15 Discontinued ’80s Cereals You Can’t Buy Anymore
These forgotten cereals from the 1980s once ruled the breakfast table but have since vanished from grocery store shelves.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The 1980s were a golden age for breakfast cereals, but many of those beloved boxes are long gone. They were discontinued due to poor sales or health concerns. Here’s a crunchy flashback to 15 cereals from the ’80s that are now just sweet memories.
1. Waffelos
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Shaped like tiny waffles and packed with syrup flavor, Waffelos were a breakfast dream. They had a cowboy mascot and came in both maple and blueberry varieties.
2. Smurf Berry Crunch
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Bright red and blue loops made this cereal pop — literally and visually. Based on the popular cartoon, it tasted more like candy than breakfast. Despite its fun factor, it didn’t stick around long.
3. Donkey Kong Cereal
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This Nintendo-themed cereal featured barrel-shaped pieces that mimicked the arcade game’s signature look. It was a marketing goldmine but lacked flavor depth. As video game trends shifted, so did the cereal’s popularity.
4. Mr. T Cereal
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With bold, golden T-shaped pieces, this cereal had a serious attitude. It was marketed as “fortified with B-vitamins and iron,” but it was mostly sugar. The tie-in with the iconic actor gave it a boost — but not for long.
5. Pac-Man Cereal
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Another game-based breakfast hit, this one came with marshmallow “ghosts” and Pac-Man shapes. It was sweet, colorful, and chaotic — just like the arcade.
6. Dunkin’ Donuts Cereal
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Yes, this existed—and yes, it was based on actual donuts. With two flavors — glazed and chocolate —it felt more like dessert than breakfast. Parents weren’t thrilled with the sugar levels.
7. Strawberry Shortcake Cereal
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This pink, fruity cereal matched the doll brand it was based on, complete with a sweet scent. Kids found it fun, but adults questioned its nutritional value. The novelty wore off quickly, and sales dropped.
8. E.T. Cereal
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Capitalizing on the film’s success, this cereal included peanut butter and chocolate-flavored pieces. It tried to ride the movie’s wave but didn’t capture the magic. The taste was underwhelming, despite the beloved character.
9. C-3PO’s
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This Star Wars cereal had a honey-oat flavor and figure-eight shapes. It was a novelty item that fans bought more for the branding than the taste. Even with the franchise’s power, it failed to gain a lasting foothold.
10. Ghostbusters Cereal
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Featuring marshmallow ghosts and colorful crunch, it was every kid’s dream breakfast. Riding high on the movie’s fame, it was more fun than filling.
11. Rocky Road Cereal
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Loaded with chocolate clusters, nuts, and marshmallows, this cereal was a dessert in disguise. The concept was bold, but it overwhelmed the average palate.
12. Batman Cereal
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Tied to the 1989 film, it came in a sleek black box with bat-shaped pieces. Despite the cool look, the corn-based cereal was pretty bland. Once the Batman hype faded, so did the product.
13. Breakfast with Barbie
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Targeted toward girls, this pink cereal came with star-shaped pieces and a sugary coating. It leaned heavily on branding but offered little appeal beyond the box.
14. Ice Cream Cones Cereal
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Yes—tiny cereal cones with sweet puffs pretending to be scoops. It came in vanilla and chocolate flavors, mimicking the classic dessert. Kids were into it, but it wasn’t hearty or healthy.
15. Pro Stars Cereal
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Promoting athleticism with star-shaped pieces, it was endorsed by athletes like Wayne Gretzky and Bo Jackson. Marketed as “part of a champion’s breakfast,” it had a bland taste that didn’t match its energetic branding.