Top 30 Foods That Don't Exist Anymore

Change can be a hard pill to swallow– even when it comes to something as small as the shape of your food. During the 1970s, McDonald’s tried to put a spin on the classic onion ring with their own creation– onion nuggets. The perfectly bite-sized morsels were an interesting deviation from their usual options, but they unfortunately weren't enough to hold the public’s interest. They were quickly overshadowed by the introduction of McNuggets to the menu, which immediately became a fan favorite. Before long, the onion variation had been phased out, and was eventually quietly discontinued. Although it may not have been the most lucrative, the concept sounds so delicious that we can’t help but feel robbed of them.

When it comes to brand-partnerships, no one does it better. There are several Doritos-infused items on the Taco Bell menu available to buy today– but their collaborations go back much further. Their first joint product dates all the way back to the 1990s, with the Taco Supreme Doritos. The chips were made with a signature flavoring to get the exact same taste as the iconic Mexican chain, making it one of the most daring to be released at that time. It was unfortunately retired less than a decade later following PepsiCo’s divestment from the brand. A similar taco flavor was introduced soon afterwards, but it simply wasn’t the same– and to this day, people are petitioning to have it return.

Some foods sound so good that it’s hard to believe they ever existed at all. While regular Pop-Tarts were already great on their own, they were elevated to an even higher level in 1994 when they were released in cereal form. They were inspired by a trend where consumers would break up the pastries and eat them with milk– and the final product didn’t disappoint. Available in strawberry or brown sugar cinnamon with filling in the center, the breakfast item was the definition of rich. It was an ingenious idea, but it only lasted for about a year before ultimately being pulled from their line. It goes to show that a trend’s supposed popularity can burn as easily as it pops.

With just one item, countless people’s decision fatigue was relieved. If you think the combination of a Whopper and a burrito sounds insane, you’d be right– but that doesn’t make the execution any less delicious. In 2016, Burger King came out with one of their most bizarre creations yet– the Whopperito. Consisting of all the classic elements of the burger and plenty of queso wrapped in a perfectly cooked tortilla, it was the very definition of decadence. It ended up being a hit, leading it to be introduced nationwide and earning the respect of food critics and customers alike. Unfortunately, it was a limited-time item– meaning despite its popularity, by the end of the year it had completely vanished.

Could there possibly be a thing as too much pizza? Pizza Hut certainly doesn’t seem to think so— and we agree. In 1996, they came out with one of their most insane items to date: a multi-layered pizza with six different cheeses inside. The concoction is the peak of indulgence— and sounds almost too good to be true. Though it appeared to be enjoyed by consumers, it still disappeared from their menu just a few years later. It wouldn’t be the only time they’ve removed a fan favorite— the beloved P’Zone was only brought out of retirement for a short period before disappearing once more. To this day, some people are holding out hope that the Deckeroni will make a comeback as well.

#25: C-3PO’s Cereal

Given how popular the “Star Wars” franchise was throughout the 1980s, it only makes sense that they’d release as many branded products associated with it as possible. They came out with plenty of toys and trading cards— but they didn’t stop there. In 1984, C-3PO’s— a cereal inspired by the iconic droid— hit the market. They were shaped like two rings fused together, giving it a bit of extra crunch. It was a unique idea, but unfortunately, nothing gold can stay. Just a couple years later, the promotion between the company and the film ended— and C-3PO’s went with it. The product was rebranded to Pro-Grain and marketed as a sports food. It’s just as well - 3PO isn’t exactly athletic.

Some concepts are so silly that they loop back around to being genius. Since being created, Life Savers have come in a standard ring shape, with a space in the middle. In 1990, they shook things up with the release of Life Savers Holes— a tiny fruit-flavored sphere that filled in the original shape. It was the perfect tongue-in-cheek creation, and when they were first released, they seemed to be popular. However, they were gone just as soon as they arrived. The tube they came in was found to be a choking hazard, leading to the business pulling the product before anyone could be hurt or worse. Even though it’s understandable, some are hoping that they’ll get another chance with different packaging.

