Butterfinger BB’s – When Poppable Perfection Met Reality
You know what ruled the school cafeteria trading game back in the early nineties? Those little golden spheres of crispety, crunchety goodness that nobody could pronounce right but everybody craved. Butterfinger BB’s became a household name in 1992, and suddenly every kid was walking around with chocolate-stained fingertips and a grin that said they’d found treasure.
But here’s where things got messy – literally. One theory is that the chocolate’s quick melting point was what determined the candy’s fate. The chocolate seemed to slip off the candy and onto your fingers more quickly than it could reach your mouth. To the dismay of millions, the tiny candies were discontinued 14 years later in 2006. Butterfinger officially stated “Sadly, Butterfinger BB’s were discontinued due to low sales”, though some people whispered about choking hazards too.
Altoids Sours – The Tin That Made Tongues Surrender
Picture this: you pop open that familiar metal tin, but instead of mint freshness hitting your taste buds, you get a flavor explosion that made your face scrunch up like you’d bitten into a lemon. Altoids Sours debuted in 2004 with an array of fruity flavors, only to be discontinued in 2010. These weren’t your grandmother’s breath mints – they were fruit-flavored weapons of mass pucker destruction.
The sour candies came in round tins and were available in lime, apple, raspberry, mango, and tangerine flavors. They were the superior sour candy of the 2000s until they disappeared in 2010. Sadly, though, the national sales were simply too low to keep producing Altoids Sours. Some even started online petitions asking for the candy’s return, but by then it was too late.
Dweebs – Nerds’ Forgotten Chewier Cousin
Remember when Wonka decided that Nerds needed a bigger, chewier brother? That’s exactly what Dweebs were – similar to Nerds candy in appearance and flavor but chewier in consistency, with a traditional package containing fruit punch, strawberry, cherry, and orange flavors. They even had a Super Sour version for those brave enough to handle the intensity.
Like many Wonka products, Dweebs were discontinued, vanishing from store shelves in the 90s. They were only on the market for a few years, so they likely did not catch on the way that Wonka had hoped. Everyone loves Wonka’s Nerds, so naturally, Dweebs were released as a companion. They were bigger and chewier than their nerdy counterparts and unfortunately didn’t make it out of the 90s alive.
Ice Breakers Liquid Ice – The Mint That Went Too Far
Some candy ideas sound genius on paper but turn into complete disasters in reality. In 2003, Ice Breakers launched Liquid Ice, a liquid filled mint. These tiny gel capsules promised an intense burst of freshness that would revolutionize breath mints forever. The problem? They delivered on that promise a little too well.
As another short-lived candy, the Ice Breakers Liquid Ice was released in 2003 and immediately discontinued the following year in 2004 due to intensity and bitterness. These little suckers were so impactful that there are reddit groups dedicated to discussing how intense just one single mint was. The reception of this Ice Breaker mint was so extreme that the brand was forced to recall the product and discontinue it all together. Sometimes being too good at your job isn’t a good thing.
PB Max – Mars Family’s Peanut Butter Prejudice
In 1989, PB Max first appeared and it was believed that PB Max could give competitor Reese’s a run for its money. This wasn’t just wishful thinking – despite making $50 million in sales, rumour has it that the sweet treat was discontinued because of the Mars family’s dislike of peanut butter. Imagine being so successful that you earn fifty million dollars but still get the axe because the boss doesn’t like your main ingredient.
PB Max was made up of creamy peanut butter and crunchy round cookie pieces packed into milk chocolate. The candy bar was a huge hit, but was ultimately discontinued, supposedly because the Mars family had a distaste for peanut butter. PB Max was discontinued at some point between 1992 and 1994 for seemingly unclear reasons, though that Mars family peanut butter theory sure does make sense.
