Grayson West
After school, the best part of the day often started with a snack. It could be a candy that crumbled in your hands or a brightly colored drink that stood out in the fridge. Decades later, many of those foods are long gone. And their disappearance made them even more iconic. Letās highlight a few of these discontinued childhood snacks that defined everyday routines for a generation.
Dunkaroos
Launched in 1990 by Betty Crocker, Dunkaroos paired bite-sized cookies with tubs of frosting in flavors like chocolate and rainbow sprinkles. Their playful design and mascot, a kangaroo named Sydney, made them playground favorites. By 2012, though, they no longer appeared on U.S. shelves, even sparking petitions from nostalgic fans.
Butterfinger BBās
Commercials featuring āThe Simpsonsā made Butterfinger BBās unforgettable. Released in 1992, these bite-sized chocolate-covered candy balls carried the same flavor as the classic bar. Their crumbly texture made them notoriously messy, but that imperfection only added charm. However, the sales had dipped in 2006, and they soon disappeared.
Surge Soda
Cans of Surge lit up store shelves in 1997 as Coca-Colaās answer to Mountain Dew. Its neon-green fizz and over-the-top marketing defined the late ā90s, yet U.S. sales fizzled by 2003. Although a brief Amazon revival in 2014 reignited excitement, the drinkās untamed energy never truly returned.
3D Doritos
The late ā90s brought a snack experiment: 3D Doritos. These 1988 snacks were puffed and airy, making every crunch unique. Their time, however, ended shortly in the early 2000s. Though later reintroduced with Flaminā Hot flavors, it couldnāt capture the exact texture fans remembered.
Butterfinger Ice Cream Bars
Convenience store freezers in the ā90s often hid a real treat: Butterfinger Ice Cream Bars. Vanilla ice cream wrapped in the candyās signature crunchy coating made them unforgettable. They stuck around through the 2000s, Ferreroās brand changes ended their run in 2020, leaving behind a creamy-crunchy memory.
Reggie! Bar
Baseball fandom and chocolate collided in 1978 with the Reggie! Bar, named after star player Reggie Jackson. Its mix of caramel, peanuts, and chocolate gave it instant appeal. However, by the 1980s, interest had faded and production stopped. Today, surviving wrappers are a prized memorabilia from that unique crossover.
Crystal Clear Pepsi Twist
Among Pepsi experiments, this one remains one of the rarest and most talked-about spin-offs. The 1990s fascination with clear drinks gave rise to Crystal Clear Pepsi Twist, a citrusy variation of Crystal Pepsi. Its unusual appearance stood out, yet weak sales cut it short after only a few years.
Pepsi Blue
Berry-flavored sodas werenāt common in the early 2000s, which made Pepsi Blue unforgettable when it arrived in 2002. The neon-blue hue became its trademark, though the novelty faded quickly, and it was discontinued in 2004. However, fans celebrated a limited return in 2021, proving its place in soft drink nostalgia.
Squeeze Its
Who needed toys when your juice bottle came with a face? Squeeze Its were the ultimate two-in-one: a sugary drink and a goofy collectible. The twist-cap made snack time interactive, almost like a game. Sadly, by the early 2000s, these bottles stopped showing up in lunch bags, leaving kids to settle for plain juice boxes.
Altoids Sours
Pocket-sized tins once carried bold sour flavors that stood apart from the classic Altoids line. Introduced in 2004, these tangy candies built a loyal fanbase with memorable flavors like tangerine and raspberry. Their absence has only grown their legend, and in 2010, they quietly left store shelves.