Do you know about these top 10 bizarre cancelled food products? It’s just a fact of life that eventually every food product that the world is crazy about will be discontinued. Some fans hold grudges against the manufacturers for years, while others shake their heads and wonder how we were ever convinced these items were both delicious and nutritious. In this article, we explore ten discontinued food items that many consider questionable at best. Whether you remember them fondly or with disbelief, these products remind us that even our favorite snacks can sometimes be a wild experiment in taste and marketing.
10. Weiner Wrap
Pillsbury’s Weiner Wrap was conceived as a simple solution to oven-bake the hot dog and bun together in one step. The idea was straightforward: a can containing six flat sheets of dough that could neatly wrap around an individual hot dog. Here’s how it worked:
- Place the flat dough around your hot dog.
- Arrange it on a cookie sheet.
- Bake for about twenty minutes.
The result was a plump, hot, juicy hot dog encased in a warm and flavorful bun. Weiner Wrap came in three flavors—plain, cheese, and onion—making it an instant hit in kitchens across the country. Teenagers especially loved it since they could prepare it by themselves. Many in their fifties still recall a time when parents would take a break from cooking, and kids would enjoy Weiner Wraps every night after bowling league nights or evenings out with friends. If someone had a cold Weiner Wrap in their lunch box, it often meant they were either very lucky or completely neglected. However, like many heavily processed items of the seventies, Weiner Wrap eventually vanished as the aerobics and health movements pushed consumers toward healthier options.
9. WOW Chips
Introduced in 1998 by Frito Lay, WOW Chips and WOW Doritos were marketed as a breakthrough in junk food. Their secret was Olestra, a fat substitute that lowered or eliminated the fat content entirely. Here’s what made them unique:
- Zero-fat snack food due to the use of Olestra.
- Both potato chips and Doritos variants were available.
WOW products enjoyed a wild success in the first year, with initial sales reaching over $400 million. However, it wasn’t long before consumers were turned off by the horrendous side effects. Many reported abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and even “anal leakage.” Imagine hosting a party only to have your guests complain about unexpected digestive distress! The negative word-of-mouth, coupled with the side effects, meant that despite the initial hype, WOW Chips were discontinued by 2002.
8. Pizza Spins
General Mills launched Pizza Spins in 1968 to capture America’s love for pizza in a snack format. The idea was to deliver all the true, delicious pizza flavor in a crunchy, mouth-sized treat. Each box even carried the promise: “All the true delicious pizza flavor in a munchy, crunchy, mouth-sized snack.”
However, what was not mentioned was the harsh reality of the flavor. Many consumers compared the taste to that of an “acid indigestion burp” mixed with sawdust and a hint of seven-day-old spaghetti sauce. Even a ten-year-old’s digestive tract could not escape the burning sensation after eating a handful of these imitation pizza wheels. Despite the enthusiasm for pizza, the product never lived up to its promise and was discontinued in 1975.
7. Freshen Up Gum
Freshen Up Gum, famously marketed as “The Gum That Goes Squirt,” first hit the market in 1975 and continued until 2019. The unique selling point was its liquid-filled center, which was supposed to squirt a burst of refreshing flavor when you bit into it.
Here’s what happened with Freshen Up Gum:
- Available in cinnamon, spearmint, peppermint, and bubblegum flavors.
- The liquid center was meant to enhance the breath-freshening effect.
However, if you ever received a piece that had been sitting in someone’s pocket or on the dashboard of a hot car, you knew the disappointment that awaited. Instead of a cool burst, you got a hot, oddly flavored, semi-liquid goo that could make you gag or choke. Such unpleasant surprises eventually led to a decline in popularity, and the product was discontinued.
6. Jell-O 1-2-3
Jell-O 1-2-3 was introduced as a dessert of convenience that touted itself as “a dessert with two toppings.” The magic of Jell-O 1-2-3 was in its transformation after preparation. The fruit-flavored powder was mixed with hot water in a blender, and what began as a cloudy liquid soon separated into three distinct layers:
- A gelatinous base layer.
- A middle layer resembling a creamy custard.
- A top layer that looked like a mix of damp sponge and foam.
Each box made just four meager portions, barely filling a custard cup. The layered effect was fascinating to watch on television commercials, but the taste and texture left many with an unpleasant experience. Ingesting larger amounts was said to cause regurgitation, and as consumers grew more discerning about artificial ingredients, Jell-O 1-2-3 was discontinued.