Wonder Ball – When Toys and Candy Don’t Mix
“Oh I wonder, wonder what’s in a Wonder Ball?” went the catchy jingle, but apparently, the answer is: a choking hazard. Unsurprisingly, the original mid-’90s Wonder Ball was pulled off of shelves because the toys inside presented a severe choking hazard to small kids. The Nestlé Magic Ball was introduced in the mid-1990s as a chocolate sphere containing small toys, often featuring popular characters from Disney or Pokémon. It quickly gained popularity among children and nostalgic adults.
Nestlé tried to fix the problem by rebranding it in 2000 with candy inside the shell instead of small toys. They even renamed it to Wonder Ball. It failed to attract attention and the chocolate was discontinued for good. They were re-released in the ’00s with candy on the inside. Less fun, but probably safer.
Creme Savers – The Smooth Criminal of Hard Candy
These weren’t just hard candies – they were tiny time machines that transported you to a world where everything was smooth, creamy, and perfectly sweet. Creme Savers were launched in 1989 by Nabisco and quickly gained a cult following due to their unique creamy texture and fruit flavors. These hard candies featured swirls of fruit and vanilla cream flavor. They were discontinued in 2011 but were revived in 2021.
These ’90s hard candies slapped in a way that’s still pretty impossible to explain. That said, after delighting Creme Savers fans (aka everyone) for many years, they were quietly discontinued in the early 2010s. The good news? As of this year, anyone who mourned the painful loss of these sweet ‘n’ creamy candies can grab a bag at Big Lots…and Big lots only. Sometimes miracles do happen.
Life Savers Holes – The Center That Couldn’t Hold
Somebody at Life Savers had a brilliant idea: what if we sold the holes that we punch out of our donuts-shaped candy? You don’t need to be a candy connoisseur to know what Life Savers Holes are — the name says it all. Life Savers are a donut shaped hard candy and the Life Savers Holes were the bi-product of the original candy when removing the center hole. It was recycling before recycling was cool.
But here’s where things went sideways. This product was released in 1991 and was quickly labeled as a choking hazard due to the plastic candy dispenser. After the product was recalled, the Life Savers Holes tried to make a comeback with an updated package but at that point the damage was done and the reputation of the Life Savers Holes was tainted. Introduced in the 1990s, they quickly became a hit due to their playful nature and delicious flavors. Unfortunately, they were discontinued, much to the disappointment of their fans.
Shock Tarts – The Candy That Lived Up to Its Name
Before there were energy drinks promising to give you wings, there were Shock Tarts promising to jolt your taste buds into another dimension. Apparently, Shock Tarts (also called Shockers) were made with the same recipe that Pixie Sticks and Fun Dip were concocted with. That explains the sweet and sour harmony! These were basically like Sprees and Sweet Tarts got together and had a sour lovechild.
Shock Tarts, later known as Wonka Shock Tarts, were a popular sour candy in the 1990s. Kids loved them for their intense flavor and chewy texture. They were discontinued and eventually rebranded multiple times. Shock Tarts became SweeTARTS Extreme Chewy Sours. However, many fans say the new brand lacks the original’s flavor. It’s like trying to recreate lightning in a bottle – sometimes the magic just can’t be replicated.
Tic Tac Cinnamon – The Spicy Breath Mint Revolution
Tic Tacs were always the sophisticated choice for fresh breath, but then they decided to shake things up with a flavor that made your mouth feel like it was hosting a cinnamon festival. Tic Tac Cinnamon was a spicy variation of the classic minty Tic Tacs. These tiny red candies offered a burst of cinnamon flavor that left a lasting impression. They weren’t just breath fresheners – they were tiny flavor bombs.
Although Tic Tac still offers a variety of flavors, the cinnamon variant has been discontinued, much to the disappointment of those who enjoyed the fiery kick it provided. Though this particular type of Tic Tac was discontinued in 2009 not all is lost. There is still a Cinnamon Spice flavor available today, but veteran candy lovers swear it’s just not the same.
Reggie Bar – Fame That Faded With the Player
Nothing says “peak eighties” like naming a candy bar after a baseball superstar and watching it rise and fall with their career. The Reggie! Bar was gone by the early 1980s because nobody knew who Riggie Jackson was anymore. However, it did make a limited reappearance in stores in 2023 driven by nostalgia. Originally known as “Bun Bar,” these sweet treats were briefly renamed after baseball star Reggie Jackson. At the Yankees’ home opener in 1976, the chocolate, peanut and caramel candy bars were handed to fans.
