15 ’80s School Lunch Treats That Are No Longer Available
These 15 school lunch treats from the 1980s were once popular but are no longer sold today.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
In the 1980s, kids looked forward to lunchtime because of the unique snacks and treats packed in lunchboxes or bought at school. Many of those products have since disappeared due to health concerns, changing tastes, or company decisions. While some are remembered fondly, they are no longer part of school lunches today.
1. Dunkaroos
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The original Dunkaroos included small cookies with sugary frosting for dipping. Kids enjoyed the fun of dipping and the sweetness of the frosting. Over time, health concerns about sugar and portion size caused it to be discontinued in the U.S. The brand returned later, but the original recipe and packaging were never fully brought back.
2. Jell-O Pudding Pops
Famartin on Wikimedia Commons
These frozen treats were a mix of pudding and ice cream in one bar. They came in chocolate, vanilla, and swirl flavors. Although they were heavily advertised, they were discontinued in the early 2000s. Attempts to reintroduce them did not succeed long-term.
3. Hi-C Ecto Cooler
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This citrus drink was tied to the Ghostbusters franchise and was bright green in color. It was sold in juice boxes and became a lunchbox favorite. After the movie’s popularity faded, the drink was eventually removed from shelves. It made a short comeback in 2016 but didn’t stay on the market.
4. Pizzarias Pizza Chips
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Pizzarias were pizza-flavored chips made from real pizza dough. They were crunchy, bold in taste, and came in several flavors like pepperoni and cheese. Kids loved them for their strong flavor and unique texture. Keebler stopped making them in the 1990s, and they haven’t returned.
5. Fruit Wrinkles
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Fruit Wrinkles were small, chewy fruit snacks shaped like tiny raisins. They came in bright packaging and were meant to compete with raisins and fruit roll-ups. Despite their fun name and texture, they were pulled off the shelves by the late 1980s. The brand was quietly discontinued without much notice.
6. Tato Skins (original version)
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These thick chips were marketed as being made from real potato skins. They were heavy, flavorful, and very different from regular chips. Over time, the brand changed ownership, and the original formula disappeared. Modern versions exist, but they are not the same as the 1980s version.
7. Shark Bites (original flavors)
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These gummy snacks featured different colored sharks and had a fruity, soft texture. The original mix included special white sharks that kids looked for in every pack. The recipe and branding changed multiple times, and the original version was discontinued. New versions are on shelves but are not the same as what kids had in the ’80s.
8. Planters Cheez Balls (original recipe)
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These neon orange cheese balls came in a blue canister and were salty and crunchy. They were discontinued in the early 2000s despite steady sales. While they were re-released in 2018, the taste and texture are not identical to the original. The original ’80s version is no longer available.
9. Squeeze Its
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These colorful fruit drinks came in plastic bottles that kids squeezed to drink. They had fun shapes and strong artificial flavors. Parents grew concerned about sugar and dyes, leading to a decline in popularity. By the early 2000s, they were off the market.
10. Keebler Magic Middles
Willis Lam on Wikimedia Commons
These cookies had a soft chocolate filling hidden inside a shortbread shell. They were seen as a small surprise treat in many school lunches. Despite their popularity, they were discontinued in the 1990s. Fans have called for their return, but the company hasn’t brought them back.
11. Space Dust
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Space Dust was a powdered candy similar to Pop Rocks but finer and lighter. It fizzed and crackled in your mouth and came in small envelopes. It was pulled from shelves due to concerns about messiness and product confusion. It never returned under the same name or form.
12. Chocolate Turtle Pies
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These came in foil packages and had a gooey caramel and pecan center inside a chocolate-covered pie crust. They were rich and sweet and found mostly in vending machines or convenience stores. The high sugar and calorie content led to their decline. They quietly disappeared from most markets in the late 1990s.
13. Giggles Cookies
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These sandwich cookies featured smiling faces on the front and came with two types of filling — usually chocolate and vanilla. They were made by Nabisco and were a fun lunchbox treat. Despite being popular among kids, they were discontinued due to changing snack trends. They have not returned since their removal in the early 1990s.
14. Pudding Roll-Ups
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This rare treat combined pudding with the format of a fruit roll-up. It was sticky, soft, and chocolate-flavored. It never became widely popular and was gone within a few years. Its texture and taste didn’t appeal to a large audience, and it was never relaunched.
15. Oatmeal Swirlers
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Oatmeal Swirlers were packets of instant oatmeal that came with flavored jelly you could swirl on top. Kids enjoyed personalizing their oatmeal with strawberry, raspberry, or apple cinnamon designs. Despite being fun, they didn’t last long due to changing breakfast trends and added sugar concerns. They were gone from store shelves by the early 1990s.