You’ll get a quick, fun trip back to the ’90s as this article walks through ten discontinued items that shaped snacks, sodas, and school-lunch nostalgia. You’ll recognize some cult favorites, remember oddball fads, and maybe crave a taste of something you haven’t seen in decades.
Flip through memories of bold flavors, quirky packaging, and products that vanished as fast as they arrived, from sodas to snack bars and novelty treats. This piece shows what made each item memorable so you can pick which one takes you straight back to your childhood.
Surge Soda
You probably remember Surge as that neon-green, high-caffeine soda that tried to out-edge Mountain Dew. It launched in 1996 with loud, extreme-sports vibes and the tagline “Feed the Rush.”
Stores dropped it in the early 2000s, but demand and nostalgia led to brief revivals later on. If you loved sugary, citrusy sodas back then, Surge likely stood out in your fridge and memory.
Dunkaroos
You probably remember tiny kangaroo-shaped cookies and a frosting cup meant for dunking.
They vanished from U.S. shelves around 2012 when brands pushed healthier options.
Fans begged for a comeback, and Dunkaroos returned to stores in 2020.
If you spot them now, the nostalgia hits as much as the frosting.
Orbitz Beverage
You probably remember Orbitz for the weird floating jelly beads that looked like a tiny lava lamp inside a bottle.
It launched in the mid‑90s as a “texturally enhanced” drink and came in quirky fruit flavors you either loved or found gross.
The novelty faded fast and production stopped after about a year, but the funky design made Orbitz a lasting 90s oddity.
If you saved a bottle, it’s now a neat piece of nostalgia rather than a beverage you can buy.
Butterfinger BB’s
You probably remember popping these bite-sized Butterfinger rounds by the handful.
They launched in the early ’90s, got a Simpsons tie-in, and felt like crunchy, snackable versions of the candy bar.
Sales slowed in the 2000s and Nestlé discontinued BB’s around 2006.
A later attempt at a similar treat didn’t capture the same nostalgia, so BB’s remain a missed snack for many.
Crystal Pepsi
You probably remember Crystal Pepsi’s clear look—it stood out on shelves in the early ’90s.
Pepsi marketed it as a cleaner, New Age alternative to regular cola, but the taste confused many shoppers.
It launched in 1992 and vanished by 1994, with brief nostalgia-driven returns later.
If you tried it, you might recall the weird mix of familiar cola flavor with an oddly light finish.
Perfect Pizza Pops
You probably remember Pizza Pops — handheld pockets of cheesy, saucy comfort that felt like a mini calzone.
They heated fast, tasted like a school lunchroom treat, and came in gooey, crowd-pleasing flavors.
If you tried to recreate that exact texture at home, you know it’s tricky; the crust-to-filling balance was the magic.
They weren’t gourmet, but they hit that late-90s snack sweet spot you still crave.
Fruit Stripe Gum
You probably remember the zebra-striped sticks and the tiny temporary tattoos tucked inside the wrapper.
The gum hit stores in 1960 and became a colorful, short-lived-flavor staple for kids through the decades.
Ferrara discontinued Fruit Stripe in 2024, so you won’t find it at checkout anymore.
If you crave that brief, sugary burst of fruit, you’re not alone — it’s a common nostalgia trigger for many who grew up in the ’90s.
PB Max Bar
You probably remember the PB Max if you liked crunchy, peanut-butter-forward candy in the early ’90s.
It had a square whole-grain cookie base, creamy sweetened peanut butter, and a milk chocolate coating with little cookie bits.
Mars introduced it around 1989–1990 and discontinued it within a few years, leaving a small but devoted fanbase.
If you refrigerated one before eating, you likely swore it tasted even better.
Wow! Chips
You probably remember WOW Chips as the fat-free miracle snack everyone hyped in the late ’90s.
They used the fat substitute olestra, which let you snack without the calories but sometimes caused digestive side effects for some people.
Marketing everywhere made them feel unavoidable, and sales initially exploded.
If you tried them, you likely recall the bold flavors and the weird tradeoff between guilt-free crunch and uneasy stomachs.
Cherry Cola from RC
You probably remember RC Cherry Cola from snack aisles and vending machines in the ’90s.
It offered a sweeter, fruit-forward twist on classic cola that many fans still seek today.
Availability faded over time, which turned it into a nostalgic favorite for collectors and soda hunters.
Recently it has shown up again in some stores, so you might spot it if you look around.
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