Researchers who carried out a detailed study found a string of traditional sarnies have now fallen by the wayside, including tuna mayo, ham salad and cheese and pickle.
They have been replaced by cooler varieties such as hummus and falafel, avocado, chicken and ‘trendy’ pulled pork.
The study was conducted by Warburtons to mark the launch of Mighty White, which is made with 50 per cent wholemeal and 50 per cent white flour.
Despite the evolution of fillings, sandwiches remain a firm UK favourite, with more than a third listing them as a much-loved meal.
And when it comes to generational changes, almost half of respondents said they are more adventurous with their sandwich options than their parents.
The research revealed that Brits don’t rush the construction of their trusty sandwich, spending an average of four and a half minutes getting it just right, and consuming five sandwiches a week, on average.
Darren Littler, Innovation Director at Warburtons, said: “Whilst the humble sandwich has remained a classic UK favourite over the decades, it’s interesting to see the fillings that fall in and out of favour in line with trends and preferences.
“Now, with a vastly increased number of choices compared to years gone by, more adventurous fillings are now clearly the order of the day for many Brits, with corned beef no longer cutting the mustard.
“When it comes to finding a loaf that all the family will enjoy, Warburtons Mighty White blends wholemeal and white flour into one tasty, clever loaf, making it the perfect option for busy families at home, at school, or at work.”
According to the data the humble ham salad reigned supreme as the most popular sarnie of the 1970s, chicken salad topped the charts in the 1980s and the BLT took the vote as the 1990s favourite.
Smoked salmon and cream cheese beat other popular fillings for the noughties, with more adventurous options now on trend in the current decade, with hummus and falafel coming out on top.
The Great British Sandwich Evolution over the last 50 years:
Pre-1970
Jam
Corned beef
Cheese
Plain ham
Cucumber
1970-1979
Ham salad
Ham and cheese
Ploughman's
Cheese and onion
Egg mayonnaise
1980-1989
Chicken salad
Tuna mayo
Tuna and cucumber
BLT
Tuna salad
1990-1999
BLT
Tuna mayo
Chicken mayo
Tuna salad
Chicken Club
2000-2009
Smoked salmon and cream cheese
Chicken mayo
Brie and cranberry
Salmon and prawn
Brie and grape
2010-present
Hummus and falafel
BBQ pulled pork
Avocado
Chicken and avocado
Brie and grape