Companies often discontinue foods for various reasons, with low sales being the most common. If a product fails to meet sales expectations or incurs excessive production costs, it’s typically removed from the shelves.
Changing consumer preferences, such as shifts towards healthier options, also play a significant role. Here are 17 discontinued foods that people still mourn today
Dunkaroos
Dunkaroos were first released in the United States and Canada in 1990. Betty Crocker invented the snack in 1988, and it became a fan favorite in the 1990s.
Dunkaroos were relaunched in 2020 with new flavors and a new taste. Some new flavors include Cotton candy, Chocolate frosting, and Birthday cake.
Planters Cheez Balls
These cheesy, bite-sized balls had a distinct flavor and texture, loved by snackers everywhere. They were discontinued in 2006, sparking fan petitions and even black-market sales of remaining cans.
Responding to fan demand, Planters re-released Cheez Balls for a limited run in 2018.
Oreo Cakesters
Oreo Cakesters were discontinued in 2012, five years after their introduction in 2007. Mondelez International, Inc., the company that makes Oreos, did not provide a reason for the discontinuation.
However, the product was brought back in 2022 with a new flavor, Nutter Butter Cakesters, which features a peanut butter-flavored snack cake.
Crystal Pepsi
Crystal Pepsi was discontinued in late 1993, with the final batches delivered to retailers in early 1994. It was a clear cola that debuted in 1992. It was caffeine-free and lacked artificial color, part of the “healthy” food trend of the 1990s.
However, some say that the flavor wasn’t quite right and that the drink was filled with high fructose corn syrup, making it more like regular Pepsi than a diet cola.
Butterfinger BB’s
Butterfinger BBs were marble-sized candies similar to Whoppers and Maltesers. They were sold in bags and advertised by the Simpsons. Due to low sales, Butterfinger BBs were discontinued.
Butterfinger BB’s were discontinued in 2006 and relaunched in 2009 as Butterfinger Bites.
McDonald’s Arch Deluxe
The Arch Deluxe was a marketing failure and is considered one of history’s most expensive product flops. It was discontinued from McDonald’s menus on August 18, 2000.
The burger was removed from select locations throughout 1998 and 1999 before being completely removed from the menu.
Fruitopia
The Fruitopia line was discontinued mainly in the United States in 2003. Some flavors were rebranded under the Minute Maid brand. Fruitopia’s sales declined as the decade progressed.
Some flavors rebranded under Minute Maid included Strawberry Passion, Tropical Citrus, Berry Kiwi, and Raspberry Lemonade.
Squeezits
Squeezit was discontinued in 2001. The drink was created to help consumers drink sugary soft drinks faster, and the name came from the fact that the drink had to be squeezed to consume it.
Squeezit came in various flavors, including Chucklin’ Cherry, Berry B. Wild, and Smarty Arty Orange. The brand also collaborated with Lifesavers to make Wild Watermelon, Blue Raspberry, and Tropical Fruit.
Cereal Straws
Kellogg’s Cereal Straws were discontinued in 2009 but returned to store shelves in October 2021 after a 12-year hiatus. The return was due to a petition on Change.org that received over 81,000 signatures.
Cereal straws were available at Froot Loops and Cocoa Krispies. They could be eaten as a sweet snack or as a straw for drinking milk.
3D Doritos
Doritos 3D was first introduced in 1998 and discontinued in the United States in 2004. It was brought back with a revamped recipe in 2020. Some original flavors included Jalapeño Cheddar, Nacho Cheese, and Zesty Ranch.
Altoids Sours
Altoids Sours were discontinued in 2010 due to low sales. However, they are making a comeback under the new name Retro Sours, which is available at Cracker Barrel’s Old Country Store and IT’SUGAR stores nationwide.
The Retro Sours are made using the same recipe as the original Altoids Sours, but in new flavors like citrus, mango, and tangerine.
Jell-O Pudding Pops
Jell-O stopped making Pudding Pops in 2004, but they were reintroduced under the Popsicle brand name. However, the new Popsicle Pudding Pops were not as popular as the original and were withdrawn from stores around 2011.
Pudding Pops were trendy in the 1990s, but they were not very profitable and were pulled from shelves. The reintroduced Popsicle Pudding Pops were different in shape and texture from the original and never regained their previous popularity.
Heinz EZ Squirt Ketchup
Heinz introduced the EZ Squirt Ketchup in 2000, offering a variety of colors, including red, green, purple, pink, orange, teal, and blue. The ketchup came in squeezable containers with a kid-friendly nozzle. Heinz discontinued its EZ Squirt Ketchup in 2006.
Taco Bell’s Volcano Taco
The Volcano Taco was a limited-time offer that first debuted in 2008. It featured a bright red taco shell, seasoned ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce, and the signature Lava Sauce, a spicy combination of red jalapeños and different cheeses.
Taco Bell’s Volcano Menu was discontinued in 2012, but the Volcano Taco made a brief comeback in the summer of 2023.
PB Crisps
PB Crisps were a graham cracker cookie shaped like a peanut shell filled with peanut butter creme. They were introduced in 1992 with a catchy jingle and animated commercial.
They were also available in chocolate and strawberry jelly varieties. Planters began phasing out PB Crisps in 1995, but they were no longer available after a few years.
Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars
Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars, also known as Philadelphia Snack Bars, were discontinued in the mid-2000s by Kraft, Philadelphia’s parent company. The bars were first introduced in 1999 and came in four flavors: Strawberry, Classic, White Chocolate, Raspberry, and Chocolate Chip.
The Strawberry Cheesecake flavor was the most popular.
Surge
Coca-Cola discontinued the original Surge drink in 2003. However, the Surge Movement was founded in 2011 by three men who wanted to revive it. Coca-Cola brought it back for a limited time in 2014, proving how powerful nostalgia can be.
