Standing in a supermarket aisle, staring at the endless shelves of snacks, ready meals and fizzy drinks, it would be easy to think that things have always been this way, that we have always eaten like this.
But of course, we haven't! The way we eat and shop today is nothing like it was 50, 70, or 100 years ago. For working-class families, food has dramatically shifted from simple and fresh to convenient and ultra-processed. Here is a brief overview of how things have evolved over the decades.
1900s: Simple, honest food
In the early 1900s meals were fresh, seasonal and straightforward. Most families relied on staples like bread, potatoes, porridge and whatever vegetables were in season. Meat was for special occasions, butter was a luxury and absolutely nothing went to waste. Shopping was part of the community—you’d visit the butcher for meat, the baker for bread and markets for fruit and veg.
A typical meal: Potato and cabbage stew with bread and dripping
The majority of food was homemade or locally sourced, so there were no mass food corporations yet, although in 1906 Will Kellogg founded the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company, later known as Kellogg's.
1910s–1940s: Rationing and resourcefulness
The wars changed everything. Food rationing during both World Wars meant families had to get creative with what little they had. Butter, sugar and meat were rationed, and powdered eggs and tins of Spam became common. People started growing their own food, every patch of land became a “Dig for Victory” garden. It was a tough time, but food was valued and waste wasn’t an option.
1910s typical meal: Barley soup and bread (WWI shortages meant soups or stews with barley or lentils were common)
1920s typical meal: Shepherd’s pie (a way to stretch a little bit of meat into a filling meal)
1930s typical meal: Bubble and squeak (the Depression meant leftovers fried together were the norm)
1940s meal: Woolton pie (a veggie-based pie created during WWII)
The food industry was small but growing as companies like Heinz and Birds Eye began to introduce convenience foods.
1950s: Welcome to processed food
By the 1950s rationing had ended and people were ready for change. Processed foods started appearing, fish fingers, tinned soups and instant puddings were suddenly in everyone’s kitchen. Supermarkets began popping up, offering a variety of foods all in one place. Supermarkets felt modern and convenient. Families didn’t have to spend hours preparing meals anymore, but it was the beginning of food becoming more about convenience than freshness.
A typical meal: Spam fritters with chips and peas
In the 1950s, the global food industry was worth around £20-25 billion (equivalent to around £436 billion in today's money). Companies like Unilever and Nestlé led the way in mass-producing packaged foods, driving the surge in demand for convenient, processed meals. This marked a turning point in how families shopped, cooked and ate, transforming the food industry for good.
1960s–1970s: Supermarkets take over
The 1960s marked the rise of supermarkets and by the 1970s the weekly shop had become the norm. Families started trying new ingredients like pasta and frozen veg, but processed foods like instant noodles and ready meals started sneaking in too. Convenience was winning and the shift away from fresh, home-cooked meals was becoming clear.
A typical meal: Chicken Kiev with frozen veg and instant mash
By the 1970s the food industry was worth around £150 billion (around £1.1 trillion in today's money), with major global food corporations like Nestlé, Heinz and Kellogg’s leading the way.
1980s: Fast food and microwaves
Fast food exploded in the 1980s with snacks, fizzy drinks and sugary cereals filling supermarket shelves. The microwave became a kitchen essential, making meals quicker than ever. Convenience foods took over. Families were more likely to grab a packet of crisps than prepare fresh food. The food industry was fully driven by profit, with advertising shaping how we ate. Our diet was increasingly dominated by salt, sugar and additives.
A typical meal: Fish fingers with oven chips and baked beans
By the 1980s the food industry had reached new heights in terms of profitability. With the rise of multinational corporations like McDonald's and Coca-Cola, the global food industry was worth approximately £480 billion (around £1.3 trillion in today's money).
1990s: More choice, more sugar
The 1990s was the decade of variety. Supermarkets stocked food from all over the world, so families could have spaghetti Bolognese ready meal one night and a frozen curry the next. Ultra-processed foods were now the norm, brightly packaged snacks and sugary treats were everywhere. Health claims like “low-fat” or “fortified with vitamins” made it seem okay but we were eating more sugar and additives than ever.
A typical meal: Spaghetti Bolognese with garlic bread
In the 1990s the global food industry’s worth exploded to approximately £1.2 trillion (around £2.3 trillion in today's money), driven by global giants like Nestlé, PepsiCo and Kraft. These companies dominated the market and processed foods became a trillion-pound industry.
2000s: Health trends begin
By the 2000s people started paying attention to the health problems linked to diet. Words like “organic”, “low-carb” and “superfoods” became buzzwords and farmers' markets made a comeback. Despite the growing health-conscious trends, many 'healthy' foods still contained additives, preservatives and were highly processed. For most families, processed foods remained cheaper and more convenient than fresh ingredients.
A typical meal: Lasagne ready meal with salad in a bag
In the 2000s the food industry was worth over £2.5 trillion globally (around £3.8 trillion in today's money). Despite growing health trends ultra-processed foods remained, driven by major corporations seeking profit.
2010s: Growing awareness
Social media brought food into the spotlight with clean eating, gut health and plant-based diets dominating conversations. Healthy eating became trendy, though many 'healthy' meals were still pre-prepped or ultra-processed. More people were questioning what was really in their food but ultra-processed foods were still the easy option for the supermarkets and for families.
A typical meal: Grilled chicken with quinoa and roasted veg
The food industry had become a £3.2 trillion global business by this decade (around £4.5 trillion in today's money), with processed food companies continuing to control a huge portion of the market.
2020s: And here we are
Today ultra-processed foods are everywhere, with companies making cheap, addictive products. Even so-called "healthier" options often have artificial ingredients and preservatives. More people are starting to question where their food comes from and how it’s made. While there's a growing demand for fresh, local and sustainable food, the convenience and low cost of ultra-processed foods still make them the easy choice for many families.
In 2023, the global food industry is thought to be worth around £5.3 trillion. Ultra-processed foods remain dominant and companies continue to prioritise profits over health, despite growing awareness around food quality and concerns about our health.
So, have we always eaten like this? Definitely not. The shift from fresh, local food to processed, packaged products has happened over time, but it’s clear now that things need to change. With more people becoming aware of the impact of ultra-processed foods, it’s time to push for a food system that values health and sustainability over profit. The change starts with us.
A little perspective: Food is big business!
If you spent £1,000 every second, it would take you over 31,688 years to spend a trillion pounds.
One trillion pounds would be enough to give every person in the world about £130 (based on a world population of roughly 7.7 billion people).
If you have £1 million, you'd need 999,999 more millions to make up £1 trillion
References
Grand View Research, 2023. Food & Grocery Retail Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report 2023 - 2030. Available at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/food-grocery-retail-market
Earth.org. (n.d.). Food Production: Recent History and Where We Are Heading. Earth.org. Available at: https://earth.org/data_visualization/food-production-recent-history-and-where-we-are-heading/
The figures for the global food industry’s worth are based on data from agricultural production, food manufacturing, and global trade. They reflect estimates adjusted for inflation and sourced from organisations like the FAO and UN, considering industry growth and consumer demand.