16 Packaged Foods From the 1970s You Can’t Find Today

The 1970s felt like a giant test kitchen where anything seemed possible. Grocery shelves were packed with bold flavors, bright boxes, and foods that promised to make life faster and more exciting. Some classics managed to stick around, but plenty of childhood favorites slowly disappeared. Neon cereals powered Saturday mornings, canned creations filled dinner plates, and frozen TV dinners made families feel like they were living in the future. Changing tastes and new health standards eventually pushed many of these products off the shelves. Today, they live mostly in old commercials and warm kitchen memories. Take a seat and revisit the flavors that once made the decade unforgettable.

1. Shake ‘n Bake

While Shake ‘n Bake still exists today, the specific flavor profiles and the culture surrounding it in the 1970s were entirely different. Back then, it was marketed as a way to get “fried” taste without the mess of oil. The iconic commercials featuring children proudly declaring they helped prepare dinner made it a household name. Flavors like “Crispy Country Mild” and specialized pork coatings were dinner staples. The 1970s version used a specific blend of seasonings that many claim modern versions just don’t replicate. It was the ultimate solution for the “working mom” era, turning a boring chicken breast into a crunchy treat with just a plastic bag and a few shakes. It defined the suburban dinner table.

2. Aspen Soda

PepsiCo launched Aspen soda in 1978, hoping to capture the market for “crisp and refreshing” beverages. It was a clear, apple-flavored carbonated drink that felt a bit more sophisticated than your average cola or root beer. The branding was heavy on the outdoorsy, mountain-fresh aesthetic, appealing to the decade’s growing interest in nature and wellness. Despite the clever marketing, Aspen struggled to find a permanent audience. People liked apple juice and soda, but they weren’t quite sure they wanted them combined in this specific way. By the early eighties, Aspen was discontinued, eventually replaced in the Pepsi lineup by Slice. It remains a cult favorite for those who remember its crisp, tart finish.

3. Pringle’s Newfangled Potato Chips

When Pringles first hit the market in the early seventies, they were marketed as “Newfangled Potato Chips.” The big selling point wasn’t just the taste, but the fact that they weren’t broken in the bag. In an era where every bag of Lay’s was 50% crumbs, the sturdy red can was a revolution. The original 1970s recipe was actually slightly different, using a more prominent potato flour taste that some purists argue was superior to the modern version. They were seen as a “space-age” snack, perfectly uniform and scientifically engineered. While Pringles are obviously still around, the “Newfangled” branding and the original seventies flavor profile have long since been retired.

4. Hubba Bubba

When Hubba Bubba hit the market in 1978, it changed the playground forever. Before this, blowing a giant bubble meant risking a sticky mess all over your face if it popped. Hubba Bubba’s big claim to fame was that it wouldn’t stick to your skin. The original 1970s flavor was an incredibly potent, juicy fruit profile that felt much “thicker” than modern versions. The commercials featured the “Hubba Bubba Kid,” a cowboy who could blow bubbles in a showdown without the mess. While the brand lives on, the specific 1970s texture and that classic “Amazing Fruit” scent are something that modern gum just doesn’t quite replicate. It was the ultimate disco-era pocket staple.

5. Chef Boyardee Roller Coasters

Chef Boyardee was always looking for new ways to shape pasta, and in the 1970s, they gave us Roller Coasters. These were wavy, ribbon-like loops of pasta in the classic sweet tomato sauce. The idea was that the “waves” would hold more sauce than the flat rings of SpaghettiOs. It was a huge hit with kids who found the shape more fun to eat. The texture was slightly thicker and more substantial than that of other canned pastas. However, as the brand consolidated its shapes in the late eighties, Roller Coasters were cut from the lineup to simplify production. They remain a nostalgic favorite for anyone who spent their 1970s Saturday afternoons eating lunch while watching “The Brady Bunch.”

6. Tang (The Space-Age Orange)

Tang was the undisputed king of 1970s drink mixes. While it technically debuted in the fifties, its association with the Apollo space missions made it a 1970s household essential. Every kid wanted to “drink like an astronaut.” The 1970s version was a gritty, orange powder in a large glass jar. It had a very distinct, tart, and slightly metallic orange flavor that was nothing like real orange juice—but that was the point. It was “modern.” We used it for breakfast, afternoon snacks, and even to flavor hot tea (a bizarre 1970s trend called “Russian Tea”). While Tang is still sold in some markets, its cultural dominance peaked in the ’70s, making it a permanent icon of the era’s optimism.

7. General Foods International Coffees

In the late ’70s, General Foods launched a line of “International Coffees” in small, rectangular tins. Flavors like “Café Francais,” “Suisse Mocha,” and “Orange Cappuccino” were marketed as a way to have a European café experience in your own kitchen. The commercials featured two women having a sophisticated chat over a “tiny cup of coffee.” It was the ultimate 1970s aspirational product. The coffee was essentially a very sweet, powdered creamer with a hint of instant coffee. Even though it wasn’t exactly “gourmet” by today’s standards, it felt incredibly fancy back then. While a version of this still exists under the Maxwell House brand, the original decorative tins and the 1970s “European” allure are long gone.

8. Nabisco Chicken in a Biskit

While Chicken in a Biskit still exists, the 1970s version was a true revelation of food science. These crackers were flavored with actual dehydrated chicken and a heavy dose of MSG, giving them an addictive, savory quality that was unmatched by any other snack. In the seventies, they were often served at parties with a “cream cheese and olive” dip, which was the height of sophistication. The crackers had a slightly greasy, buttery texture that would leave a savory residue on your fingers. They represented the era’s fascination with “meat-flavored” snacks. While the recipe has been tweaked over the years to be “healthier,” the original 1970s flavor was a salt-and-savory explosion that defined many a 1970s movie night.

