The phenomenon of viral food trends isn't something new. Nowadays, thanks to social media, they’re just faster, louder, and more globally influential today than a century ago. From the pineapple upside-down cakes of the 1920s to the glossy pistachio-laden Dubai chocolate of the 2020’s, our tastes have evolved not only based on flavor but also economics, accessibility, and social influence. Yet, despite the time difference, it’s funny to see the similarities of the trends from over a century ago that mirror today’s.

The Viral Foods of the 1920s: Simpler Times, Simpler Trends

The 1920s saw the rise of many food products that are now American classics:

• Pineapple Upside Down Cake
• Jell-O
• Kool-Aid
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
• Velveeta Cheese
• Popsicles
• Green Goddess Dressing
• Caesar Salad
• Clam Chowder
• S’mores
• Scalloped Potatoes
• Ice Box Cake
• Deviled Eggs

What did all these foods have in common? Convenience, mass production, and shelf stability. As refrigerators became more common and mass advertising took off, particularly on radio, products like Jell-O and Velveeta became household staples. These items were not just recipes but ingredients for innovation and experimentation in the American kitchen. The economics were driven by brand loyalty, manufacturing scalability, and improvements in logistics and cold chain infrastructure.

Many of these trends originated from companies investing heavily in marketing. For instance, Kraft invested in educational recipe books that taught consumers how to use Velveeta and other processed cheeses, while General Foods used brightly colored advertisements to make Jell-O a household name.

It’s eerie to see how many of these trends still remain popular to this day. The Green Goddess Dressing also sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The dressing actually originated from a hotel in San Francisco and can now be found in grocery stores selling brand replications of it. 

The 2020s: Trends Fueled by Social Media and Global Supply Chains

Fast forward to the 2020s, where the food trend landscape has changed dramatically. Today’s viral foods include:

• Tinned Fish Dishes
• Microgreens
• Dubai Chocolate
• Sweet Potato Taco Bowls
  
  
• Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes
• Dalgona Coffee
• Chamoy Pickles
• Baked Oats
• Cloud Bread

The main social media platforms serving as the incubators for these trends are Tiktok and Instagram, rapidly exposing global audiences to regional flavors and gourmet aesthetics. While the 1920’s food trends were driven by industrial advertising and domestic convenience, 2020’s trends are driven by aesthetic appeal, cultural relevance, and individual influencer power.

Take, for example, the Dubai Chocolate trend—a luxurious pistachio-drenched dessert that went viral in early 2025. It triggered a 40% increase in pistachio exports from the UAE within just six months. Prices for pistachio kernels soared from $7.65 to $10.30 per pound, highlighting the immense economic power of viral trends in the age of social media.

Economic Comparisons: Then and Now

In the 1920s:

• Mass production made products cheap and widely available.
• A strong domestic economy in post-war America helped scale food brands.
• The marketing budget often dictated a product’s reach.

In the 2020s:

• Social influence and virality determine visibility more than ad dollars.
• Global supply chains must respond to unexpected demand shocks.
• Ingredient pricing is more sensitive to weather patterns, geopolitics, and trend cycles.

Economic value is now generated not only through product sales but also through engagement metrics. A trend can boost an entire category’s valuation. Tinned fish, once considered a lower-shelf product, is now a gourmet Instagram staple, driving up prices and leading to boutique brands with price points 3–4x that of standard grocery options.

Predicting the Next Viral Food: Enter JourneyFoods

This unpredictable environment is where JourneyFoods steps in. The startup leverages AI and data analytics to anticipate food trends before they become mainstream, helping food producers and retailers prepare for surges in demand and adjust their supply chains sustainably.

For example, JourneyFoods can:

• Monitor social media chatter to detect early signals of new trends.
• Assess global ingredient supply levels to gauge the sustainability of those trends.
• Suggest alternative ingredients or formulations based on economic and ecological models.
  
  

So if Dubai Chocolate is set to drive a pistachio shortage, JourneyFoods might recommend more sustainable nut alternatives or supply chain partnerships that can scale without ecological harm.

Sustainability and Consumer Access

A major difference between the 1920’s and 2020's trends is sustainability. Many early 20th-century foods were made for shelf life and simplicity, often with little consideration for health or environmental impact. Today, there is growing awareness of the carbon footprint and nutritional content of our food choices.

Viral trends can also call into question accessibility for consumers. When an ingredient goes viral, it may become scarce or unaffordable for its traditional consumer base. This is where AI-led strategies from JourneyFoods help balance popularity with equity and sustainability.

JourneyFoods and other innovators are likely to play a pivotal role in the next wave of food trends by:

• Helping brands reformulate products to be both trendy and nutritious.
• Guiding sourcing decisions that minimize environmental impact.
• Ensuring affordability and accessibility as popularity surges.

Whether it’s the next s’mores or a microgreen-based TikTok salad, the future of food will be shaped not only by taste but by data.

Conclusion: Data is the New Secret Ingredient

From icebox cakes to sweet potato taco bowls, viral food trends have always reflected a blend of cultural mood and technological innovation. But today, the stakes are higher. The rapid pace of trend cycles means economic impact can be felt within days—not years. In short, while we may not know what the next big food trend will be, with the right tools, we can be ready for it.

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