As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2026, millions of people in the southern United States hit a snag while searching for their “first bite of good luck” for the new year. The popular chain restaurant Cracker Barrel quietly removed the symbol of New Year’s good luck, the black-eyed peas, from its New Year’s Day menu, sparking immediate controversy on social media.
In the southern United States, the tradition of consuming black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread on New Year’s Day has been passed down for generations. For many Southerners far from home, Cracker Barrel was once seen as the last bastion safeguarding this tradition. However, the chain giant this year only stated that they are offering a “standard menu” without directly addressing the reason for the removal of the item.
Online discussions regarding this move quickly escalated. Many people have compared this action to the brand’s controversial logo change from last year. (Refer to the article “Controversy Surrounding the Iconic Logo of Cracker Barrel” for more details.)
Rachel Love, a loyal customer from Tennessee, expressed to Fox News that her mother taught her from a young age to eat beans on New Year’s Day to ward off bad luck, and she criticized the company for disregarding local traditions. She fondly recalled her late grandmother’s annual tradition of ordering a “country vegetable platter” at Cracker Barrel, stating, “It’s not just about the food, it’s our way of connecting with the past.”
Some users commented on social media: “They changed the logo last year, and now they are changing good luck. This store is losing its essence.”
Another user posted, stating: “Cracker Barrel seems to prefer selling trendy brunches in California rather than serving the people of the South. If this store no longer represents the South, then it should not use that nostalgic name anymore.” Some even called for a boycott, urging people to turn to Waffle House or local “mom and pop shops.”
Renowned chef Jason Smith from Kentucky told Fox that this tradition rooted in the smoke of the Civil War is gradually disappearing due to big corporations pursuing “national expansion” for commercial efficiency.
Sarah Moore, the Chief Marketing Officer of Cracker Barrel, previously mentioned to Fox last year that the company is trying to find a balance between its “national expansion” in 44 states and maintaining its “local charm.” Previously, Cracker Barrel attempted to abandon its classic “rocking chair farmer” logo in favor of a more minimalist modern design, which led to a massive backlash from its core customer base, accusing the company of betraying its southern roots. Ultimately, the company was forced to revert back to its original design.