Does Jennie-O Still Make Their Classic Turkey Loaf?

Turkey loaf has been a popular convenience food item for decades. Jennie-O is one of the most well-known brands associated with pre-packaged turkey loaf. Their classic oven roasted turkey breast loaf used to be a staple that could be found in just about every grocery store across America. But over the last few years, many shoppers have noticed that Jennie-O turkey loaf seems to have disappeared from store shelves So does Jennie-O still make their famous turkey loaf today?

The History of Jennie-O Turkey Loaf

Jennie-O is a division of the food processing company Hormel Foods that specializes in turkey products. Jennie-O was founded in 1940 and named after the daughter of Earl B. Olson, the founder of the company. Jennie-O pioneered much of the mass production techniques for turkey and turkey products that allowed turkey to become more affordable and widely available for American consumers.

One of Jennie-O’s most popular products was their line of pre-packaged, pre-cooked turkey loaves. Jennie-O oven roasted turkey breast loaf contained white and dark turkey meat baked into a hearty, loaf-style entree. It became a popular product because it provided an easy and healthy meat option that could be prepared quickly at home. At the peak of its popularity, Jennie-O turkey loaf could be found in the refrigerated meat sections of most major supermarkets across the United States.

The Decline and Disappearance of Turkey Loaf

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Jennie-O turkey loaf was a bestselling product. However, over the last decade or so, it seemed to fall out of favor with consumers and slowly vanished from store shelves.

There are a few reasons why Jennie-O turkey loaf may have declined in popularity:

• Changing tastes – Over time, consumer preferences shifted away from processed, pre-packaged convenience foods like turkey loaf Shoppers started wanting more natural, organic, and free-range options

• Competition – Other brands like Butterball, Boar’s Head, and private label store brands introduced their own versions of turkey loaf and captured market share.

• Nutrition concerns – Some consumers began to view products like turkey loaf as overly processed and unhealthy, even though Jennie-O turkey loaf was relatively low in fat and calories compared to other processed meats.

By the 2010s, it became increasingly difficult to find Jennie-O turkey loaf or any other brand of pre-packaged turkey loaf at mainstream grocery stores. For the most part, turkey loaf seemed to fade into obscurity as consumer tastes moved on.

The Status Today: Discontinued But Not Forgotten

Unfortunately for turkey loaf lovers, Jennie-O has officially discontinued their classic oven roasted turkey breast loaf. It is no longer listed as an active product on the company’s website. When reached for comment, Jennie-O confirmed that they no longer manufacture or distribute pre-packaged turkey loaf.

However, just because Jennie-O no longer makes turkey loaf doesn’t mean it has disappeared completely. Some smaller specialty meat brands continue to produce turkey loaf products. And once in awhile, you may still find frozen turkey loaf options at warehouse club stores like Costco and Sam’s Club. But the days of turkey loaf being a grocery store staple appear to be over for now.

Jennie-O has focused their offerings on other turkey products that remain popular with consumers, like raw turkey, ground turkey, turkey bacon, frozen cooked turkey, and turkey sausages. Even if the demand for pre-packaged turkey entree loaves has dwindled, interest in turkey as a lean protein remains strong.

While you can no longer purchase Jennie-O oven roasted turkey breast loaf at your local supermarket, the product is still fondly remembered by shoppers who grew up eating it. Turkey loaf may have faded into obscurity as tastes changed, but for some it remains a cherished nostalgic food that defined an earlier era of convenience cooking.

How to Make Your Own Turkey Loaf

Just because the Jennie-O version has been discontinued, doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy turkey loaf. Making your own homemade turkey loaf is simple and allows you to control exactly what goes into it.

Here is an easy recipe to recreate the classic Jennie-O style turkey loaf at home:

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground turkey (preferably a leaner variety like 93% lean)
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1⁄2 cup milk
• 1⁄4 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried sage
• 1 tsp salt
• 1⁄4 tsp black pepper
• 1⁄4 tsp dried thyme
• 1⁄4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×5″ loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well until fully incorporated.

3. Transfer mixture to prepared loaf pan, pressing meat firmly into the corners and smoothing the top.

4. Bake for 60-75 minutes until loaf reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

5. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before removing from pan and slicing to serve.

Get creative by adding your own mix-ins like chopped veggies, cheese, or even cranberries or pecans for a festive turkey loaf at holiday time. The possibilities are endless for putting your own spin on this classic.

While Jennie-O turkey loaf may now be a thing of the past, you can still enjoy every last bit of nostalgia and flavor by making it yourself at home. With a simple homemade turkey loaf recipe, you can recreate the familiar taste and experience that so many remember fondly.

Uncertain Future for Turkey Loaf

It remains unclear if classic turkey loaf will ever make a widespread comeback on grocery store shelves. Since Jennie-O discontinued their famous version, no major brand has really filled the void left in the pre-packaged turkey entree market.

However, there does seem to be some renewed interest in the product category recently. Some modern startups like Wilde Brands now offer their own versions of turkey meatloaf that aim to appeal to health-conscious consumers looking for natural, organic options made with higher quality ingredients.

Perhaps if enough consumers demand and purchase these new brands of turkey loaf, it could incentivize the larger players like Jennie-O to get back in the game. The company has admitted they still receive calls and emails to this day asking when turkey loaf will be available again. So the love for turkey loaf still seems strong even if sales don’t match.

For now, though, those longing for the perfect slice of turkey loaf will have to take matters into their own hands in the kitchen. Homemade turkey loaf can capture the same flavor and experience that shoppers remember from the good ole days when Jennie-O reigned supreme.

So get out your loaf pans, mix up some ground turkey, and relive the magic of turkey loaf any night of the week. Just like other timeless classics, turkey loaf may disappear for a while but never fades from our nostalgic food memories.