22 Grocery Store Staples That Have Vanished from Shelves

Walking through the grocery store today, it’s easy to forget just how different the shelves used to look. Before organic labels and artisanal everything took over, the aisles were stocked with some truly unforgettable (and sometimes questionable) products.

From cereal mascots that mysteriously disappeared to strange, discontinued drinks that were ahead of their time, let’s take a trip down memory lane with 22 grocery store staples that once ruled the shelves.

1. Jell-O 1-2-3

Once a futuristic treat, Jell-O 1-2-3 was a gelatin mix that magically separated into three layers after setting. It was the perfect party trick in the ’70s and ’80s, but as tastes shifted away from processed, artificial-looking desserts, Jell-O 1-2-3 disappeared from store shelves, leaving only fond (and slightly confused) memories behind.

2. Fruitopia

If you grew up in the ’90s, you probably remember Fruitopia—the brightly colored, vaguely healthy fruit drink that felt like a mix of juice and a ’60s fever dream. While it had a solid run, it was eventually phased out in favor of healthier alternatives, with some flavors morphing into the modern-day Minute Maid lineup.

3. Pudding Roll-Ups

Imagine Fruit Roll-Ups but made of chocolate pudding. Sounds like a kid’s dream, right? Sadly, the reality was a gooey, messy disaster that stuck to everything. While it had a brief moment of glory in the late ’80s, Pudding Roll-Ups were too impractical to last, and they quietly faded into snack history.

4. Crystal Pepsi

In the early ’90s, Pepsi decided that what soda really needed was… transparency. Crystal Pepsi looked like Sprite but tasted like regular Pepsi, leaving consumers baffled and mildly suspicious. Despite a nostalgic comeback attempt, it never caught on, proving that sometimes, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

5. Hershey’s Swoops

A genius idea in theory, Hershey’s Swoops were thin, curved chocolate pieces shaped like potato chips. While they looked fancy, they melted too easily and were overpriced, leading to their swift exit from stores.

6. Kudos Granola Bars

If you ever wanted a granola bar that was 90% chocolate and 10% oats, Kudos was your snack of choice. While they posed as a “healthy” alternative, most people knew they were just glorified candy bars, and they were eventually discontinued when actual healthier snacks took over.

7. PB Max

PB Max was a chocolate-covered peanut butter cookie that had everything going for it—except for the fact that Mars (the company behind it) allegedly thought peanut butter wasn’t trendy enough. Despite strong sales, PB Max was axed for no good reason, leaving peanut butter lovers forever bitter.

8. Butterfinger BB’s

A bite-sized version of Butterfinger, BB’s were easy to snack on but frustratingly prone to melting. Fans still reminisce about them, but despite occasional comeback petitions, Butterfinger BB’s remain a relic of the past.

9. Altoids Sours

These tart, metal-tinned candies had a cult following, but for reasons unknown, they were discontinued despite strong demand. Every so often, someone starts an online campaign to bring them back, but so far, they remain just a tangy memory.

10. Whistle Pops

Part lollipop, part instrument, Whistle Pops were a parent’s worst nightmare and a child’s dream. While they were fun, they were also one of the most annoying candies ever invented, which might explain why they vanished.

11. Wow! Chips

Made with Olestra, these chips promised guilt-free snacking—until people discovered they caused “unfortunate digestive side effects.” Let’s just say they disappeared for a reason.

12. Apple Slice Soda

Apple Slice was Pepsi’s attempt at an apple soda, but it never found its audience. Unlike other fruit-flavored sodas, apple just didn’t hit the same way, and it was quietly retired.

13. Hubba Bubba Soda

Hubba Bubba gum? Fantastic. Hubba Bubba soda? A mistake. This bubblegum-flavored soft drink was as strange as it sounds, and while it had a niche appeal, it quickly fizzled out.

14. Keebler Magic Middles

At first glance, these looked like plain shortbread cookies, but one bite in, and you’d find a gooey, chocolate or peanut butter-filled center. They were decadent, unique, and totally addicting. Sadly, Keebler pulled them from the shelves, leaving fans to reminisce about their soft, melty goodness.

15. Hershey’s Bar None

This crispy, chocolate-heavy candy bar was designed to be Hershey’s answer to the Kit Kat and Twix, but it never got the love it deserved. A brief attempt to revive it in the ‘90s fizzled out, and it was gone before many even had the chance to appreciate it.

16. Giggles Cookies

Think of Oreos with a personality—Giggles were sandwich cookies with smiley face cutouts on the top. Kids loved them, and they tasted great, but for some reason, they vanished without much explanation.

17. Pop-Tarts Go-Tarts

Pop-Tarts are already portable, but in the mid-2000s, Kellogg’s decided to shrink them down into candy bar form. While the concept was interesting, they didn’t really improve on the original, and they quietly disappeared from shelves.

18. Nestlé Wonder Ball

First launched as a kid-friendly version of the Kinder Surprise, the Wonder Ball was a hollow chocolate sphere with tiny candy inside. It disappeared in the ’90s due to choking hazard concerns, made a brief comeback in the 2000s, and then vanished for good—probably for the best.

19. Campbell’s Pepper Pot Soup

A thick, spicy soup with tripe as a main ingredient, Pepper Pot Soup had a loyal following but wasn’t exactly mainstream. As tastes evolved, it became harder to find until Campbell’s finally pulled the plug on it altogether.

20. Sprite Remix

For a while, Sprite Remix was the king of tropical soda flavors, with its Berryclear and Aruba Jam variations gaining a cult following. However, it was short-lived, and despite fan nostalgia, it’s never made a permanent return.

21. Carnation Breakfast Bars

Before protein bars became a billion-dollar industry, Carnation Breakfast Bars were a go-to snack for busy parents and kids on the move. Unfortunately, they disappeared in the ‘90s, leaving only fond memories of that oddly satisfying chocolate-covered crunch.

22. McDonald’s Pizza

Not quite a grocery store item, but worth mentioning. In the ‘80s and early ‘90s, McDonald’s briefly tried its hand at pizza, hoping to compete with traditional pizzerias. The result? It took too long to cook, and most customers weren’t sold on the idea, leading to its quiet demise.