Food companies introduce new products every year, but only a small number become long-term favorites. Some disappear because sales never take off, while others are retired as tastes change or companies shift their focus. Still, a few discontinued foods leave such a lasting impression that fans continue talking about them decades later.
From childhood lunchbox treats to fast-food favorites, these are 17 discontinued foods that people still wish would make a permanent return.
Dunkaroos
Dunkaroos became a lunchbox favorite after arriving in the early 1990s. Each pack included small cookies and a container of sweet frosting for dipping, making snack time feel a little more fun.
The original version disappeared from U.S. stores for years, leaving fans disappointed. In 2020, Dunkaroos returned with updated flavors like Birthday Cake, Chocolate Frosting, and Cotton Candy, giving a new generation the chance to try the nostalgic snack.
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Planters Cheez Balls
Planters Cheez Balls earned a loyal following thanks to their light, crunchy texture and cheesy flavor. After they disappeared in 2006, fans started online petitions and even searched for unopened cans wherever they could find them.
The demand eventually paid off, and Planters brought them back for a limited release in 2018.
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Oreo Cakesters
Introduced in 2007, Oreo Cakesters swapped the classic crunchy cookie for two soft chocolate cakes filled with Oreo creme.
The snack quietly disappeared in 2012 without much explanation. A decade later, Oreo revived Cakesters and even added Nutter Butter Cakesters for peanut butter fans.
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Crystal Pepsi
Crystal Pepsi arrived in 1992 with a clear appearance that immediately stood out from every other cola on the shelf. Its transparent look fit the trend toward products that appeared lighter and more natural.
Many shoppers loved the novelty, while others felt the taste didn’t quite match the classic Pepsi they expected. It disappeared in 1994 but has returned for a few limited promotions over the years.
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Butterfinger BB’s
Butterfinger BB’s packed the familiar crispy peanut butter candy into small bite-sized pieces. Their colorful commercials featuring The Simpsons helped make them a favorite during the 1990s.
Sales eventually slowed, and they disappeared in 2006. Butterfinger later introduced Butterfinger Bites, though many fans still prefer the original BB’s.
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McDonald’s Arch Deluxe
McDonald’s launched the Arch Deluxe in the mid-1990s as a burger aimed at adults rather than children. The company invested heavily in advertising, making it one of its biggest product launches.
The burger never gained the popularity McDonald’s expected and gradually disappeared before leaving the menu entirely in 2000.
Fruitopia
Fruitopia stood out with colorful bottles, creative flavor names, and fruit-forward drinks that became popular during the 1990s.
As interest declined, Coca-Cola began replacing many Fruitopia flavors with products under the Minute Maid brand. By 2003, Fruitopia had largely disappeared from U.S. shelves.
Squeezits
Squeezits made drinking juice fun by packaging colorful flavors in soft plastic bottles that kids squeezed while they drank.
Favorites included Chucklin’ Cherry, Berry B. Wild, and Smarty Arty Orange. The brand also partnered with Life Savers for special flavors before production ended in 2001.
Kellogg’s Cereal Straws
Kellogg’s Cereal Straws offered two ways to enjoy breakfast. Kids could drink milk through the sweet cereal straw before eating it as a snack.
The product disappeared in 2009, but years of fan requests helped bring it back in 2021 in Froot Loops and Cocoa Krispies varieties.
Doritos 3D
Doritos 3D gave the familiar tortilla chip a puffed shape that made snacking a little more interesting. Popular flavors included Nacho Cheese, Zesty Ranch, and Jalapeño Cheddar.
The original version disappeared in 2004 before returning with an updated recipe in 2020.
Altoids Sours
Altoids Sours offered a sharp, tangy flavor that quickly developed a loyal following. Their colorful tins became almost as memorable as the candy inside.
Low sales led to their disappearance in 2010, but similar candies later returned under the Retro Sours name in selected specialty stores.
Jell-O Pudding Pops
Creamy, frozen, and easy to enjoy on a hot day, Jell-O Pudding Pops became one of the most recognizable frozen treats of the 1980s and 1990s.
Production stopped in 2004. A later version sold under the Popsicle brand failed to match the texture and flavor fans remembered, and it quietly disappeared a few years later.
Heinz EZ Squirt Ketchup
Heinz turned ordinary ketchup into something kids couldn’t stop talking about by introducing bright colors like green, purple, blue, pink, teal, and orange.
The colorful bottles remained popular for several years before Heinz discontinued the line in 2006.
Taco Bell Volcano Taco
The Volcano Taco built a devoted following thanks to its spicy Lava Sauce and bright red taco shell. It first appeared in 2008 as part of Taco Bell’s Volcano Menu.
The menu disappeared in 2012, though the Volcano Taco made a brief return during the summer of 2023 after years of customer requests.
PB Crisps
PB Crisps looked like tiny peanut shells but were actually graham cracker cookies filled with creamy peanut butter. Chocolate and strawberry versions were also available for a short time.
Planters introduced them in 1992, but they disappeared only a few years later. Fans have continued asking for their return ever since.
Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars
Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars offered a rich cheesecake filling in a convenient snack-sized bar. Popular flavors included Strawberry, Raspberry, White Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, and Classic.
Kraft discontinued the line during the mid-2000s, leaving many cheesecake lovers wishing they could still find them in grocery store freezers.
Surge
Surge burst onto store shelves in the late 1990s with its bold citrus flavor and high caffeine content. It quickly earned a loyal following, especially among teenagers.
Coca-Cola discontinued the drink in 2003, but dedicated fans never gave up on it. Years of online campaigns helped bring Surge back for a limited run in 2014, proving that some discontinued favorites are never truly forgotten.
