Swanson sold some 25 million frozen meals that year, 1953, and it was the start of a nearly 60-year TV dinner boom. The industry added countless varieties, including lighter options such as Lean Cuisine; “hungry man” platters—for, well, hungrier men (and women); and more recently, meals that cater to dietary preferences such as gluten-free or organic. Virtually every year between 1953 and 2008, frozen meal sales grew.

But now, just about every category of frozen ready meals is falling. TV dinners had their moment in the US. Apparently, that moment is over.

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