10 Snacks from the Past That Were Pulled for Health Reasons
These snacks were once popular but got pulled off the shelves because they were not safe to eat.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Many snacks we used to enjoy were later found to be harmful. Some had banned dyes, risky chemicals, or misleading labels. These 10 snacks were all removed for health reasons. You might remember eating a few of them before they disappeared.
1. Olestra-Fried Chips
cottonbro studio on Pexels
These chips were made with a fat substitute called Olestra. People started having stomach problems after eating them. They were taken off the shelves because they were causing too many issues.
2. Cyclamate-Sweetened Soda
Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine on Wikimedia Commons
Cyclamate was a sugar substitute used in sodas. Later, it was linked to cancer in animal studies. The government banned it, and the sodas disappeared.
3. Mars Magic (UK Mineral Oil Concern)
FightinG FalcoN on Wikimedia Commons
This snack had a scare over possible mineral oil contamination. People worried it could be unsafe to eat. The product was pulled out just to be careful.
4. FD&C Red No.2 Candies
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
This red food dye was used in many bright candies. Scientists found it might cause cancer. It was banned, and snacks containing it had to be removed from the shelves.
5. Peanut Butter Cups (Added Hydrogenated Oils)
Famartin on Wikimedia Commons
Some older peanut butter cups were made with trans fats. Doctors later said trans fats were bad for the heart. The snacks were either changed or removed for health reasons.
6. Glow-in-the-Dark Gels
Jellorama on Wikimedia Commons
These fun snack gels lit up in the dark, but the bright dyes used in them raised safety concerns. Parents stopped buying them, and they were pulled from stores.
7. Benzidine-Based Soda Dyes
User:Mysid on Wikimedia Commons
Some sodas used dyes made from a chemical called benzidine. It was later found to be linked to cancer. These sodas were removed because the dyes were not safe.
8. Fruit Juice Drink with Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
Challiyan on Wikimedia Commons
This drink had an ingredient called BVO to keep the flavor from separating. However, it was linked to health problems like memory loss and skin issues. It was banned in many places.
9. Diacetyl-Flavored Popcorn
Mikhail Nilov on Pexels
This popcorn had a fake butter flavor called diacetyl. Factory workers who made it got lung problems. The flavor was removed because it was too hazardous to inhale.
10. Fortified Bars with Unapproved Stimulants
Sylwester Ficek on Pexels
Some snack bars had extra energy boosters not approved by health groups. People didn’t know what they were eating. Once discovered, the bars were removed from the shelves.