In what could be seen as another casualty of a food industry increasingly catering to trendy tastes, Boar’s Head has officially decided to stop producing its liverwurst. Once a staple of deli counters and lunchboxes across America, this iconic cold cut has now fallen victim to both shifting consumer preferences and, more immediately, a listeria outbreak at one of the company’s facilities.

Boar’s Head announced on Friday that it will permanently discontinue liverwurst production after discovering the root cause of the contamination. “Our investigation has identified the root cause of the contamination as a specific production process that only existed at the Jarratt (Virginia) facility and was used only for liverwurst,” the company said in a statement. With this discovery, the company made the tough decision to pull the plug on the beloved cold cut.

It’s a sad day for liverwurst lovers, but perhaps not an entirely surprising one. While liverwurst was once a cherished sandwich filler in American households, it has steadily fallen out of favor in recent decades. Many now see it as a relic of an older generation’s taste, displaced by more “modern” options like avocado toast and gourmet deli meats that appeal to a health-conscious crowd.

The reality is that liverwurst, an emulsified sausage of German origin made from pork liver and other organs, just doesn’t fit into today’s world of artisanal cheeses, organic spreads, and low-carb everything. Liverwurst, known for its affordability and versatility, was once a quick and easy lunch option for families across the country. Often spread on rye bread with mustard or topped with raw onions, it provided a hearty, no-frills meal. But in today’s foodie culture, convenience seems to come second to trendiness.

Robert Sietsema of *Eater NY* pointed out in a recent essay that liverwurst is now “probably one of the least popular sandwich options in New York City.” On a quest to find a liverwurst sandwich in the city known for its Old World-style deli culture, Sietsema came up empty-handed at five different Manhattan delis. The “older sandwich makers” at least knew what it was, but that’s hardly a ringing endorsement of its relevance today.

Liverwurst’s decline mirrors a larger trend in American culture, where food preferences are often driven by what’s “in” at the moment rather than tradition. What was once a staple during World War II, even inciting anger when it was rationed, is now something that, according to one Reddit user, “everyone is grossed out by.” Boar’s Head’s decision, while unfortunate for liverwurst fans, may simply be a reflection of the times.

The listeria outbreak that led to liverwurst’s demise only exacerbated a longstanding issue: the deli delight’s dwindling demand. And while some die-hard fans still defend it—one Reddit user lamented being the “only one in the past year” to order liverwurst at their deli—it’s clear that Boar’s Head saw the writing on the wall.

In a world where classic culinary traditions are often cast aside in favor of trendy alternatives, the discontinuation of liverwurst serves as a reminder that some foods, no matter how beloved by a small but dedicated group, cannot escape the pressures of modern consumer tastes.

As one indignant Redditor put it, “What’s with the liverwurst hate?” Maybe it’s not hate, but a reflection of how far we’ve strayed from the simple, hearty meals that once defined American life. Liverwurst, it seems, is just the latest casualty in the culture war on tradition.