Arby’s appears to have changed its roast beef in 2017 , when it announced an upgraded recipe made with USDA Choice Angus beef that is marinated, cooked sous vide, and thinly sliced.

There’s also a longer-running fan perception that the sandwich tasted different than it did in earlier decades, but the clearest documented menu change I found is that 2017 recipe update.

Quick Scoop

  • Documented recipe update: 2017.
  • What changed: USDA Choice Angus beef, marinated, sous vide cooked, then thinly sliced.
  • Why people talk about it now: Some longtime customers still say the roast beef tastes different from the older version.

What people mean

A lot of discussion online mixes together two different ideas: a formal recipe update and the general belief that the sandwich used to taste more like classic roast beef. That’s why you’ll see both “they changed it in 2017” and “it hasn’t tasted the same for years” in the same conversation.

Bottom line

If you want the specific answer , Arby’s changed its roast beef in 2017. If you want the “when did fans start noticing it tasted different” angle, that conversation has been going on for much longer.