12 Quirky Food Fads from the ’80s That Didn’t Survive
Several strange and short-lived food trends from the 1980s gained quick attention but eventually disappeared.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
The 1980s introduced many unique food products that were often created for visual appeal or diet trends. Some items were tied to pop culture, while others were based on new food technologies or changing health ideas. Most of them were discontinued due to low sales, changing public preferences, or nutritional concerns.
1. Crystal Pepsi
Mike Mozart on Wikimedia Commons
Crystal Pepsi was a clear cola launched by PepsiCo in the early 1990s after development began in the late 1980s. It was marketed as a healthier and cleaner version of traditional cola. Consumers were confused by the look and taste mismatch, which led to poor sales. PepsiCo discontinued the product within a year of its national launch.
2. Fat-Free Products
Ted Eytan on Wikimedia Commons
Many brands released fat-free versions of snacks like cookies, chips, and desserts. These foods often had extra sugar or artificial ingredients to replace the taste lost from removing fat. People later realized these products were not actually healthier. The trend declined as nutrition advice changed in the 1990s and 2000s.
3. Jell-O Salads
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Jell-O salads included savory ingredients like vegetables, meats, or canned seafood mixed into flavored gelatin. These recipes were promoted in cookbooks and food magazines as creative and modern. The texture and taste were unappealing to many people, especially younger generations. By the 1990s, these dishes were rarely served.
4. Squeezit Drinks
ZolHaj on Wikimedia Commons
Squeezit was a fruit-flavored drink for children, sold in colorful plastic bottles. The packaging allowed kids to squeeze the drink into their mouths, which made it popular. The product contained mostly artificial flavors and a high amount of sugar. As public concern about sugary drinks grew, sales dropped, and the product was discontinued.
5. Tab Soda
lokate366 on Wikimedia Commons
Tab was a diet soda introduced by Coca-Cola in 1963 and became widely consumed through the 1980s. It used saccharin as a sweetener and had a strong aftertaste. When Diet Coke was released in 1982, it slowly replaced Tab due to better taste and branding. Coca-Cola officially stopped producing Tab in 2020.
6. French Bread Pizza
Meg H on Wikimedia Commons
Frozen French bread pizzas were sold as quick and easy meals. They had a crunchy texture and thick bread base, which made them popular among families. However, they often heated unevenly in home microwaves or ovens. As more efficient frozen meals became available, these products declined in sales.
7. Pudding Pops
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Pudding Pops were a frozen dessert made by Jell-O and promoted by Bill Cosby in national ads. They combined the texture of pudding with the shape of a frozen bar. Although popular in the 1980s, they were discontinued in the 1990s due to low profit margins. Attempts to bring them back did not last long.
8. Novelty Cereals
Th78blue on Wikimedia Commons
Breakfast cereals based on cartoon characters or movies were popular with children in the 1980s. These cereals were often loaded with sugar and contained little nutritional value. As parents became more concerned about healthy eating, sales of novelty cereals dropped. Many of these cereals were taken off the market.
9. TV Dinners in Aluminum Trays
Famartin on Wikimedia Commons
TV dinners were frozen meals sold in metal trays with divided compartments. They were convenient but often had bland taste and high sodium content. As microwave use increased, plastic trays replaced metal ones. Companies began offering healthier and better-tasting alternatives, which replaced traditional TV dinners.
10. Pop Rocks and Soda Combination
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Pop Rocks candy became popular in the 1970s and remained well-known into the 1980s. Some children tried combining it with soda to create a fizzy explosion in their mouths. There were urban myths about the combination being dangerous, although no medical cases supported this. The trend died down as interest shifted to other candy types.
11. Bubblegum Flavor in Food
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Bubblegum flavor was added to many products, including ice cream, yogurt, and drinks. It was often bright pink and heavily sweetened. While it attracted children, adults often found it too artificial or overwhelming. Over time, the flavor was removed from most mainstream foods.
12. Hi-C Ecto Cooler
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Hi-C Ecto Cooler was a citrus-flavored drink launched in 1989 as a tie-in to the Ghostbusters cartoon. It was bright green and aimed at children who watched the show. When the cartoon ended and interest dropped, sales declined. The drink was discontinued in 2001 and briefly re-released in limited runs afterward.