14 Foods From the ’80s That Looked Better Than They Tasted
These 14 foods from the 1980s looked exciting on the outside but often disappointed once people actually tried them.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
The 1980s introduced a wave of colorful, packaged, and novelty foods that grabbed attention in stores and commercials. While many looked fun and new, the actual taste didn’t always match the bright packaging or creative ideas. Some became nostalgic favorites, but others faded quickly after the first bite.
1. Crystal Pepsi
Mike Mozart on Wikimedia Commons
Crystal Pepsi looked different from regular soda because it was clear, not brown. People expected a fresh or fruity flavor, but it tasted almost the same as regular Pepsi, just slightly off. Many found it confusing and not as refreshing as the look suggested. Sales dropped quickly after the first wave of curiosity faded.
2. Heinz Colored Ketchup
Gordon Joly on Wikimedia Commons
In the late 1980s, ketchup started showing up in colors like green and purple. The idea was to make meals more fun, especially for kids. But the odd colors made the ketchup look unnatural, and the taste felt different even if it wasn’t. It turned some people away from using it entirely.
3. Hubba Bubba Soda
Magnus Manske on Wikimedia Commons
This soda was based on bubble gum flavor and had bright pink packaging. It was meant to remind people of chewing gum, but the taste was overly sweet and hard to finish. It looked playful and fun on shelves, but most people didn’t buy it more than once. The flavor was too strange to enjoy as a drink.
4. Jell-O 1-2-3
Famartin on Wikimedia Commons
Jell-O 1-2-3 separated into three layers: a clear bottom, a mousse-like middle, and a creamy top. It looked fancy and fun, especially in clear glass cups. However, the texture was strange, and the flavor was weak. Most people found it looked better than it tasted.
5. Pudding Pops
Lablascovegmenu on Wikimedia Commons
These frozen treats were promoted by big names and looked rich and smooth in ads. The pops had a glossy, soft look but often melted fast and lost their texture. The flavor was milder than expected and not as creamy as it appeared. People remembered them more for the commercials than the taste.
6. McDLT
McDonald’s on Wikimedia Commons
The McDLT came in special packaging that kept the hot and cold parts of the burger separate. The idea was clever, and the ads made it look fresh and crisp. However, the taste was similar to other McDonald’s burgers, and the extra packaging felt unnecessary. It disappeared from menus after a short time.
7. Candy Cigarettes
Craig Pennington on Wikimedia Commons
These chalky sticks were made to look like real cigarettes and came in realistic packaging. They looked cool to some kids, but the flavor was bland and powdery. There was no real taste beyond a light sweetness. Most people just pretended to smoke them instead of enjoying the flavor.
8. Slice Soda
Vera de Kok on Wikimedia Commons
Slice came in fruit flavors and had bold, colorful cans. It was marketed as a soda made with real juice, which made it sound healthier. However, the taste was overly sweet and lacked a clear fruit flavor. It didn’t compete well with bigger brands in the long run.
9. TV Dinners with Dessert Compartments
Famartin on Wikimedia Commons
TV dinners often included a dessert section, like brownies or fruit cobbler. On the box, everything looked neat and well-cooked. However, after heating, the items often melted together or didn’t cook evenly. The dessert rarely tasted as good as it looked in photos.
10. Space Ice Cream
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
This freeze-dried treat was sold as the same kind astronauts ate in space. It looked like a block of regular ice cream but was dry, crumbly, and strange to chew. It was more of a novelty than a real dessert. Kids found it fun once, but not something to eat often.
11. Fruit Wrinkles
Jacqueline Gabardy on Wikimedia Commons
These were small, chewy fruit snacks shaped like wrinkled pieces of fruit. The packaging showed juicy fruit pieces, but the snacks were dry and sometimes tough. They didn’t taste much like real fruit. Despite their appearance, they weren’t very satisfying.
12. Garbage Can-dy
Francesc Fort on Wikimedia Commons
These candies came in tiny plastic garbage cans with little “trash” shaped sweets inside. The packaging made them fun to collect and show off. However, the candy itself was chalky, tasteless, and often stale. People liked the container more than the treat inside.
13. Pasta Shapes from Cartoons
THOR on Wikimedia Commons
Many brands sold pasta shaped like characters from shows and movies. The shapes were fun to look at, and the cans had colorful labels. However, the pasta was usually soft and bland, and the sauce was watery. Once the fun of the shapes wore off, the taste didn’t hold up.
14. Kool-Aid in Bright Flavors
Wdwdbot on Wikimedia Commons
Kool-Aid was known for its neon colors and wild flavor names. The drinks looked exciting in clear pitchers and were easy to mix at home. However, many flavors were overly sweet and artificial tasting. The look was stronger than the actual taste.