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Discontinued: 1990s
Jell-O Pudding Pops were frozen treats promoted by Bill Cosby throughout the 1980s.
The treat was retired in the 1990s due to production costs and brand changes (not because of Cosby’s later controversies with the ladies).
Today, fans are still nostalgic and have created DIY molds to recreate the recipe.
Discontinued: 2003
3D Doritos, launched in 1998 as air-puffed triangular corn chips, enjoyed a five-year market run.
They were brought back to life briefly in 2021 as “Doritos 3D Crunch,” which was itself discontinued by 2023.
Discontinued: 1993
Crystal Pepsi was a clear caffeine-free cola launched in 1992 and discontinued just a year later due to poor sales.
However, the cola later achieved cult status among nostalgic consumers, prompting Pepsi to briefly revive it in 2016 and 2018 despite its debut as an outright failure.
Discontinued: 2007 (U.S.)
Oreo O’s Cereal, introduced in 1998, featured cookie-flavored rings that captured the taste of Oreos in cereal form.
After its discontinuation in the U.S. in 2007, it still survived exclusively in South Korea for a decade until its American revival again in 2017.
Discontinued: 2001
Hi-C Ecto Cooler was a tangerine-flavored drink with a green color.
It became a cultural phenomenon during its 1987-2001 run as a tie-in to the Ghostbusters franchise before being briefly revived in 2016 for the release of “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call.”
Discontinued: 2000
The McDonald’s Arch Deluxe (1996-2000) was a failed “adult” burger featuring peppered bacon and mustard sauce.
It cost McDonald’s over $100 million in marketing yet flopped due to its premium price point.
Discontinued: 2010
Altoids Sours were tangy hard candies introduced in the early 2000s and discontinued by 2010 due to production costs.
They became collectors’ items, with unopened tins reportedly selling for up to $1,000 on resale—even though they were expired!
Discontinued: 2003
Surge, a citrus-flavored soda launched by Coca-Cola in 1996, was a caffeine fueled hit with the youth in the 1990s, competing against Mountain Dew.
The soda had a seven-year run before being discontinued in 2003, only to be revived in 2014 after passionate fans campaigned for its return, but was only sold on Amazon.com.
Discontinued: 2012 (U.S.)
Dunkaroos, the iconic 1990s snack packs featuring cookies with frosting dip, disappeared from American shelves in 2012.
However, the snack made a triumphant return in 2020 after years of nostalgic demand from millennials who grew up dunking the vanilla cookies into rainbow sprinkle frosting.
Discontinued: 2006
Butterfinger BB’s were the bite-sized chocolate-covered peanut butter spheres introduced in the 1990s.
Millennials fondly remember their connection to The Simpsons’ marketing campaigns featuring Bart Simpson’s enthusiastic endorsement.
Discontinued: Early 2000s
Snapple Elements, a vibrant line of beverages released in 1999 featuring flavor-themed “elements” like Rain (agave cactus) and Fire (dragonfruit), developed such a devoted following that Snapple fans launched multiple petitions, gathering over 10,000 signatures demanding its return after discontinuation.
Discontinued: 1998
McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce was a tangerine-flavored dipping sauce created as a one-time promotion for Disney’s“Mulan” in 1998.
It gained unexpected cult status nearly two decades later when the animated show “Rick and Morty” referenced it in 2017, triggering fan riots at McDonald’s locations during limited re-releases.
Discontinued: 2012 (temporarily)
Twinkies, the iconic cream-filled golden sponge cakes created in 1930, briefly vanished from American shelves in 2012 during Hostess’s bankruptcy before making a triumphant return in 2013 under new ownership.
Discontinued: 1995
OK Soda was Coca-Cola’s short-lived “anti-brand” targeting Generation X with nihilistic marketing from 1993-1995.
It failed commercially because of its cynical ads featuring the memorable slogan “Everything is going to be OK,”ironically becoming a cult collectible item decades after its discontinuation.
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