5. Oscar Meyer Sandwich Spread
Oscar Meyer’s Sandwich Spread was designed as a quick and convenient way to make a sandwich without the fuss of assembling all the ingredients. Sold in a plastic tube from the hot dog section, it was made from chicken, pork, and beef by-products ground into a paste with added seasonings and pickle relish.
The concept was simple: open the tube, squeeze the paste onto bread, and in under 30 seconds, you had a ready-to-eat sandwich with a powerful, aromatic flavor. For many who found cooking too tedious, this was a dream come true. However, the strong taste and unusual texture meant that it was not for everyone. As consumer tastes shifted towards fresher and more natural ingredients, the product eventually fell out of favor and was discontinued.
4. Easy Squirt Ketchup
Heinz introduced Easy Squirt Ketchup in 2000 with the aim of appealing to children by offering ketchup in vibrant, fun colors. The product lineup included colors like Blastin’ Green, Funky Purple, Passion Pink, Awesome Orange, Stellar Blue, and Totally Teal.
The bright hues were achieved by removing the natural red pigment from tomatoes and replacing it with chemical dyes. This process not only changed the color but also altered the flavor of the ketchup. Many parents were quickly turned off by the unnatural taste and the fact that it could no longer be called traditional tomato ketchup. As a result, Easy Squirt Ketchup’s popularity waned, and it was eventually pulled from the market.
3. Space Food Sticks
At the height of America’s fascination with space, Pillsbury introduced Space Food Sticks in 1970. Marketed as an energizing snack inspired by astronaut food, these foil-wrapped sticks came in flavors like chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter.
The marketing was designed to make you feel like you were part of the space race—watching official-looking commercials that seemed to endorse astronaut survival food. For several years, children and adults alike were convinced that these sticks were a superior way to recharge your energy. However, the taste was far from what was promised, and the novelty eventually wore off. As a result, Space Food Sticks were discontinued in the early 1980s.
2. Figurines
Figurines were a line of crunchy, wafer-like diet bars introduced in 1974. These bars were marketed primarily towards women, tapping into diet insecurities by claiming to be fortified with added vitamins. Each bar was packed with sugar and calories—around 300 per pouch—and was meant to serve as a meal replacement.
Along with the heavy consumption of cigarettes, diet sodas, and caffeine pills during the 1970s, Figurines became part of the weight-loss craze. However, as consumers eventually became more aware of the health risks associated with such products, the popularity of Figurines diminished. They were ultimately phased out as the market moved towards healthier, more balanced diet options.
1. Sugar-Free Gummy Bears
Haribo’s sugar-free gummy bears were initially a hit, promising all the fun of traditional gummy bears without the calories. However, the secret ingredient—Maltitol, a sugar alcohol—proved to be a double-edged sword. While it replaced sugar and cut calories, Maltitol is also a powerful laxative.
After consuming a handful or two, many consumers began experiencing severe digestive distress, with symptoms ranging from mild cramps to explosive diarrhea. The online buzz and word-of-mouth horror stories quickly spread, and it wasn’t long before Haribo decided to remove these sugar-free gummy bears from their lineup.
Conclusion
Discontinued food products often carry a mix of nostalgia and disbelief. While some products are fondly remembered for their convenience or unique taste, others serve as a reminder that not every innovation in the food industry is a success. Whether due to health concerns, changing consumer preferences, or simply a failed marketing strategy, these bizarre food products continue to fascinate and entertain us as quirky chapters in culinary history.
FAQs
Why do food products get discontinued?
Food products are usually discontinued due to a decline in sales, adverse health effects, ingredient changes, or shifts in consumer preferences. When a product no longer meets market demands, companies often decide to pull it from shelves.
Are any discontinued foods making a comeback?
Yes, some discontinued products have been revived due to public demand. For example, beverages like Surge soda and snack foods like Twinkies have made successful comebacks over the years.
Why did WOW Chips fail?
WOW Chips were ultimately discontinued because the use of Olestra, a fat substitute, led to severe digestive issues for many consumers. The negative side effects overshadowed the benefit of having a zero-fat snack, leading to a significant drop in consumer trust.
Have you ever tried any of these bizarre discontinued foods? Share your memories and thoughts in the comments!
