14 Foods We All Ate as Kids — Now Banned or Discontinued

These nostalgic childhood snacks have vanished from shelves — some banned, others just discontinued, but all unforgettable.

Chris Graciano
May 28, 2025
4 min read

14 Foods We All Ate as Kids — Now Banned or Discontinued — Naomi Shi on Pexels

There’s nothing like the taste of childhood — until you realize many of your favorite treats have disappeared. Whether they were pulled due to health concerns, outdated trends, or changing regulations, these once-popular foods are now part of snack history. Take a trip down memory lane with 14 iconic childhood favorites that you’ll never find in stores again.

1. Kinder Surprise Eggs – Banned for Hidden Toys

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A candy with a toy inside seemed like a dream come true — until the U.S. said no. Kinder Surprise Eggs were banned because the embedded plastic toys posed a choking hazard.

2. Altoid Sours – Too Tart to Last

lobo235 on Flickr

These lip-puckering mints came in bold flavors and sleek tins, but they were short-lived. Despite a cult following, they were quietly pulled from shelves in the early 2000s.

3. Nestlé Wonder Ball – Recalled for Risky Fun

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This chocolate ball with candy or toys inside caused waves of nostalgia — and concern. It was discontinued in the ’90s due to safety concerns similar to Kinder Eggs.

4. Pepsi Blue – Too Weird to Survive

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Pepsi Blue hit the market with its electric color and berry flavor, aiming to attract younger audiences. However, the bright blue hue and artificial taste split public opinion.

5. EZ Squirt Ketchup – Food Coloring Gone Wild

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Heinz’s EZ Squirt Ketchup came in wild colors like green and purple, making every meal look like a science experiment. Kids loved it, but adults weren’t sold. The novelty wore off fast, and the company pulled it due to declining interest.

6. Jell-O Pudding Pops – The Creamy Disappearing Act

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Bill Cosby made these frozen treats famous, but that wasn’t enough to save them. Jell-O Pudding Pops quietly disappeared from freezers in the 2000s.

7. Butterfinger BB’s – Small Size, Big Loss

Judgefloro on Wikimedia Commons

Butterfinger BB’s were bite-sized versions of the classic candy bar, beloved for their crunch and convenience. However, despite being featured in The Simpsons ads, they vanished by the mid-2000s.

8. Shark Bites Fruit Snacks – Fins First, Then Gone

ChildofMidnight on Wikimedia Commons

Shark Bites were a lunchtime favorite with chewy shapes and rare white “great white” gummies. As fruit snacks evolved, they disappeared from shelves. Fans remember the thrill of seeing what shapes they’d get.

9. Hi-C Ecto Cooler – Ghostbusters’ Green Juice

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Originally a tie-in with Ghostbusters, this neon green citrus drink became a hit on its own. It stuck around for years after the movie hype faded. However, once sales slowed, it was discontinued — only to return briefly for reboots.

Dwight Burdette on WIkimedia Commons

These cookies had a crumbly exterior with a gooey chocolate or peanut butter center. They were unique, rich, and wildly satisfying. Despite their popularity, Keebler discontinued them in the early 2000s.

11. 3D Doritos – Crunch in a New Dimension

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These puffed, hollow Doritos brought fun and crunch in every bite. Marketed as a futuristic snack, they had a solid run before being pulled. While they’ve made a limited-time return, the original ’90s formula is gone.

12. Sprinkle Spangles – Stars That Sparkled Too Briefly

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These sugar-loaded star-shaped cereals were like eating a birthday party in a bowl. The mascot, a genie who granted “sprinkle wishes,” couldn’t keep them alive past the mid-’90s.

13. Squeezit – Drink the Bottle, Crush It After

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Colorful, fruit-flavored drinks in squeeze bottles were a staple in many school lunches. Kids loved the fun of drinking and then smashing the plastic bottle.

14. Planters Cheez Balls – Puffed Up and Vanished

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Bright orange, tangy, and addictively crunchy, these cheesy snacks were once pantry royalty. Planters pulled them in the early 2000s, breaking countless snackers’ hearts.