Buzz
Numerous globally adored dishes have faded into obscurity, but some have disappeared entirely, never to be enjoyed again. This can occur due to reasons like business closures or legal disputes leading to product discontinuation.
Regardless of the cause, these tasty treats might have been part of your life at one point, but they’re now impossible to find. They’ve become extinct, much like the Dodo bird, and while a few might make a comeback, it’s doubtful you’ll ever savor these ten once-famous foods again.
10. Jell-O Pudding Pops
During the 1980s, Jell-O Pudding Pops dominated TV commercials, becoming a household name. Their widespread appeal was boosted by their spokesperson, Bill Cosby, making them a favorite among both children and adults.
Despite the controversies surrounding Cosby, the treats he promoted were undeniably tasty and widely loved. However, by the 1990s, declining sales led to their discontinuation. This was a straightforward case of a snack no longer being profitable, prompting the company to halt production—at least temporarily.
In 2004, General Foods, the parent company of Jell-O, granted Popsicle the rights to the Pudding Pops brand. Popsicle, a company known for its frozen treats, attempted to revive the product. However, they used a modified recipe and different molds, which altered the original experience.
Popsicle’s decision to change the recipe and molds resulted in a product that felt like a poor imitation of the original Pudding Pops. The new version failed to attract customers and was eventually discontinued. Fortunately, you can still purchase the original molds and recreate the treat at home, keeping its legacy alive.
9. McDonald’s Happy Meal Cookies
Today, McDonald’s offers soft and flavorful chocolate chip cookies, but this wasn’t always the case. For many years, the only cookies available at McDonald’s were those included in Happy Meals, and they were quite distinct from what’s offered now.
Children adored these cookies, which were available in two varieties: animal crackers shaped like McDonald’s characters or classic chocolate chip. Many kids would likely favor these over the current healthier options like apple slices. The cookies debuted in 1974, with the animal cracker version being the first to hit the menu.
The chocolate chip cookies were packaged in small boxes and were known for being crunchy, heavily processed, and bite-sized. Despite their simplicity, they hold a nostalgic place in people’s hearts, and McDonald’s often receives inquiries about the recipe or requests to bring them back.
While you might find packs of these cookies being sold online occasionally, they haven’t been manufactured in more than two decades, so purchasing and consuming them comes with risks. McDonald’s has shifted its focus from the heavily processed snacks that once defined its menu to more modern treats.
8. Sunny D
Sunny D is still available today, but it’s a far cry from its original version. Introduced in 1963 as Sunny Delight, it became widely known as Sunny D in the 1990s, thanks to its heavy advertising during that era.
The beverage faced significant backlash due to its misleading marketing. It was promoted as a substitute for orange juice, even though it was merely an orange-colored soft drink containing no actual juice. As parents became more ingredient-conscious, sales dropped sharply, and the negative media coverage further damaged its reputation.
A notable incident involved a four-year-old girl whose skin turned yellow after consuming 1.5 liters of the drink daily. This was no myth—it occurred due to the beta-carotene in the product. The resulting bad press and widespread concerns, particularly in the UK, severely hurt its market performance.
Sunny Delight Beverages eventually revamped the formula, increasing its fruit content from 0% to 70%. However, the costs proved unsustainable. Today, Sunny D contains less than 2% fruit juice and is available in multiple flavors, but it bears little resemblance to its original version.
7. Candy Cigarettes
Candy cigarettes debuted in the late 1800s and were made from chocolate, bubblegum, or sugary chalk. Children adored them, and they were sold as edible cigarettes, often packaged in boxes that mimicked real cigarette packs.
The issue with candy cigarettes lies not in their ingredients but in their marketing and presentation. Throughout much of the 20th century, parents voiced concerns that these treats normalized smoking for children, making it seem less harmful.
This sparked the belief that eating candy cigarettes could lead to smoking in adulthood. Several studies have supported this claim, leading to a significant decline in their availability compared to previous decades.
Candy cigarettes became one of the earliest targets of cancel culture, resulting in bans across numerous countries, including the UK, Spain, and Brazil. While they are still produced, they are now marketed as bubble gum or candy sticks, with all references to cigarettes removed from the packaging—though the design still resembles a cigarette pack. This has kept them available in some regions, much to the dismay of critics.
6. Life Savers Holes
Life Savers candy, first introduced in 1912, has long been known for its ring-shaped design resembling a life preserver. In 1990, the brand launched a new product called Life Savers Holes, a clever marketing innovation that capitalized on the candy’s iconic shape.
Similar to donut holes, Life Savers Holes were advertised as the missing center piece of the original candy. Essentially, they were just smaller versions of the same product the company had always produced. This clever strategy aimed to sell more of the same candy, and it initially succeeded.
The candies were packaged in a plastic tube with a flip-top cap that could easily break off. This design flaw posed a choking risk if someone accidentally swallowed the cap along with the candy. As a result, RJR Nabisco voluntarily recalled the product and removed it from store shelves.
A few months later, the product returned with improved packaging, but it failed to regain popularity. Ultimately, Life Savers Holes were seen as a passing fad, and consumer interest waned. They were discontinued shortly after their relaunch.