The bar had its moment of glory when Jackson was hitting home runs left and right, but the cereal was likely discontinued due to the waning popularity of Mr. T by the early 1990s – wait, that’s about Mr. T cereal, but the same principle applies to celebrity-endorsed products. When the star fades, so does their branded candy. It’s a harsh lesson in the fleeting nature of fame and chocolate-covered caramel.
Chewy Gobstoppers – The Everlasting That Wasn’t
Willy Wonka’s Everlasting Gobstoppers were supposed to last forever, but their chewy cousin couldn’t even last a decade. Chewy Gobstoppers were a unique twist on the classic Gobstopper candies. With a chewy center surrounded by a hard candy shell, they provided a delightful combination of textures. It was like getting the best of both worlds – the satisfaction of crunching through something hard combined with the joy of chewing something soft.
Chewy Gobstoppers were a unique twist on the classic Gobstopper candies. With a chewy center surrounded by a hard candy shell, they provided a delightful combination of textures. These candies were a favorite among those who enjoyed a little extra chewiness in their candy experience. Sadly, they are no longer produced, and fans can only savor the memories of their chewy goodness. Sometimes innovation doesn’t guarantee longevity.
Seven Up Candy Bar – Trademark Trouble in Paradise
Long before energy drinks dominated the market, there was a candy bar that tried to capture the essence of seven different flavors in one sweet package. The Seven Up Candy Bar was introduced by the Pearson Candy Company in the 1930s. It featured seven individual squares filled with different flavors. Each bite was like a flavor roulette – you never knew what taste adventure awaited you next.
Unfortunately, having the same name as a popular soda turned out to be more trouble than it was worth. The Seven Up Candy Bar lasted many decades but was pulled 1979 due to trademark disputes with Philip Morris – the then owner of the 7 Up soda brand. It’s a classic case of corporate legal battles crushing creative candy dreams.
Ouch! Bubble Gum – Band-Aid Brilliance That Healed Too Soon
Whoever came up with the idea of packaging bubble gum in a tin that looked exactly like a first-aid kit deserves a medal for creative marketing genius. The product had some staying power in the 90s and early 2000s, but Ouch! Bubble Gum was eventually discontinued in 2009. Kids loved the novelty of pretending they were treating their injuries with sugary medicine.
Nostalgia played a major role in reviving Ouch! Bubblegum, Retro Sours and Bubble Jug Candy. Fans religiously reaching out to the brand to bring these iconic candies back also played a part in their revival. Many fans remember it fondly, and countless millennials would surely feel the strong pull of nostalgia should the bubble gum ever return to store shelves. The good news? Some nostalgic brands are actually listening to fan demands these days.
Mary Jane Candy Bar – Sweet Memories with a Questionable Name
Despite what your teenage brain might have thought, this candy bar had nothing to do with anything illegal. Despite the name Mary Jane, the candy bar was not named after an infamous drug. It was created in 1914 by Charles N. Miller, who named it after his favorite aunt. The candy bar had a chewy combination of peanut butter and molasses. People remember it for its yellow wax paper with a red stripe.
This old-school treat was like the grandparent of modern candy bars – it predated most of the flashy, chocolate-covered confections we know today. The combination of peanut butter and molasses might sound weird to modern palates, but there was something comforting about its simple, straightforward sweetness. Sometimes the oldest recipes really were the best ones, even if they carried names that made people do double-takes at the candy counter.
The candy aisle has always been a battlefield where sweet dreams go to live or die, and these fifteen fallen favorites remind us that even the most beloved treats aren’t guaranteed forever. From chocolate-melting disasters to overpowered mints that made people’s eyes water, each discontinued candy tells a story of ambition, innovation, and sometimes spectacular failure. What would you have saved from candy extinction?
