29 Discontinued Grocery Items That People Wish Would Return

Grocery stores are always taking out old products and bringing new ones. But sometimes, they get rid of things that are truly special to us. Fans of these long-lost snacks and drinks still remember them fondly, and many would do anything to see them come back. Here are 29 discontinued grocery items that people wish would return.

Altoids Sours – The Candy That Vanished Too Soon

These tiny, tangy candies came in a pocket-sized tin and they had an intense punch of sour flavor (which was very sour). They were more like a challenge—could you handle the whole tin without flinching? Introduced in the early 2000s, they developed a cult following, but in 2010, they quietly disappeared. Fans still scour eBay for old tins, some selling for ridiculous prices.

Jell-O 1-2-3 – A Magic Trick in a Cup

This was a science experiment in your fridge rather than a dessert. After mixing the powder with hot water and letting it chill for a while, Jell-O 1-2-3 would separate into three layers: a firm bottom, a mousse-like middle, and a light top. Kraft (the company behind it) pulled it off the shelves in the ‘90s. Some home cooks still try to recreate it, but it’s never quite the same.

Doritos 3D – Crunchier, Puffier, Better

Doritos 3D was the kind of chips that felt like little flavor explosions. These hollow, puffed-up Doritos had a very unique crunch that set them apart from their regular version (the flat ones). And they were everywhere in the 90s—there was even a commercial for them where Ali Landry caught them in her mouth in slow motion. While Frito-Lay brought them back in 2021, fans insist they don’t taste like the original.

Pepsi Blue – The Soda That Looked Like Windex

Pepsi Blue was as bold in color as it was in flavor. Introduced in 2002, this electric-blue soda had a berry-cotton candy taste that divided drinkers—some loved it, others thought it was too sweet. But it had its fans, and when Pepsi pulled it just two years later, they were heartbroken. A brief return in 2021 gave nostalgic fans hope, but it quickly disappeared again.

Planters Cheez Balls – The King of Cheese Snacks

The neon-orange powder (as you can see in the picture above) on Planters Cheez Balls gave them a bold, cheesy flavor and the perfect crispy crunch that no other snack could match. These were a staple in almost every ‘90s pantry, but sadly, they vanished in 2006. They’ve made a few comebacks, but die-hard fans are still waiting for a full-time return.

Hershey’s Swoops – Chocolate in Chip Form

Imagine the perfect combination of a chocolate bar and a Pringles chip—Hershey’s Swoops were exactly that. These thin, curved slices of chocolate came in some different flavors like Reese’s and Almond Joy. They looked fancy and tasted great. These swoops also melted on your tongue. Yet they were discontinued in the mid-2000s. Maybe they were too ahead of their time.  

PB Max – The Candy Bar That Could Have Been Huge

PB Max was everything a peanut butter lover could want: a thick layer of creamy peanut butter on a whole-grain cookie that was covered in chocolate. It was a ‘90s favorite, but the Mars family discontinued it—not because it wasn’t selling, but because they didn’t personally like peanut butter. That’s right—the creators of Snickers and M&M’s just weren’t peanut butter people.

Oreo Cakesters – The Soft and Chewy Oreo Spin-Off

Oreo Cakesters were basically Oreos in cake form. They were very soft, chocolatey, and stuffed with that same creamy filling that every kid used to love. They were little snack cakes that made regular Oreos seem somewhat basic and boring. Nabisco just stopped making them for some reason. Fans begged for years, and they finally came back, but some say they don’t taste quite the same. 

Surge Soda – The ‘90s Energy Boost

Surge was Coca-Cola’s attempt to take on Mountain Dew, and for a while, it worked. This neon-green soda had a citrusy flavor and lots of caffeine that’s why most kids and teens in the late ‘90s loved it. This drink even had a wild ad campaign with people diving through walls to get it. Coca-Cola discontinued it in the early 2000s, but a small revival in 2014 wasn’t enough to keep it around.

