Freakonomics Radio

53. How American Food Got So Bad

Dec 13, 2011
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INSIGHT

Prohibition's Impact

  • Tyler Cowen's book, "An Economist Gets Lunch," explores why American food declined in quality.
  • Cowen blames Prohibition for the closure of many high-quality restaurants.
INSIGHT

Children's Palates

  • American restaurants increasingly catered to children's tastes after Prohibition.
  • This led to a preference for soft, sweet, and gooey foods.
INSIGHT

Immigration and Flavor

  • The 1924 Immigration Act limited new flavors in American cuisine.
  • Reduced immigration resulted in less food innovation and diversity.
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