12 Quirky ’80s Food Crazes That Fizzled Out
These bizarre food trends from the 1980s were once all the rage — until they quietly disappeared from our plates.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The ’80s brought a tidal wave of bizarre food trends that promised fun. These products captivated the public — if only briefly. Here are 12 quirky ’80s food crazes that made a splash before vanishing without a trace.
1. Crystal Pepsi
Like_the_Grand_Canyon on Flickr
While technically debuting in the early ’90s, its development and hype started in the ’80s, making it part of that decade’s experimental spirit. The idea of a clear cola was intriguing but confusing.
2. Fruit Roll-Ups with Tongue Tattoos
elaine on Flickr
This snack wasn’t just edible — it was interactive. Kids could press them to their tongues and show off temporary “tattoos.” The novelty wore off as the designs faded faster than the flavor.
3. Orbitz Drink
Scott Schiller on Flickr
Marketed as a futuristic beverage, Orbitz contained floating gel balls suspended in syrupy liquid. It looked like a lava lamp you could sip.
4. Bubble Jug Gum
Quinten de Graaf on Unsplash
This weird gum started as powder and turned into chewy gum once it hit your mouth. The tiny plastic jug packaging was part of the charm.
5. TV Dinners with Dessert Compartments
1950sUnlimited on Flickr
Microwavable meals with a brownie or pudding baked right into the tray were all the rage. While convenient, the soggy or scorched desserts left much to be desired.
6. Squeezit Drinks
Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash
Brightly colored fruit drinks in plastic bottles that you squeezed to squirt out the liquid — what could go wrong? The marketing was loud, and so were the colors. However, changing attitudes toward sugary drinks spelled its end.
7. Pudding Pops
Chris Larkee on Flickr
Endorsed by Bill Cosby, these creamy frozen treats were a hit for a while. They offered a different texture from regular ice cream and came in swirl flavors. However, freezer-burn issues and declining sales led to their quiet disappearance.
8. Alf Brand Cereal
Yvens Banatte on Unsplash
Spun off from the hit TV show, this cereal featured peanut butter–flavored shapes and cartoon branding. It banked on Alf’s popularity more than taste.
9. Hubba Bubba Soda
Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
Yes, a bubble gum–flavored soda existed. It tried to mimic the gum’s taste in liquid form, but few could stomach more than a sip. It was too sweet, even for the ’80s.
10. Soda-Can Shaped Candy
Like_the_Grand_Canyon on Flickr
These mini aluminum-looking cans contained carbonated, fizzy candy bits. They mimicked soda’s effect in candy form, but often ended up as choking hazards.
11. Koogle Peanut Butter Spread
The Design Lady on Unsplash
This flavored peanut butter came in chocolate, banana, and cinnamon varieties. It aimed to make boring PB&J exciting, but the taste was divisive.
12. Cheeseburger-Flavored Chips
Mike Mozart on Flickr
Lay’s and other brands experimented with burger-flavored snacks, hoping to replicate the real thing. The taste was more “chemical curiosity” than crave-worthy. They drew a lot of double-takes but not many repeat buyers.