Crispy M&M’s (Original Version) – A Fan Favorite That Changed

Crispy M&M’s were very popular when they launched in 1999. They had a light and crunchy center that set them apart from regular M&M’s (the ones that are available today). But in 2005, they were taken off U.S. shelves, though they stayed in Europe region. They eventually returned in 2015, but some fans claim the texture and taste just aren’t the same.

Taco Bell’s Fritos Burrito (Frozen Version) – Fast Food at Home

At one point, you didn’t have to go to the Taco Bell drive-thru to get your Fritos Burrito—you could just get a frozen version from the grocery store near you and heat it up at home. It had the same beef, rice, cheese, and crunchy Fritos that the restaurant had. Then, without warning, it disappeared, leaving fans wondering why good things never last.

Reese’s Bites – The Perfect Pop-and-Go Snack

Reese’s Bites took everything great about a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and turned it into little poppable bites. There were no wrappers, no mess—just pure peanut butter and chocolate in a bite-sized form. They were perfect as snacks, but Hershey’s pulled them out from the market in the early 2000s. Fans still talk about them, and honestly, regular Reese’s just don’t hit the same way.

Coca-Cola BlāK – When Coke Met Coffee

Back in 2006, Coke decided to mix things up—literally—by blending cola with coffee. Coca-Cola BlāK had a bold, slightly bitter coffee kick with that classic Coke sweetness. Some people loved it, others weren’t so sure, and just like that, it was gone by 2008. Coke has tried other coffee drinks since, but none have hit the same.

Keebler Magic Middles – A Cookie with a Secret

Keebler’s Magic Middles were like a little treat mystery. You bit into a buttery shortbread cookie and then hit the jackpot with a gooey chocolate center (just like choco-lava cake). Even though they were super popular in the 1990s, Keebler took them out of the market, and nothing else has come close to replacing them.

Eggo Waf-fulls – Waffles with a Surprise Inside

Why deal with syrup drips when your waffle can have the sweetness built right in? Eggo Waf-fulls had fruit or syrup filling baked inside, so every bite was packed with flavor—no extra toppings needed. They were perfect for busy mornings, but for some reason, Kellogg’s pulled the plug, leaving fans stuck with regular waffles and messy syrup bottles again.

Sprite Remix – The Soda That Was Too Cool to Last

Before flavored seltzers were a thing, Sprite Remix was giving soda drinkers something totally new. Dropping in 2003, it had funky flavors like Tropical, Aruba Jam, and Berryclear that were lighter, fruitier, and caffeine-free—pretty much the perfect summer drink. It built up a solid fanbase, but after just a few years, it disappeared. Fans still talk about it, but Sprite’s moved on to other things.

French Toast Crunch – The Cereal That Looked as Good as It Tasted

French Toast Crunch was everything a cereal should be—crispy, sweet, and shaped like little slices of French toast. It came in the grocery stores in the mid-’90s and quickly became a breakfast favorite. But in 2006 General Mills pulled it from U.S. stores due to low sales. It made a comeback in 2014, but for many die-hard fans, it just doesn’t taste like the original.

Dunkaroos (Pre-2020 Version) – The Snack That Ruled ‘90s Lunchboxes

Dunkaroos were the crispy little cookies paired with a tub of sweet, sugary frosting for dipping. Every kid wanted them in their lunchbox, but by 2012, they disappeared. When General Mills brought them back in 2020, fans were very excited, but some of them swear the taste wasn’t quite the same. Whether it’s a recipe change or just nostalgia, the original still holds a special place in snack history.

Ecto Cooler – The Ghostbusters-Inspired Drink

Hi-C’s Ecto Cooler was the kind of drink you could never forget. It had that sweet citrus flavor (some fans called it ‘tangy’), but the neon-green color really made it different from others. Created as a Ghostbusters tie-in, it lasted way longer than anyone expected. After disappearing in 2001, it returned for a bit in 2016 and then vanished again. 

