16 Foods That Used to Be Everywhere But Quietly Disappeared
These once-popular foods vanished from shelves and menus without much fanfare.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Some foods dominate for a while, then fade away like they were never there. Whether due to changing tastes, health concerns, or poor sales, these once-ubiquitous eats quietly disappeared from the public eye. Here are 16 nostalgic foods that used to be everywhere — but are now just distant memories.
1. Jell-O 1-2-3
TheFoodJunk on Flickr
This layered dessert magically separated into three textures from a single mix. It was a staple at dinner parties in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
2. McDonald’s Arch Deluxe
PatrickRich on Flickr
Marketed as a grown-up burger, it had a fancy bun and a tangy sauce. Despite massive ad spending, it never clicked with customers.
3. Planters Cheez Balls
Liam Lyons on Pexels
These neon-orange cheese puffs were a ‘90s snack drawer favorite. Crunchy, messy, and totally addictive, they vanished for over a decade before a short comeback.
4. PB Max
Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels
Mars introduced this peanut butter-loaded candy bar in the ‘90s. It was popular, but it was mysteriously pulled from the shelves.
5. Altoids Sours
Nicole Lee on Flickr
These tart little candies came in a variety of fruity flavors and were packaged in a sleek tin. Fans loved them, but sales didn’t last. They were quietly discontinued and still have a cult following.
6. Fruitopia
Phil Nelson on Flickr
A colorful juice brand from the ’90s, Fruitopia was marketed as groovy and alternative. Coca-Cola tried to ride the health drink wave, but it got phased out and folded into Minute Maid.
7. Dunkaroos (original version)
kirsch on Wikimedia Commons
Before the relaunch, the classic version had a major fanbase in the ‘90s. Cookie dipping never felt so fun. Then, they disappeared, causing nostalgia-fueled mourning.
8. Crystal Pepsi
Farside268 on Wikimedia Commons
Clear cola? It was a gimmick that fascinated the early ‘90s crowd. It flopped hard after a short run, but made limited-edition returns for die-hard fans.
9. Heinz EZ Squirt Ketchup
Mike Mozart on Flickr
Neon green and purple ketchup seemed like a great idea for kids, but it wasn’t. After the novelty wore off, parents ditched it, and so did Heinz.
10. Tato Skins by Keebler
Andy Bullock on Wikimedia Commons
These crunchy potato snacks claimed to be made from real potato skins. Bold flavors made them a vending machine classic.
11. Reggie! Bar
Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels
Named after baseball legend Reggie Jackson, this chocolate, caramel, and nut bar was a short-lived homerun. It had a brief revival but never really returned to shelves in full swing.
12. Pepsi Blue
Like_the_Grand_Canyon on Flickr
This berry-flavored cola stood out literally with its bright blue color. It launched in the early 2000s and tasted more like candy than soda.
13. Cereal Straws
Like_the_Grand_Canyon on Flickr
Meant to slurp up leftover milk, these flavored straws were a fun breakfast twist. However, parents weren’t impressed with the sugar levels.
14. Oreo O’s (original recipe)
Th78blue on Wikimedia Commons
This chocolate cereal with marshmallow-like pieces was a sugary dream for kids. It disappeared in the U.S. in the mid-2000s due to corporate shifts.
15. Kudos Bars
Tara Winstead on Pexels
Granola bars with a candy bar disguise — Kudos were big in lunchboxes. They quietly disappeared as health trends pushed for more natural snacks.
16. Burger King’s Chicken Tenders (original shape)
logan jeffrey on Unsplash
These golden nuggets had a unique shape and flavor that fans loved in the ‘90s. They were replaced by more generic tenders, losing their charm.