted its attention to better-selling canned vegetables, such as corn and green beans.
Key Takeaways
The disappearance of these canned products reflects several larger trends that are remaking the packaged food industry. Consumer demand is more health-conscious and flavor-driven than ever. Clean labels, low-sodium options, and fresh or plant-based alternatives are dominating the market, while traditional offerings are being left behind. Canned foods remain a staple of the pantry, but only those that evolve with the trends will stay in demand.
For the nostalgics among us who miss these discontinued classics, remember: The grocery business is an ever-changing thing. Who knows? Your old favorites could turn into the next great food revival.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
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