Oreo O’s (Original Recipe) – Dessert for Breakfast

Cereal that tasted like cookies? Yes, please! Oreo O’s were introduced in 1997 and quickly became a household favorite. But in 2007, a licensing dispute between Post and Kraft caused them to disappear from U.S. shelves. While they eventually returned in 2017, some say they don’t taste exactly the same as they did back in the ‘90s.

Yogos – The Snack That Disappeared Too Soon

Yogos were one of those snacks that didn’t need to make sense—they were just good. These little yogurt-covered fruit bites had the perfect mix of chewy and creamy, and once you started eating them, it was hard to stop (no matter how much you tried). They popped up in the mid-2000s, and then Kellogg’s pulled them from shelves. Nothing since has really filled the Yogos-shaped hole in snack history.

Pizzarias Chips – A Pizza Lover’s Dream Snack

Keebler’s Pizzarias Chips weren’t just “pizza-flavored”—they tasted like a slice of pizza in crunchy chip form. You got the perfect mix of cheese, tomato, and seasoning in every single bite. They came in the late ‘80s and had a great sales journey till ‘90s before disappearing. No other snack has nailed that real pizza flavor since fans still want them back.

Trix Yogurt – A Colorful Blast from the Past

Trix Yogurt wasn’t about being healthy (something often associated with yogurt)—it was about being fun. The bright, swirled colors and sweet, fruity taste made it feel more like a treat than a snack. If you grew up in the early 2000s, you probably had at least one of these in your lunchbox. Sadly, it vanished in the late 2010s. 

Josta – The Energy Soda That Came Too Soon

Before energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster were everywhere, Pepsi had Josta. Launched in 1995, it was one of the first sodas with guarana. The flavor was a wild mix of fruity and spicy, and people who loved it really loved it. But in 1999, Pepsi pulled the plug, and nothing since has quite matched its one-of-a-kind taste.

Skittles Gum – The Candy Spin-Off That Didn’t Last

Skittles Gum was exactly what it should’ve been—Skittles you could chew for way longer. It had all the classic fruity flavors, just in gum form, and for a while in the early 2000s, it was everywhere. Then, out of nowhere, it was gone. No explanation, no replacement—just another great snack lost to time. Fans still hold out hope, but Skittles seems to have moved on.

Ben & Jerry’s Wavy Gravy – The Ice Cream That Left Too Soon

Ben & Jerry’s has had plenty of creative flavors, but Wavy Gravy was on another level. A mix of caramel, nuts, and swirls of goodness, it was inspired by the famous hippie activist and had a flavor as fun as its name. It showed up in the ‘90s, built a loyal fanbase, and then—like so many great ice creams—it got sent to the flavor graveyard.

Marathon Bar – The Candy That Made You Work for It

The Marathon Bar wasn’t something you just scarfed down. It was a long, twisted caramel bar covered in chocolate, and it took some effort to eat (which was part of the fun). It had a good run in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but by the early ‘90s, it vanished. Some candy bars try to copy it, but anyone who had the real thing knows they’re not the same.

Fruitopia – The ‘90s Drink That Disappeared Overnight

If you were around in the 1990s, you saw Fruitopia everywhere—vending machines, school cafeterias, and even McDonald’s had it in some stores. It had fruity flavors with names like Strawberry Passion Awareness (look at the image). Then, one day in the early 2000s, it was just gone. It still exists in Canada, but that doesn’t help everyone who wants it back.

Nestlé Wonder Ball – A Chocolate Surprise Like No Other

The Nestlé Wonder Ball was one of those snacks that made kids feel like they were opening a present. You’d crack open the thin chocolate shell to find a surprise inside—first toys, then candy after people worried about kids swallowing the prizes. Even with the change, it was still a favorite. Then, out of nowhere, it was gone in the early 2000s.