Tag: 1980s food

Following a heart attack in 1985, ConAgra CEO Charles M. Harper fundamentally changed his diet and challenged his company to do the same, leading to the creation of Healthy Choice, which officially came out in 1989. This personal health event catalyzed a major shift in the frozen food industry, introducing a line of meals focused on lower fat, cholesterol, and sodium content.

While the 1990s are often remembered as the peak of fat-free products like Snackwell's cookies, the origins of the movement can be traced back several decades earlier. Understanding when did the fat free craze begin reveals how a combination of early research, public anxiety, and government dietary advice set the stage for a food revolution that reshaped supermarket aisles and public health for decades.