9. 7-Up Gold

While 7-Up is a household name, 7-Up Gold is a 1970s fever dream. Launched to compete with Dr. Pepper, it wasn’t a lemon-lime drink at all. Instead, it was a spice-flavored, caffeine-heavy amber soda with a distinct cinnamon and ginger kick. The branding was incredibly “disco,” featuring gold foil labels that looked great under kitchen lights. For a brief moment, it was the “cool” alternative to cola. However, consumers were confused—they expected 7-Up to be clear and crisp, not dark and spicy. The “Un-Soda” branding worked against it here, and by the turn of the decade, the gold liquid was pulled from production, leaving only a lingering spicy memory.

10. The Kraft Vegemite

Throughout the 1970s, the name “Kraft” was splashed across the top of every Vegemite label, a partnership that lasted for decades. Many people don’t realize that Vegemite was owned by the American dairy giant Kraft Foods during its global peak. This corporate backing gave the spread a massive distribution advantage, allowing it to sit on grocery shelves right next to Velveeta and Miracle Whip. In the ’70s, the Kraft logo acted as a “seal of approval” for American shoppers who might have been wary of a dark, fermented yeast paste. It was marketed as a companion to Kraft’s other dairy products, leading to the popular “Vegemite and Cheese” snack trend.

11. Kellogg’s “Frosted Mini-Wheats”

When Frosted Mini-Wheats first appeared in the late sixties and early ’70s, they weren’t actually “mini.” They were large, biscuit-sized chunks of shredded wheat with a heavy layer of frosting on one side. They were so large that you could only fit about four or five in a bowl. For a child of the seventies, part of the fun was watching the frosting slowly dissolve into the milk, turning it into a sugary sludge. They were eventually reduced in size to the “bite-size” version we know today to make them easier for children to eat. The original “giant” Mini-Wheats are a lost artifact of a time when cereal felt like it had a bit more “heft” to it.

12. Nabisco Swiss Cheese Crackers

These were not your average Ritz. Nabisco’s Swiss Cheese Crackers were shaped like little slices of Swiss cheese, complete with tiny holes punched through them. They had a very distinct, tangy, and slightly nutty cheese flavor that was surprisingly accurate for a processed snack. For a 1970s cocktail party, these were the height of snacking fashion, often served alongside a block of Sharp Cheddar or a bowl of creamy onion dip. They had a light, airy crunch that made them incredibly easy to eat by the handful. While Nabisco still makes many classic crackers, this specific Swiss variety was eventually discontinued, leaving a hole in the snack bowls of those who appreciated their unique, savory tang.

13. General Mills Pizza Spins

In the mid-’70s, General Mills decided that traditional potato chips were just too flat and boring. They introduced Pizza Spins, which were shaped like tiny, intricate wagon wheels and blasted with an aggressively heavy dose of tomato, cheese, and oregano seasoning. They had a unique, light-as-air crunch and a hollow design that made them incredibly fun to eat. While the “pizza” flavor was definitely more of a chemical interpretation than a culinary one, they were an absolute hit at 1970s birthday parties and sleepovers. They represented the era’s obsession with “fun-shaped” foods that pushed the boundaries of processing.

14. Libbys Fruit Float

Libby’s Fruit Float was a weirdly wonderful dessert that came in a can and felt like a science experiment in the kitchen. It was not quite a pudding and not quite a gelatin; it was a “float.” You would pour the canned fruit mixture into a bowl, add milk, and stir for exactly thirty seconds. Miraculously, the mixture would thicken into a light, airy mousse with chunks of real fruit inside. Flavors like strawberry, pineapple, and peach were popular staples at 1970s potlucks. It was the ultimate “emergency dessert” for when neighbors dropped by unannounced. As the eighties arrived and consumers moved toward fresher ingredients, the convenience of a “stir-in” canned mousse lost its luster, leading to its quiet retirement.

15. Space Dust Candy

Following the massive success of Pop Rocks, General Foods released Space Dust in the late seventies. It was essentially a finely powdered version of the popping candy, designed to sizzle and crackle the very moment it hit your tongue. It came in a variety of fruit flavors and felt much more “space-age” than a standard lollipop. However, the product was plagued by terrifying urban legends that claimed eating it while drinking soda would cause a person’s stomach to burst. Despite being completely false, the rumors hurt the brand’s reputation. Eventually, it was rebranded as Cosmic Candy before disappearing altogether. For a kid in 1978, there was nothing quite as thrilling as pouring a packet of “dust” into your mouth and hearing the roar.

16. Kellogg’s Kream Krunch

In one of the most ambitious breakfast experiments of the 1970s, Kellogg’s released Kream Krunch. This cereal featured standard grain loops mixed with actual chunks of freeze-dried ice cream. It came in vanilla, orange, and strawberry. The marketing promised that the freeze-dried bits would turn into “creamy” ice cream once they hit the milk. While the reality was often a bit chalkier than a real sundae, for a kid in the mid-’70s, it was the ultimate “space-age” luxury. High production costs and a shorter shelf life than traditional cereals led to its early retirement, making it a rare and sugary memory.

• Tags:
• Nostalgia
• 1970s foods
• discontinued snacks
• retro history
• vintage brands