10 Nostalgic 90s Snacks You Can Still Find Today & 10 That Are Sadly Extinct
Which Of These Nostalgic Snacks Do You Remember?
Remember the days when your lunchbox wasn’t complete without a pouch of Capri Sun or a pack of Dunkaroos? No decade is more synonymous with unhinged packaged snacks than the 1990s. While some of our favorite nostalgic foods will only live on in our memories, others are surprisingly still sold in grocery stores, just as accessible today as they were back then. Here are 20 nostalgic snacks you can still buy and 10 that are sadly extinct.
1. Fruit Gushers
Not that anyone's buying them anymore, but Fruit Gushers are indeed still available in grocery stores. The soft and chewy candy with the explosive, juicy center will forever make us think of the 90s.
2. Lunchables
Lunchables were the envy of every child in the cafeteria. They were really just glorified cheese and crackers, but they were so fun, and kids nowadays can continue to enjoy them.
3. Warheads
Since the 90s, kids have been daring each other to eat the sourest Warhead, and the tradition lived on. Which Warhead flavor is the sourest? Even to this day, we'll never know.
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4. Fruit Roll-Ups
Added to the long list of '90s foods void of nutritional value that have the word "fruit" in their title are Fruit Roll-Ups. The flat, corn syrup-based treat is still being sold today.
5. Ring Pops
Ring Pops were invented by a product engineer who wanted to break his daughter's thumb sucking habit by getting her hooked on sugar instead. Whether it served its purpose, we'll never know, but they continue to live on as popular party favors.
6. Capri Sun
Capri Sun was the ultimate soccer game half-time beverage, packed with more than enough sugar to give kids energy for the rest of the game. It's still available in over 100 countries, and yes, it still comes packaged in that iconic silver bag.
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7. Hot Pockets
Hot Pockets debuted in 1983 but completely owned the 90s, offering a convenient, affordable, and satisfying bite. They still exist, but we doubt they will even reach that height of popularity again.
8. Bagel Bites
The 90s were the heyday of frozen convenience. The low-fat craze of the 80s already came and went, so cheesy treats were dominating again. Bagel Bites were discontinued in 2021, but thankfully re-entered the market last year.
9. Dunkaroos
Dunkaroos were the quintessential over-the-top snack that dominated the '90s. The packages of cookies with a side of sugary frosting to dunk them in were discontinued a few years ago, but only briefly, so you can still buy them today.
10. Pop-Tarts
Pop-Tarts were created in the 1960s by Kellogg's, but the 90s were arguably their most significant decade. You can still find them in the cereal section, and they continue to be popular, albeit less so as sugary breakfasts have largely gone out of fashion.
Now that we've talked about the most nostalgic '90s snacks that you can still buy today, let's take a moment to remember the ones that sadly didn't make it through.
1. Butterfinger BB's
Butterfinger BBs were essentially bite-sized Butterfinger. They were sadly discontinued in 2006 due to low sales, but we'll always remember them fondly as a more pleasant and accessible alternative to the coyingly sweet candy bar with the thick peanut butter and molasses-based center.
2. Oreo Big Stuf
The Oreo Big Stuf was an oversized Oreo cookie that had a short-lived time in production between 1987 and 1991. It was just an overwhelming Oreo cookie that was impossible to dunk because it didn't fit into any glasses, making it much less appealing.
3. PB Crisps
PB Crisps were Graham Cracker cookies shaped like peanuts filled with peanut butter cream. They were discontinued due to low sales, which is somewhat baffling considering how delicious they were.
4. Squeezits
Squeezits were shockingly sweet drinks characterized by their iconic squeezable bottles. They were immensely popular lunchbox staples of the 90s but were discontinued in 2001 due to changing tastes, marking the end of an era.
5. Kudos Bars
Kudos bars were candy bars disguised as granola bars with flavors like M&Ms, Snickers, and chocolate chip. Instead of just rebranding as a candy bar, like it should have, the company failed to meet nutrition standards and went under.
6. 3D Doritos
3D Doritos were a short-lived line of puffed, hollowed-out Doritos launched in 1998 and discontinued in 2004. Despite their relatively short existence, their phenomenally satisfying texture will live on forever in our hearts and minds.
7. Pop-Tarts Cereal
After years spent developing the perfect toaster pastry, Kellogg's weirdly decided to turn it into a cereal. It was introduced in 1994 but quietly disappeared off the shelves sometime in the early oughts.
8. Surge Soda
Surge soda, a neon green citrus soda, was Mountain Dew's even more intense competitor. Its hardcore image was a hit in the 90s, but by 2003, consumer tastes had changed, and it was discontinued.
9. Jell-O Pudding Pops
Of all the discontinued '90s snacks, nothing makes us sadder than the disappearance of Jell-O Pudding Pops. Creamier and richer than Fudgesicles with their own distinct chocolatey flavor, they were discontinued in 2010 because they were too expensive to produce.
10. Oreo O’s Cereal
Nothing says 1990s quite like companies trying to pass off dessert as a breakfast food. Oreo O's Cereal was unsurprisingly delicious and had a relatively long stint, having only been discontinued last year.
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