Canned foods have been around for decades, but some don’t make it through the times. Here are ten popular canned foods you won’t find on store shelves.
1. Franco-American’s Macaroni With Cheese Sauce
Harkening back to the late 1800s, the Franco-American brand was renowned for its ready-to-serve canned dinners, including famous macaroni with cheese sauce. This delicacy promised a homemade taste, with aged Cheddar cheese, milk, and butter featured in its ingredient list.
While cherished by many, the product faced stiff competition from Chef Boyardee and eventually faded by 2004.
2. Campbell’s Pepper Pot Soup
This timeless soup is believed to have been introduced to the U.S. by enslaved individuals from the Caribbean. A rich, satisfying combination of tripe, veal, and vegetables creates a thick, hearty soup. Although Campbell’s no longer offers it in cans, you can still enjoy it by preparing it at home.
3. Clicquot Club’s Ginger Ale
Once a giant in the ginger ale industry, Clicquot Club’s glory days are a mere memory. Originating from an apple orchard in New England in the 1880s, the brand’s ginger ale won acclaim for its high-quality ingredients and champagne-like quality. However, as colas gained prominence and tastes evolved, Clicquot Club ginger ale lost its fizz.
4. Neo-Life Nest’s Dehydrated Stroganoff Casserole
Bucking the trend of preserving goods for months, Neo-Life Nest ventured into dehydrated food with its stroganoff-style casserole. Nitrogen-infused for longevity, this product found favor among survivalists in the 1970s. However, the passage of time takes its toll on nutrition, and the apocalypse-ready meal ultimately proved more palatable in concept than in reality.
5. Progresso Soup Flavors
While not all Progresso canned soups have disappeared from store shelves, significantly fewer options are available. In 2020, the brand streamlined its product offerings and eliminated 40 soup varieties.
The challenging part is that the specific soups that were discontinued remain unknown. As a result, there is a possibility of disappointment when searching for a particular style while shopping.
6. Pac Man Pasta
This canned pasta dish is a nostalgic marketing tie-in with a famous 80s video game. It showcases Pac-Man and ghost-shaped pasta, served in a delectable “golden chicken sauce” or tomato sauce (with or without meatballs). The sheer extravagance of the 80s advertisement alone makes this pasta worthy of a second look.
7. Chef Boyardee Roller Coaster
Canned pasta certainly experienced a significant surge in popularity during the 80s. This combination of wavy pasta and bite-sized meatballs became a cherished favorite among many. Such was the adoration for this dish that people took the time to write heartfelt letters to Chef Boyardee, pleading for its triumphant return.
8. Armour Star’s Ambitious BBQ Ribs in a Can
In the summer of 1963, Armour Star, a U.S.-based meat packing company, dared to transform the classic outdoor barbecue experience into a canned sensation. They concocted canned BBQ ribs, tenderly smoking the meat before sealing it in cans with a mysterious six-spice BBQ sauce.
Alas, despite their efforts, the product had its pitfalls. The ribs were not deboned, leading to apprehension among consumers. The cost also deterred potential buyers from indulging in this bone-filled venture.
9. Trader Joe’s Pet Food
Trader Joe’s had to bid farewell to a handful of their animal eats as production issues brought about their permanent discontinuation. In an announcement early in 2022, the company stated that certain canned pet foods would no longer be available due to ongoing supply inconsistencies.
10. Monarch Alaska King Crab
Long before Alaskan king crab achieved delicacy status, the Monarch brand offered an affordable alternative. While today’s Alaskan king crab commands high prices due to its delicate flavor and demanding harvest, the canned version sought to make this exquisite treat more accessible. Nonetheless, this canned delicacy faded away with time and advancements in freezing technology.
This article was produced on Health Makes You.