It strikes me that the quality of food has been deteriorating for at least the last 10 years (as well as the quantity / size of most items of course) with the ever increasing inclusion of artificial sweeteners which not only taste foul but often cause unpleasant gastric issues for anyone with sensitive digestion, such as IBS sufferers. There's the whole sugar tax thing driving this because, presumably, manufacturers believe that consumers would otherwise not spend out on more expensive 'sugary' stuff ... and perhaps because they want to be seen as being 'responsible' in providing 'healthier choices' or whatever the phrase is to excuse ruining the flavour of so much food because 'we' can't be trusted to eat sugary food in moderation.
Then latterly, with the cost of living crisis, you have the added issue of cutting corners left right and centre, with producers modifying recipes by using inferior ingredients and/or adjusting ratios so that the original, previous taste (and very often texture too) is completely changed. This is often heralded by describing such changes disingenuously as a 'new recipe' or (the bloody cheek of it) as somehow 'improved' - which is ridiculously subjective anyway and actually, I find the blatant, jolly soundbites used for reduced quality goods completely intelligence insulting as if we are all thick and can't see or taste for ourselves that the item has changed significantly one way or another.
Whilst I agree that taste buds and appetite changes as we age, I do not accept that this phenomenon explains why so many of us feel well known and previously popular goods now taste like a disappointing shadow of their former selves at best and like something unrecognisable and unpalatable at worst. If this were the case all food would be similarly affected, and I certainly haven't noticed the same in food cooked from scratch either at home, or at a decent restaurant. A homemade cake using a family recipe tastes just as delicious as I remember from my childhood. Not so food from shops ...
... this includes, as mentioned, a plethora of drinks now ruined by artificial sweeteners and no doubt a change in other ingredients too. Ribena used to taste thoroughly fruit and had a lovely smoothness to it with no nasty aftertaste. We all know how pointless, even repugnant it is now. I've just returned from Cyprus and one of my greatest pleasures is enjoying drinks which actually taste of something and don't leave a horrid taste in the mouth. San Pellegrino grapefruit made with only fruit juice, sparkling water and sugar for example. And loads of other lovely drinks in most cafes - sure, there are sugar free drinks if you want them, but there's also lots of sugar included choices as well.
I'm particularly disappointed by Sugar Puffs and Crunchy Nut Cornflakes. Oh, pardon me, I'm not allowed to call Sugar Puffs that anymore as they've gone all virtuous and are now called Honey Puffs I believe. There's even a message on the box alluding to how they're now better for you.
As pps have mentioned Dairy Milk is now vile, the mouth feel is completely different as well as the flavour. Ditto practically every mainstream chocolate brand you can name ... Black Magic gets a dishonorable mention, as well as Quality Street and Roses with their 'eco' wrappings and proliferation of praline based centres. Quite honestly they all seem to taste the same no matter how the individual sweet is described. And that same is shite.
It's so depressing. There's still genuinely tasty food out there in independent shops but sadly too expensive for many. Is it too much to ask that affordable treats like a small chocolate bar, a nice soft drink or a biscuit from your local supermarket actually tastes nice?!