The 90s were a happy time with some very interesting styles and food choices–we had dial-up internet, frosted tips, Z Cavaricci, and undoubtedly some of the best snacks that have since disappeared from grocery stores.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane. Buckle up, snack lovers! Let’s explore the discontinued ‘90s snacks that we wish were still available. Tell us in the comments if I missed something.
12. PB Crisps
PB Crisps was a sweet peanut snack from Planters that made its debut in 1992. It didn’t last long and disappeared from shelves by 1995. The snack featured a graham cookie shaped like a peanut shell filled with creamy peanut butter. It also came in Chocolate Crisps with a chocolate filling and PB&J Crisps with a mix of peanut butter and strawberry jelly.
One theory about their disappearance is that they were just “too delicious.” A more likely reason might be its high production costs but limited market demand. PB Crisps gained a loyal following, and there’s even an official PB Crisps website that’s still up and running today.
11. Keebler Magic Middles
Keebler’s Magic Middles was so exciting as a kid in the 90s. It had a crispy cookie crust and fudgy chocolate core. Every bite offered a different blend of textures and flavors, so sweet treat lovers loved them. Does anyone else miss these?
Keebler stopped making its Magic Middles cookies to repurpose the equipment for another product line. The unique manufacturing process of Keebler Magic Middles involved injecting chocolate into each cookie, which set them apart from other filled cookies available at the time.
10. Sonic The Hedgehog Pasta
Back in 1995, Franco-American launched a special Sonic the Hedgehog pasta, coinciding with a great year for Sonic games. Available in meatball and no meatball varieties, it was a hit with fans. But like many nostalgic and out-of-the-box snacks, Sonic the Hedgehod pasta was discontinued in 2000. Part of the reason was declining sales, and the other part is that the novelty simply wore off. Today, empty cans of Sonic the Hedgehog pasta are a rare collectible item.
9. Sprinkle Spanges
Sprinkle Spangles was a short-lived breakfast cereal from General Mills, introduced in the mid-90s alongside Hidden Treasures. The star-shaped cereal pieces were generously coated with colorful sprinkles, living up to its tagline: “Spangled every angle with sprinkles.” It even had a mascot, The Sprinkle Genie, who granted kids’ wishes for a sprinkle-filled breakfast with his catchphrase, “You wish it, I dish it!” In 1998, General Mills decided to pull the plug on Sprinkle Spangles, but it hasn’t been seen since then.
8. Crystal Pepsi
Crystal Pepsi had its way of standing out in the crowd and giving cola drinkers a distinctive and caffeine-free experience. As a kid in the 90s, I remember the pitch was that it tasted like Pepsi, but it was completely clear. Pepsi had 1,000 different ideas and when they asked consumers, they wanted a healthier soda. It started off as a huge success, and Pepsi made over $474 million dollars in the first year, with Coca-Cola trying to copy with Tab Clear in 1992. But after all that, Crystal Pepsi was still discontinued in 1993 because it failed to make long-term sales.
7. Pizza Crunchabungas
Pizza Crunchabungas were pizza-flavored chips that reminded you of a cheesy slice in a crunchy snack form, with some help from a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Their intense pizza flavor and fun branding made them a hit in the snack world. It was launched during the peak popularity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show and comics. The manufacturer, Ralston-Purina, stopped producing them around 1993 because they were only intended for a limited release.
6. Swoops
Hershey’s Swoops reinvented the world of chocolate snacking by offering its Pringle-shaped piece and creamy feature. Every bite gave a quick, sweet crunch of your favorite chocolate candy bars. If you were a Gen X or Millenial, you definitely tried these at least once! This design was meant to provide a new way of experiencing chocolate, making it more fun and shareable. Hershey’s discontinued the Swoops in 2006, just three years after their launch, because they were too expensive to make and too expensive for customers to buy.
5. Fruit String Thing
In the 90’s, Betty Crocker found a way to make snacking on fruit more fun with Fruit String Thing It was launched in 1994-95 and featured a peel-apart fruit strings available in flavors like Cherry, Berry Blue, and Strawberry. You could turn the turn the string into all kinds of shapes before biting into the chewy candy. It’s not clear why Fruit String Thing was discontinued, but they haven’t been on grocery shelves since the mid-2000s.
4. Josta
Josta by Pepsi was THE energy drink of the 90’s. With its slightly spicy and fruity flavor, it stood out among other drink choices. Fans of Josta miss its unique taste and the extra boost it provided, making it a sought-after drink among collectors and ’90s enthusiasts. PepsiCo stopped making its Josta energy drink in 1999 due to a shift in corporate strategy and low popularity.
3. Micro Pops
Micro Pops were tiny, poppable lollipops in different fruity flavors. Their small size made them perfect for quick treats without the commitment of a full-sized lollipop, appealing to kids and adults who enjoyed their burst of flavor. The brand sometimes discontinues products to give customers a better selection of treats. While some fans are pushing for the return of Micro Pops, the sprinkle-coated Popsicle, it’s unlikely due to the product’s messy and inconvenient nature.
2. PB Max
PB Max was a loved candy bar by Mars. With its creamy peanut butter topping and cookie base, all wrapped in milk chocolate, it was a 90’s hit. Unlike other peanut butter snacks, PB Max had a very generous layer of natural peanut butter which was enjoyed by so many people. PB Max candy bar was discontinued in 1994 because the Mars family didn’t like peanut butter. Despite its strong sales after launching in 1989, the Mars family preferred hazelnuts. However, this reason was never confirmed by the family or current employees.
1. Nestle Wonder Ball