You know a snack is good when there are websites dedicated to its potential return decades after they stopped being made. Made by Planters in 1992, PB Crisps were essentially a peanut-shaped graham cracker stuffed with delicious fillings, such as chocolate, strawberry, and peanut butter. Not much is known about why this delicious snack was suddenly ripped away from consumers in 1995, but it hasn’t stopped some super fans from trying to convince the company to bring them back. There’s even a whole online movement spanning across multiple social media sites dedicated to advocating for its return. There haven’t been any updates so far, but that hasn’t dampened their spirits whatsoever. If that’s not dedication, we don’t know what is.

Although a couple of cereals inspired by them still exist today, at one point “The Flintstones” had an undeniable chokehold on pop culture. This extended to other cereals— such as the now defunct marshmallow variety, Dino Pebbles. But, there were other foods as well, with one of the most popular being their ice cream Push-Up pops. Each flavor was inspired by the beloved characters, such as Cabe Kid Cherry and Bedrock Berry. Some variations even had candy embedded in them. After a few years, the characters were eventually dropped from the branding— and even though the popsicles themselves still exist, they don’t have any of the nostalgia. It’s proof of how powerful branding can be— and how attached people can become to it.

A snack this delicious is simply too powerful to remain on grocery store shelves permanently. Peanut Butter Boppers were a dream, made of smooth peanut butter rolled in crunchy toppings. They were introduced in 1985 and quickly found a following, leading to new flavors being added. Despite having captured the hearts of so many, they unfortunately didn’t make it to the end of the decade. The reasons for their discontinuation haven’t been revealed, but their disappearance hasn’t stopped fans from loving them. There have been several copycat recipes published, offering customers a chance to recreate their favorite childhood snack themselves. In 2023, General Mills even acknowledged that consumers missed the product– and to this day, many are hoping that they will “bop back.”

While this item still exists in spirit, it doesn’t hold a candle to the original. In 1968, McDonald’s changed the game with the release of their fried apple pies. They made for the perfect end to each meal there, and for decades, they were sold as is. Everything changed in 1992, when the chain decided to switch up the cooking method. Rather than frying them, they opted to bake them instead, with the hopes of being healthier. It’s unclear how much of a difference there was in terms of health– but the contrast in their taste definitely was. Since then, the pies have never been the same– and there are multiple generations of people who will probably never get to try them.

An idea this good should’ve always been a permanent fixture. Although they’re mostly known for their savory items, in 1998 Burger King teamed up with Pillsbury to create a dessert. The Cini-Minis– a line of tiny cinnamon rolls– were baked fresh daily. They ended up being a hit and remained on the menu for nearly 15 years, before suddenly vanishing in 2012. Fans didn’t take that choice lying down. Petitions advocating for its return began circulating, showing widespread support for the defunct breakfast item. It seems there’s a potential end to their wait. They were brought back for a limited time in Florida in late 2024. If they test well there, they could potentially return on a national level as well.

Sugar-loaded cereals are so nostalgic, it’s only natural that the sickeningly sweet brands are the ones we’re going to remember most fondly. Case in point? Ice Cream Cones Cereal! Sold by General Mills in the late ‘80s when companies weren’t even bothering to pretend that the cereal they were peddling was healthy, Ice Cream Cones consisted of puffed sweet treats that tasted like your favorite flavors of ice cream - chocolate chip, vanilla and chocolate. Little golden sugar cone-shaped triangles stood in for the cones to complete the visual effect. They only lasted a year in their original run, though it was brought back for a one-time deal in 2003 for the ice cream cone’s 100th anniversary and General Mills introduced Drumstick cereal in 2019, but 1987 was still the sweetest year of them all.

It may seem as if there's a new flavor of Cheetos available every week, so you'd be forgiven if you didn't notice that Cheetos Twisted no longer exist. These curly Q-shaped Cheetos snacks were thicker, meaning more of that finger-staining cheese dust to coat your fingers. They also arrived armed with that patented Cheetos crunch and were available from around 2002 to 2012, but all good things must eventually come to an end. The Cheetos folks discontinued their Twisted brand, but never fear because the company is bound to create something similar down the line.

The Arch Deluxe was a deluxe flop. McDonald’s had been growing a reputation as a restaurant for children, and they created the Arch Deluxe to combat this notion. Made specifically for adults, it contained a quarter-pound burger with all the typical toppings, plus a special sauce mixed from mustard and mayonnaise. The chain launched a massive marketing campaign to promote the burger and released it nationwide in the spring of 1996. Unfortunately, it proved an enormous bomb owing to its premium price and high caloric count. After $300 million spent in research, development, and marketing, McDonald’s discontinued the Arch Deluxe in August of 2000.

