The 1980s were a time of culinary adventure, but also a period where certain foods were enjoyed without the stringent safety regulations we have today. From raw milk to artificial flavors, the decade's dinner table was a minefield of potential health hazards. Here's a look at some of the 1980s dinner foods that are now banned or heavily restricted, and the reasons why.
Unpasteurised Mac'n'Cheese
The idea of unpasteurised milk and raw milk cheeses being everyday items might seem like a quaint, rural fantasy, but it was a reality in the 1980s. E. coli bacteria was a constant threat, and it's no wonder that raw milk was banned from supermarkets in the UK in 1985 and by the FDA in the US two years later. The lesson? Pasteurisation is a good thing.
Offal-Filled Burgers
Remember those suspicious burger patties from your childhood? UK law now ensures that beef burgers contain a minimum of 62% meat, while economy burgers must contain upwards of 47%. The use of Mechanically Recovered Meat, which included spinal columns from cows, was banned due to concerns over BSE. It's a good thing we've moved away from those days.
Whale Meat
Whale meat was a legal dinner option in many parts of the world throughout the early 1980s, but the International Whaling Commission paused commercial whaling for populations from the mid-1980s. The UK officially banned the import of whale meat in 1973, and it's a good thing we've moved away from this practice, given the endangered status of many whale species.
Raw Eggs
Back in 1988, when people were guzzling back raw eggs like Rocky, Edwina Currie made headlines for claiming 'most of the egg production in this country, sadly, is now infected with salmonella.' By the 1990s, the UK had implemented a vaccine programme, and in 2017, lion-stamped eggs were declared safe for pregnant women and young children. It's a good thing we've moved away from raw eggs, but it's also a reminder of the importance of food safety.
Home-Preserved Veggies
Mason jars had a moment in the heyday of Mumford and Sons, and are coming back into our homes with the rise of 'tradwife' content. But in the 1980s, people were doing the same and happily pickled whatever they could get their hands on. Unfortunately, low-quality preservation techniques mean these homemade classics are likely not up to modern food safety standards. It's a good thing we've moved away from these practices, but it's also a reminder of the importance of food safety.
Smoked Fish
Locally smoked fish was an easy supper-time treat in the 1980s, but we've since got a lot more aware of the dangers involved in food processing. Modern standards around temperature, bacterial control, and food storage mean smoked fish has to meet a higher standard than the days of your local butcher trying out a new hobby. It's a good thing we've moved away from these practices, but it's also a reminder of the importance of food safety.
Beluga Caviar
Beluga caviar remains difficult (and expensive) to source in the US as the sturgeon's welfare is increasingly prioritised. The US banned the import of Beluga sturgeon caviar in 2005. It's a good thing we've moved away from this practice, but it's also a reminder of the importance of animal welfare.
Cherry Soda
Cinnamyl anthranilate provided a synthetic grape or cherry flavouring, but was banned in 1985 as it was believed it could cause cancer. It's a good thing we've moved away from these practices, but it's also a reminder of the importance of food safety.
After-Dinner Chocolate
Cadbury chocolate in the US is made to a recipe with less fat and a higher percentage of sugar than its UK counterpart. It's a good thing we've moved away from these practices, but it's also a reminder of the importance of food safety.
Takeaway Treats
Takeaway treats may have contained harmful artificial trans fats, which raise 'bad' cholesterol and lower 'good' cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Several countries have been commended by the WHO for their efforts to cut down on trans fats, and the US effectively banned industrially produced trans fat in 2018. It's a good thing we've moved away from these practices, but it's also a reminder of the importance of food safety.
