15 Candy Bars That Were Discontinued for Strange Reasons
These 15 candy bars were pulled from shelves for unusual and often unexpected reasons.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Not all candy bars disappear because of low sales. Some were removed due to lawsuits, changing laws, or public backlash. These 15 discontinued treats had unusual endings that still surprise people today.
1. PB Max
Scott Ehardt on Wikimedia Commons
PB Max was a peanut butter, oats, and chocolate bar made by Mars. It sold well but was pulled from the shelves in the early 1990s. Reports suggest the Mars family disliked peanut butter and chose to stop making it. The decision had nothing to do with demand.
2. Reggie! Bar
Kfarren23 on Wikimedia Commons
This bar was named after baseball player Reggie Jackson. It launched in the late 1970s and was made of peanuts, caramel, and chocolate. Its success faded when Reggie’s career declined. Without the celebrity appeal, the product was pulled.
3. Butterfinger BB’s
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
Butterfinger BB’s were small, round versions of the Butterfinger bar. They were popular in the 1990s and featured in ads with The Simpsons. They were discontinued without warning in the mid-2000s. Some believe it was due to changes in product shape and melting issues.
4. Seven Up Bar
Oriel on Wikimedia Commons
This was a bar with seven small sections, each filled with a different flavor. It was made by Pearson’s and offered a mix of ingredients like caramel, nougat, and cherry. Manufacturing it was expensive and complex. It was discontinued in the 1970s due to high production costs.
5. Marathon Bar
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
The Marathon Bar was a long, twisted chocolate-covered caramel bar. It came with a ruler on the package to show its length. It was popular in the 1970s but was pulled in 1981. The cost of producing it outweighed profits.
6. Summit Bar
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
The Summit Bar was a wafer-based candy bar made by Hershey’s. It had a short shelf life and didn’t ship well in heat. Complaints about its texture increased over time. Hershey’s quietly stopped production in the 1980s.
7. Milkshake Bar
Allo002 on Wikimedia Commons
Despite the name, this was a chocolate bar made to mimic the taste of a chocolate milkshake. It was creamy but had no actual liquid content. Its marketing confused customers. It was discontinued in the late 1980s due to low sales and unclear branding.
8. Choco’Lite
“greenzig” on Wikimedia Commons
This bar was similar to Nestlé’s Aero, with a bubbly chocolate texture. It was introduced in the 1970s and marketed as “lighter” chocolate. It didn’t stand out among competitors and was later discontinued. Rising chocolate prices also made it less profitable.
9. Wonka Bar
“greenzig” on Wikimedia Commons
Made famous by the movie, the real Wonka Bar came in several flavors over the years. Nestlé tried to market it using the film’s popularity. It was discontinued in 2010 due to low demand. Fans were surprised, given its strong pop culture link.
10. Bar None
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
Launched in the 1980s by Hershey’s, it was a layered bar with chocolate wafers, peanuts, and fudge. It had a solid fanbase but was reformulated in the 1990s. After the change, sales dropped. It was eventually pulled from the market.
11. Aztec Bar
Tiia Monto on Wikimedia Commons
Made by Cadbury in the UK, this bar was inspired by ancient cocoa recipes. It combined chocolate and spicy flavors. It was ahead of its time, and many consumers didn’t like the taste. It was discontinued in the 1970s.
12. Snickers Cruncher
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
This variation of Snickers included crisped rice for added crunch. It launched in the early 2000s but disappeared within a few years. People felt it lacked the rich texture of the original. It was quietly removed from stores.
13. Hershey’s Swoops
Kfarren23 on Wikimedia Commons
These were chocolate pieces shaped like potato chips. They were sold in plastic containers and came in several flavors. Consumers found the packaging wasteful and the shape impractical. The product was discontinued in 2006.
14. Tango Bar
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
Sold in Canada, this bar mixed fruit-flavored nougat with chocolate. The flavor mix was not popular with buyers. It failed to build a strong customer base. It was dropped by the late 1990s.
15. Nestlé Crunch White
Wolfgang Sauber on Wikimedia Commons
This white chocolate version of Nestlé Crunch had a dedicated group of fans. However, many stores didn’t stock it regularly. Limited visibility affected sales. It was discontinued quietly in the early 2010s.