Nostalgic Snacks We'd Love to Bring Back
Do you remember the snacks you loved as a kid? The kinds you'd see everywhere at the grocery store or grew up eating, only for them to suddenly disappear? While it's unfortunate, many snacks come and go as markets change and demands shift—and sometimes, they just happen to be ones we all know and love. From Butterfingers BB's to Keebler Pizzarias, here are 20 discontinued snacks all millennials will remember (and wish they could bring back).
1. Hubba Bubba Bubble Jug
These little jugs from Hubba Bubba were filled with powder that, when chewed, turned into gum. They were discontinued back in the early to mid-2000s, but were brought back by popular demand in spring of 2024. Even then, certain flavors like Crush remain off the market.
2. Doritos 3D
Did you know that Doritos used to make 3D chips? A mash-up between Bugles and chips, these puffed snacks were first introduced in the late '90s before being discontinued in 2004. They were re-released in 2020 and rebranded as "Doritos 3D Crunch," but they seemed to have phased out again.
3. Fruitopia
If you were a kid back in the '90s and 2000s, you'll remember Fruitopia. These juice bottles were everywhere, whether at the grocery store or in vending machines. Though they were discontinued in America in 2003, some flavors are still available in other countries.
4. Butterfingers BB's
Introduced in the '90s, these were the perfect snack to pop in your mouth for a quick pick-me-up. Crunchy, sweet, and buttery, it was a mystery why this candy was phased out by Nestle in 2006. No matter the reason, they remain sorely missed.
5. Pizza Minis
If you searched Pizza Minis up, you likely wouldn't find much information on them right away. You might even question if they existed at all. And that's no surprise—they were often overshadowed by the more popular Pizza Pops, and so were officially discontinued in the mid-2010s.
6. Klondike Choco Taco
Klondike's Choco Taco consisted of ice cream and fudge wrapped in a waffle cone, then covered with chocolate and nuts. It was in production for 40 years before being axed in 2022, due to higher demand for other products under the brand.
7. Crystal Pepsi
Introduced in 1992, Crystal Pepsi was developed as a clear, caffeine-free alternative to the more sugary, caffeinated rivals on the market. It was a huge success—only for it to meet its downfall just two years later in 1994. As the story goes, the taste and marketing didn't live up to the expectations.
8. Ice Breakers Liquid Ice
Ice Breakers Liquid Ice were another short-lived product. These candies were filled with liquid mint and were introduced in 2003. But due to the intensity of the flavor—so much so that it was bitter—they were quickly discontinued in the following year.
9. Skittles Bubble Gum
Once upon a time, Skittles also made bubble gum. These colorful dotted packets came into the market in 2004 but were phased out in 2010. Despite looking exactly like the original candy Skittles, these weren't as satisfying to chew on as they tended to lose flavor quickly.
10. Hershey's Kissables
Hershey's Kissables resembled Smarties or M&M's, only that they were in the shape of Hershey's Kisses. They lasted for years on the market from 2004 to 2009 before being discontinued after a decline in popularity and demand due to a recipe change that altered the taste.
11. Yogos
Just one look at a box of Yogos will hit you with a wave of nostalgia. These yogurt bites were a crowd favorite back then, featuring flavors like Strawberry Slam and Berry-Berry Banana. Sadly, they were pulled from the shelves in 2010.
12. Pepsi Blue
Pepsi Blue was another soda flavor made back in the day, marketed as a "Berry Cola Fusion." In both the US and Canada, it wasn't in the market for long, lasting only two years from 2002 to 2004. Even then, you may still find it being sold elsewhere around the world.
13. Fruit String Thing
Introduced in the '90s by Betty Crocker, Fruit String Thing was similar to Fruit Roll-Ups—only that it was a string, not a sheet. And given the popularity of Fruit Roll-Ups, these fruit strings couldn't compete. While they were full to mold into different shapes, they didn't taste very good.
14. Kudos
Kudos were a granola bar line produced by Mars, introduced in 1986. During its initial release, Nutty Fudge, Chocolate Chip, and Peanut Butter were the three available flavors. Other varieties like Snickers and M&M's came later, but the line was ultimately pulled in 2017, most likely due to whether it was even appropriate to call these granola bars.
15. Hershey's Swoops
Hershey's Swoops were chocolates shaped like potato chips and came in various flavors, from original Hershey's Milk to Reese's Peanut Butter and Peppermint. Despite their popularity, they only lasted on the market for three years, from 2003 to 2006.
16. Tic Tac Cinnamon & Spearmint
With all the flavors Tic Tac comes out with, you'd probably not even bat an eye if one of them got discontinued. But among the beloved ones gone from the market too soon were Cinnamon and Spearmint. Since new flavors are always being produced, that unfortunately means older ones get phased out.
17. Keebler Pizzarias
Introduced in 1991, Pizzarias were a popular snack consisting of bite-sized crunchy pizza chips. They came in three flavors: Cheese Pizza, Pizza Supreme, and Zesty Pepperoni. Despite having a loyal following, Pizzarias were discontinued in the late '90s after the breakup of Keebler.
18. Pop-Tarts Go-Tarts
Pop-Tarts released Go-Tarts in 2006, which were marketed as narrower, jam-filled Pop-Tarts you could take on the go. While it's unclear why they were discontinued just two years later in 2008, some speculate that it was due to the high amounts of sugar—though regular Pop-Tarts are sugary enough.
19. Pillsbury Waffle Sticks
Pillsbury's Waffle Sticks came out in 2003 and offered a variety of flavors, like Chocolate Chip and Blueberry. They also came with syrup dipping cups to dunk your waffles in, which made them a delicious, fun treat. Sadly, they were discontinued by the mid-2000s.
20. Ritz Bits S'mores
If you were a fan of s'mores, these Ritz Bits crackers would've put you on cloud nine. They were introduced in the 2000s and had a long run before being pulled in 2016. Though Ritz briefly brought them back for a social media giveaway in 2022, you're likely not seeing these again on the shelves anytime soon.
