Some foods disappear from grocery store shelves and nobody really thinks twice about it. Others leave behind a fanbase that refuses to forget them.
Maybe it was the snack you begged your parents to buy, the cereal you ate every Saturday morning, or the drink you always grabbed after school. Once it’s gone, you might not think much about it at first. Then years later, you see an old commercial or a picture online and suddenly you remember exactly what it tasted like.
Food companies discontinue products for all kinds of reasons. Sales may fall, ingredients can become more expensive, or shoppers move on to something else. Sometimes a product just doesn’t make enough money to justify keeping it around.
That doesn’t mean people stop missing it. Fans often spend years looking for similar products, signing petitions, or hoping a company will bring an old favorite back.
Some of the foods below have returned for short periods, while others have been gone for years. Either way, they’re still remembered by the people who loved them.
Surge
Coca-Cola discontinued the original Surge soda in 2003, but fans weren’t ready to let it go.
A group called the Surge Movement formed in 2011 to push for its return. Coca-Cola eventually brought Surge back for a limited release in 2014.
It was a good reminder that a product can have a pretty dedicated following long after it disappears from stores.
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Oreo Cakesters
Oreo Cakesters arrived in 2007 and were discontinued in 2012. The soft snack cakes had the familiar Oreo flavor without the traditional crunchy cookie.
The company didn’t give fans much of an explanation for their disappearance, which only made some people miss them more.
Then, in 2022, Oreo Cakesters returned to stores. The comeback gave longtime fans another chance to pick up the soft cakes they’d remembered from years earlier.
Crystal Pepsi
Crystal Pepsi was one of those products that seemed impossible to forget. The clear cola arrived in 1992 during a period when companies were experimenting with products that looked different from the usual soda lineup.
It was caffeine-free and didn’t contain artificial coloring, which helped it fit into the health-conscious marketing trends of the time.
The drink didn’t stick around for long. It was discontinued in late 1993, with the last batches reaching stores in early 1994.
For people who remember it, the clear appearance may be just as memorable as the taste.
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Butterfinger BB’s
Butterfinger BB’s were tiny, round pieces of Butterfinger candy sold in bags. They had the familiar crunchy peanut butter center and chocolate coating, but their small size made them easy to snack on.
The candy was also heavily promoted through The Simpsons, which helped make it familiar to a lot of kids.
Butterfinger BB’s were discontinued in 2006. They returned briefly in 2009 in the form of Butterfinger Bites, but fans still remember the original BB’s.
McDonald’s Arch Deluxe
The Arch Deluxe was one of McDonald’s biggest attempts to create a burger aimed at adults.
It was introduced with a major advertising campaign and was supposed to stand apart from the chain’s usual menu. Unfortunately, customers didn’t seem nearly as interested as McDonald’s had hoped.
The burger was pulled from some locations in 1998 and 1999 before being removed from the menu completely on August 18, 2000.
Today, the Arch Deluxe is remembered as one of McDonald’s most talked-about discontinued menu items.
Fruitopia
Fruitopia was a colorful fruit drink that became popular in the 1990s. It came in several flavors and had bright packaging that made it easy to spot in the cooler.
Sales eventually declined, and the drink was discontinued in the United States around 2003. Some of its flavors were moved over to the Minute Maid brand.
Strawberry Passion, Tropical Citrus, Berry Kiwi, and Raspberry Lemonade were among the flavors that made the transition.
For people who grew up with Fruitopia, the name alone can bring back plenty of 1990s memories.
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Squeezits
Squeezits made drinking juice feel more like eating a snack.
The colorful plastic bottles had to be squeezed to get the drink out, and the brand came in flavors such as Chucklin’ Cherry, Berry B. Wild, and Smarty Arty Orange.
They also created flavors through a partnership with Lifesavers, including Wild Watermelon, Blue Raspberry, and Tropical Fruit.
Squeezit was discontinued in 2001. For kids who grew up with them, the strange little bottles were part of the fun.
Cereal Straws
Kellogg’s Cereal Straws were exactly what they sounded like. They were edible straws you could use to drink milk and then eat afterward.
The product disappeared from stores in 2009, but fans kept asking for it. A Change.org petition eventually collected more than 81,000 signatures.
