Two themes emerge as the century moves forward: the proliferation of processed foods and the introduction of foods that come from the flood of recent immigrants. On the former issue, recent technologies such as invention of trans fats in 1890s that made foods more stable and canned foods necessary for troops helped open the door for the processed food industry. 1910 – 1920 saw the Aunt Jemima’s syrup, Oreos, Crisco and Nathan’s hot dogs on the scene.

the 1910s were called the “hyphenate decade” because terms like “Italian-American”, “Chinese-American” and “Jewish-American” were coined

At the same time, the 1910s were called the “hyphenate decade” because terms like “Italian-American”, “Chinese-American” and “Jewish-American” were coined and shops began serving hybrid foods that fit the names. Dishes with roots in immigrant countries but adapted

for America like spaghetti and meatballs and chop suey became popular.