Phoskitos: nostalgia meets the EU reformulation
EU rules on trans fats changed packaged baked goods and the taste of Phoskitos. Nostalgia, marginal utility and brands trading on memories.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The EU killed trans fats, and Phoskitos' taste along with them
Does a Phoskitos taste the same as it did in 1996? The short answer is no, and it's not just distorted nostalgia. Eating a whole box becomes an experiment in experience economics: the first is fluffy, the second acceptable, and halfway through the third you're already checking the macros that don't add up.
One line of analysis blames European regulation. The trans fat rules forced the reformulation of packaged baked goods, and what was gained in food safety was lost in palatability. Before, the fat was lard, with that texture that never fooled the palate; now it's something else, better for your arteries, worse for your memories. On top of that, some versions have added liqueur, an ingredient purists consider a heresy on par with tiramisu made with wine.
Some bring an economic concept into the equation: marginal utility. Each additional cake delivers less pleasure than the one before, turning a binge into an exercise in diminishing returns. And the question that separates the nostalgic from the analyst remains: did the product change, or does the adult palate simply use a different yardstick? The brand, meanwhile, keeps the price unchanged.
Brussels saved our arteries. The palate hasn't forgiven it yet.
Does a Phoskitos taste the same as it did in 1996? The short answer is no, and it's not just distorted nostalgia. Eating a whole box becomes an experiment in experience economics: the first is fluffy, the second acceptable, and halfway through the third you're already checking the macros that don't add up.
One line of analysis blames European regulation. The trans fat rules forced the reformulation of packaged baked goods, and what was gained in food safety was lost in palatability. Before, the fat was lard, with that texture that never fooled the palate; now it's something else, better for your arteries, worse for your memories. On top of that, some versions have added liqueur, an ingredient purists consider a heresy on par with tiramisu made with wine.
Some bring an economic concept into the equation: marginal utility. Each additional cake delivers less pleasure than the one before, turning a binge into an exercise in diminishing returns. And the question that separates the nostalgic from the analyst remains: did the product change, or does the adult palate simply use a different yardstick? The brand, meanwhile, keeps the price unchanged.
Brussels saved our arteries. The palate hasn't forgiven it yet.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (35 replies).
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