It’s amazing what fast food companies will do to capture the attention of children. Take some standard fries, add a packet of flavoring, bam - “Shake ‘Em Up Fries.” Thanks for your money. Back in 2002, Burger King introduced this item, which was essentially fries with a packet of cheese powder that allowed kids to make so-called cheesy fries. It was a fun little novelty, but not much else. And like most novelties, the fun quickly wore off, and the shake ‘em up fries were discontinued as quick as they appeared. They now exist in the nostalgic recesses of ‘90s kids everywhere.

The Blizzard is a Dairy Queen mainstay and has remained as such since its introduction in 1985. The company sold 100 million Blizzards in its first year alone, and people continuously flock to the chain to get their hands on the soft-serve treat. Five years after its inception, Dairy Queen attempted a low-calorie frozen yogurt alternative called the Breeze, which was said to have 10 less calories per ounce. The Breeze lasted over a decade but never reached the cultural heights of its denser predecessor and was discontinued in 2001 owing to a lack of demand.

Introduced in 1995 as a tie-in to the movie “Congo,” the Volcano Burrito came equipped with the standard ground beef, shredded cheese, rice, red tortilla strips, and a special “Lava sauce.” It disappeared following the promotion but was brought back in the spring of 2009, where it was placed on the so-called Volcano Menu alongside the Volcano Taco. It was a very popular item, and even to this day, people are trying to replicate the delicious Lava sauce at home. Unfortunately, the Volcano Menu was scrapped in 2012, and the Volcano Burrito disappeared the following year. That said, it can reportedly still be found in Britain, South Korea, and Iceland.

Ice cream is great, but maybe you gravitated more towards to the cereal-ized, deconstructed version of this late night camping fireside snack? General Mills has shrunk down many a treat over the years - some have stood the test of time, like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, while others, like French Toast Crunch, were discontinued, only to be revived due to popular demand. Sadly, this particularly offering, which boldly threw marshmallows into the mix without even bothering to disguise them as something else, is no longer available. It ran from 1982 to 1988, and was briefly brought back in the ‘90s, only to get the axe again.

Parents will often do just about anything to get their kids to eat healthy, but even the busiest folks have their limits. Yogos weren't trying to masquerade as healthy fruit or yogurt, but instead were sugary fruit-flavored snacks with a yogurt coating on top. They were an acquired taste, to say the least, but millennials were ON THAT taste back when they were kids, as Yogos seemed to be on top between 2005 and the beginning of the 2010s. Chewy, sweet, sour, and available in varieties of berry flavors, Yogos were perhaps too unique for this world and burned so bright that they could never be brought back.

Hey! Ever think to yourself, "I've been good. Why shouldn't I have cheesecake for a snack?" No? It was just us? Ah, well. We have no regrets about devouring this indulgent snack from the Philadelphia people: small, snack-sized cheesecake squares available to eat any hour of the day. You want the graham cracker bottom? You get the graham cracker bottom. You want sweet icing and fruit laced over that thick cheesecake deliciousness? Shut the front door and eat these slices of heaven in private, because we guarantee you're gonna have a moment. We can only hope and pray that the next time we stroll by our grocer's freezer, this classic snack will be staring back at us.

Yes… General Mills has released a modern TMNT-themed cereal inspired by the animated Nickelodeon series, but that’s not the cereal we want. This show, as well as the contemporary live-action films, may resonate with the youth, but we’re here in the name of nostalgia - and for ‘80s and ‘90s kids, few properties hit the mark like our favorite heroes in a half-shell. Featuring our beloved animated crimefighters on the box, this cereal, true to its namesake, was an odd hybrid that combines a base cereal similar to Chex with Lucky Charms-style marshmallows. And you know what? It was totally awesome.