That helped bring Cereal Straws back in October 2021, 12 years after they had been discontinued.
They were made for cereals such as Froot Loops and Cocoa Krispies, but plenty of people were happy to eat them on their own.
3D Doritos
3D Doritos had a different shape from the regular chips. They were puffed and hollow, giving them a lighter, crunchier texture.
They first appeared in 1998 and were discontinued in the United States in 2004. Flavors included Jalapeño Cheddar, Nacho Cheese, and Zesty Ranch.
Fans got another chance to try them when Doritos brought the product back in 2020 with a new recipe.
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Altoids Sours
Altoids Sours were a completely different experience from the traditional Altoids mints. They were small, tart candies that came in bright flavors and had a loyal following.
The candy was discontinued in 2010, reportedly because sales weren’t strong enough.
Fans didn’t completely give up. The product eventually returned as Retro Sours, sold at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and IT’SUGAR locations.
The newer version uses the same recipe as the original Altoids Sours and comes in flavors such as citrus, mango, and tangerine.
Dunkaroos
Dunkaroos arrived in the United States and Canada in 1990 and quickly became a kids’ favorite.
Each package came with small cookies and a portion of frosting for dipping. It was a simple idea, but plenty of kids loved it.
The original version disappeared from U.S. shelves, leaving a lot of 1990s kids with fond memories of the snack.
Dunkaroos returned in 2020 with new flavors, including cotton candy, chocolate frosting, and birthday cake.
Planters Cheez Balls
Planters Cheez Balls had a bright orange color, a crunchy texture, and a cheese flavor that was hard to mistake for anything else.
They were discontinued in 2006, but fans were vocal about wanting them back. Some people even started petitions and paid high prices for old cans that turned up for sale.
Planters eventually listened and brought Cheez Balls back for a limited run in 2018.
For fans who had been waiting years, getting a can again was a pretty big deal.
Jell-O Pudding Pops
Jell-O Pudding Pops were a frozen dessert that became especially popular in the 1980s and 1990s.
The creamy pops came in flavors such as chocolate and vanilla and had a texture that was different from a regular frozen pop.
Jell-O stopped making them in 2004. They later returned under the Popsicle brand, but the newer version didn’t have quite the same look or texture that longtime fans remembered.
Those Popsicle versions eventually disappeared around 2011, leaving the original Pudding Pops as another food people still talk about.
Heinz EZ Squirt Ketchup
Heinz EZ Squirt Ketchup made an everyday condiment a lot more interesting for kids.
The ketchup came in colors that went far beyond traditional red. There were green, purple, pink, orange, teal, and blue versions, all sold in squeezable bottles with kid-friendly nozzles.
Heinz introduced the product in 2000 and discontinued it in 2006.
For many kids, colored ketchup was one of those strange food trends that made lunch a little more fun.
Taco Bell’s Volcano Taco
Taco Bell first introduced the Volcano Taco in 2008. It had a bright red shell filled with seasoned beef, shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce, and the chain’s spicy Lava Sauce.
The Volcano menu was discontinued in 2012, but fans continued asking for it.
Taco Bell eventually brought the Volcano Taco back for a limited time during the summer of 2023. For longtime fans, the return was a chance to order something they hadn’t seen on the menu in years.
PB Crisps
PB Crisps were peanut-shaped graham cracker cookies filled with peanut butter creme.
They first appeared in 1992 and were promoted with catchy commercials and a memorable jingle. They also came in chocolate and strawberry jelly flavors.
Planters began phasing them out in 1995, and they disappeared completely a few years later.
PB Crisps still have a loyal group of fans who remember them as one of those snacks that seemed like a permanent part of the grocery store until one day they weren’t there anymore.
Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars
Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars, also known as Philadelphia Snack Bars, were introduced in 1999. They came in several flavors, including Strawberry, Classic, White Chocolate, Raspberry, and Chocolate Chip. Strawberry Cheesecake was especially popular.
Kraft, Philadelphia’s parent company, discontinued the bars in the mid-2000s.
For anyone who remembers grabbing one as a quick dessert or snack, they’re another example of a food that disappeared without really being forgotten. Years later, former fans still remember the little cheesecake bars and wish they were easier to find.