5. Lay’s WOW Chips
In 1998, Frito-Lay launched WOW, a line of fat-free potato chips that quickly gained attention from health-conscious consumers. The WOW line included variations of Lay’s Ruffles, Doritos, and Tostitos, catering to the growing demand for healthier snack options. However, creating a fat-free potato chip required complex chemical processes, which later led to unforeseen issues.
To achieve the fat-free formula, Frito-Lay used a fat substitute known as Olestra, which led to unexpected and unpleasant side effects. This decision backfired, causing WOW chips to lose over 50% of their sales by 2000. Consumers reported issues like stomach cramps, diarrhea, and even anal leakage, which severely damaged the product’s reputation.
As a result, the packaging had to include warning labels stating, 'This Product Contains Olestra. Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools. It also inhibits the absorption of certain vitamins and nutrients. Vitamins A, D, E, and K have been added.'
Due to the negative publicity and declining sales, the WOW brand was eventually discontinued. It was later rebranded as 'Light,' but the same side effects persisted. While technically still available, the product now comes in different packaging to distance itself from its troubled past.
4. Gatorade Gatorgum
In the late 1970s, the Fleer Corporation introduced Gatorgum, a chewing gum inspired by Gatorade. Available in lemon-lime and orange flavors, the original Gatorade flavors, each pack featured the slogan, 'IT WORKS!' This highlighted its claim to help quench thirst, much like the iconic sports drink.
During its time on the market, Gatorgum wasn’t the top-selling chewing gum, but it maintained steady sales, particularly among fans of the Gatorade drink. The gum had a fairly strong flavor, though it didn’t linger for long after chewing.
It effectively stimulated saliva production, validating its marketing claim as a solution for dry mouth. When Fleer’s licensing agreement ended, the rights to produce Gatorgum shifted to Swell and Vicks. The gum stayed on shelves from the late 1970s until 1989, when it was discontinued.
The discontinuation occurred because the production contract expired and was never renewed. As a result, Gatorgum vanished, leaving fans to search for vintage packs on platforms like eBay to relive their favorite chewing gum experience.
3. Haribo Sugar-Free Gummy Bears
Traditional gummy bears are made primarily with glucose syrup and sugar, making them a less-than-healthy snack option. To appeal to health-conscious consumers, Haribo introduced a sugar-free version of their iconic gummy bears.
Haribo chose Lycasin as the sugar substitute, with maltitol as its primary ingredient, a sugar alcohol. On the surface, this seemed ideal due to Lycasin’s close resemblance to natural sugar in taste and texture.
However, while the human body recognizes Lycasin as sweet, it doesn’t process it well. It moves through the digestive system rapidly, often causing severe discomfort. Numerous Amazon reviews vividly describe the effects of Haribo’s Sugar-Free Gummy Bears, detailing how they wreaked havoc on people’s digestive systems.
Many reviews use phrases like 'intestinal power wash,' 'volcanic eruption,' and 'toxic flood' to describe the experience. Although Haribo discontinued the product, it occasionally surfaces on platforms like eBay. If you dare to try them, it’s wise to stay near a bathroom!
2. Four Loko
Introduced in 2005, Four Loko was initially marketed as an 'energy beer,' targeting college students looking to combine alcohol with an energy boost. Its popularity quickly spread to teenagers, creating significant issues for Phusion Projects, the company behind the drink.
The issue with Four Loko wasn’t solely its alcohol content but rather the caffeine, which was central to its marketing appeal. The original formula contained approximately 155 mg of caffeine, equivalent to a potent cup of coffee. Mixing a stimulant like caffeine with a depressant like alcohol can have dangerous consequences.
This combination often resulted in extreme intoxication and memory loss, prompting intervention from the FDA and multiple state attorneys general. Phusion Projects eventually agreed to overhaul its marketing, eliminating imagery featuring individuals under 25 and any content that promoted excessive drinking.
The company also revised the drink’s formula, removing caffeine, guarana, and taurine, and replacing them with Red 40, a food dye. This change led to the emergence of a black market for the original version, where prices soared to five times their original value.
1. Nestlé Magic Ball
Launched in the 1990s, the Nestlé Magic Ball was designed to rival Europe’s popular Kinder Surprise. It featured a thick milk chocolate shell enclosing a hidden surprise. When opened, it revealed a small Disney figurine, creating the 'magic' that gave the product its name.
The Nestlé Magic Ball was a hit for the company, but it faced significant challenges. Competitors and consumer advocacy groups criticized it, claiming the small toy inside posed a choking hazard.
Nestlé maintained that the Magic Ball was safe but acknowledged receiving a handful of safety complaints. Consequently, production ceased in 1997, and the original version was discontinued. In 2000, Nestlé relaunched the product as the Nestlé Wonder Ball.
The Wonder Ball retained the same chocolate shell but replaced the toy with additional candy. It featured various themes, such as Disney, Pokémon, Cartoon Network, and Care Bears. After disappearing for nearly a decade, Frankford revived it in 2016, this time including candy and stickers inside.
