Screaming_chicken:

What happened? That's easy to answer...the same thing that has happened across the board in America: The unsatiable greed of the few is driving force of focusing on the "bottom line."

If we weren't buying it, they wouldn't be selling it. Actually, I think the insatiable greed (or petulance) we have to blame in this country is actually that of --- children.

Kids' tendencies toward food fussiness and many adults' unrestrained "kids first" attitudes clearly drive Americans' food choices, unlike any other culture of which I am aware. From the bland, unhealthy, pre-packaged "lunchables" and their ilk to so-called "convenience foods" to fruit and veggies that look pretty but have zero flavor, we have kids to blame. Why is it that the strawberries and tomatoes you buy at the market all look like perfect little cartoon strawberries and tomatoes, but somehow lack even a hint of strawberry or tomato flavor? Because kids (and adults who behave childishly) don't want "weird looking" fruits and vegetables on their plates. Widespread consumer choice/preferences drove things this way, and we have only ourselves - or our kids - to blame.