Nothing like a delicious, classic grilled cheese, right? Apparently millennials don't think so.
American cheese has been a staple in American cuisine for generations, but the popular dairy product has see a decline in sales for the fourth straight year in a row.
A new report by Bloomberg says that U.S. sales of processed cheese - Kraft Singles and Velveeta - have seen a drop of 1.6 percent this year. Bloomberg also credits the decline to a generational shift in taste.
The report states: “The product, made famous by the greatest generation, devoured by boomers on the go and touted as the basis for macaroni and cheese, the well-documented love object of Gen X, has met its match with millennials demanding nourishment from ingredients that are both recognizable and pronounceable."
Those bright orange squares known as American cheese are being replaced by many food outlets. They are replacing with fancier options, and millennials seem to be choosing these options instead.
Fast-food restaurants like McDonald's, Cracker Barrel, Panera Bread, Wendy’s and A&W Canada have all made menu changes that reflect the trend to gravitate away from American cheese, Bloomberg reports.
“Wendy’s is offering asiago. A&W’s Canada locations switched to real cheddar. McDonald’s is selling the Big Mac’s soft, orange square of American cheese with a version that doesn’t contain artificial preservatives. Cracker Barrel ditched its old-fashioned grilled cheese. So did Panera Bread, replacing American with a four-cheese combo of fontina, cheddar, monteau and smoked gouda,” states the report.
Now that I sit back and think about it, I guess it's true that American cheese is no longer as popular. I personally go with provolone or pepper jack cheeses whenever I go out to eat.
What do you guys think of this Bloomberg report? Would you agree that Kraft and Velveeta should be worried about the future of American cheese? I want to hear back from you, especially from Millennials (whom are being blamed here)!
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