The Hershey's company has so many delicious snacks under their belt, it's easy to forget that there's also plenty of forgotten classics. Hershey's Swoops were one, but the penultimate spot on our list goes to the much-missed Hershey's Bites. No, not the candy bites, but this even crunchier and more snackable concoction that came in a variety of flavors. Rolos, Kit Kats, Peppermint Patties, and more were all shrunk down and packaged in a size that was perfectly geared for guzzling. Unfortunately, they posed a choking hazard for some, and most of the line was discontinued. However, Hershey's website does say that limited flavors can be purchased direct, but don't go scouring store shelves for this one.

It’s a thin line that companies need to walk when trying to market cereal based on baked goods to kids. Parents can seemingly accept sweet treat-based products, so long as they’re inspired by traditional breakfast dishes like French toast or cinnamon toast. But when the concept is something like ice cream, or as is the case here, donuts… it’s a little harder to swallow. Parents be damned though - these were awesome. With the familiar face of Cap’n Crunch on the box, these chocolate cereal rings garnished with sprinkles were a home run with the kids. Sadly… they were also too good for this world, and were discontinued.

If there was ever a snack cookie king, this was the one. The mighty Keebler Elves truly outdid themselves when they magically concocted the recipe for the perfect treat. The shortbread wasn't too sweet and held its integrity against that chocolatey or peanut-buttery flavor core that burst onto your taste buds with the force of a fudgy freight train. Oh, and if you warmed these bad boys in the microwave for a few seconds? Absolute heaven. We're not sure if we can go all the way to the top of the Keebler Elf hierarchy for some answers, but we're desperate for Magic Middles to be made available again.

Serving as Taco Bell’s answer to hamburger joints, the Bell Beefer was a Sloppy Joe-like burger with ground beef, onions, lettuce, and a special sauce. Nothing fancy, but it certainly got the job done. Introduced in the ‘60s as the Chiliburger, the Bell Beefer enjoyed initial success but quickly fell by the wayside. It just sort of stuck around for a while, not popular enough to be a bestseller but not poor enough to be cut from the menu. But when Taco Bell transitioned to the Tex-Mex style in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the Bell Beefer finally got the boot. It made a brief resurgence in 2012 as part of the dollar menu, but this too has disappeared.

Taco Bell wanted to get in on the breakfast market, and their first order of business was the Waffle Taco. Consisting of a folded waffle, bacon or sausage, scrambled eggs, and a drizzle of syrup, the Waffle Taco was a truly bizarre concoction, even for those used to silly fast food novelties. Unfortunately, it didn’t look good from the outset, with Chief Marketing Officer Chris Brandt ambiguously stating, “Some of the things on our menu might run out of gas.” That proved to be the case, as the Waffle Taco was discontinued just one year after its inception, having been replaced with the Biscuit Taco.

The source of Taco Bell’s Enchirito remains disputed, with various franchise owners - and even a high school student from Montebello - receiving credit. The Enchirito appeared in the ‘60s, when one could buy an Enchirito, a taco, and a drink for 89 cents - about $7 today. It was composed of a tortilla, ground beef, beans, onions, and cheese. It was officially discontinued in 1993 but brought back later that decade following intense demand. Unfortunately, it was once again taken off the menu in 2013 and has remained off ever since. With that said, customers can reportedly still order one owing to its traditional ingredients and easy construction.

Ribs were the last thing that people expected from a fast food joint like Burger King, and it was this novelty that made them a phenomenon. Back in May of 2010, Burger King introduced racks of ribs to their menu, charging customers $8.99 to get their hands on the smokey goodness. And while some balked at the premium price, others flocked to their local franchise to give them a try. In fact, the promotion proved so successful that they were forced to cut it short owing to a lack of product. Ravenous customers had eaten their entire supply, but despite the obvious demand, the ribs have never been brought back.

#1: McPizza


There once was a time when you could order pizza from an everyday McDonald’s. Introduced in the ‘80s, the McPizza (as it was creatively called) was instantly mocked by consumers and competitors alike, with Pizza Hut even calling it the “McFrozen.” And while it proved a somewhat popular novelty item, it was never really able to shed its reputation, and it was permanently pulled from the menu in the late ‘90s. McDonald’s claims that the McPizza was discontinued owing to its long cook times, as each pizza took upwards of ten minutes to make. Talk about a drive-thru clogger. However, those willing to make a trip to Orlando, Florida will find the last McDonald’s in the world still serving the McPizza.


Which discontinued childhood food would you love to see make a comeback? Let us know in the comments below!