Discontinued Food Items We Miss The Most In 2020
With all of the food choices available these days, you never know when your favorite item is going to get booted from the grocery shelf or the restaurant menu. From the adored McGriddle to Costco's famous half-sheet cakes, discontinued foods can put a damper on your cravings. And brands like Joe Joes release special seasonal items, giving you just enough time to fall for the flavor before they take it away again. Others, like Doritos, tried a variation for years before pulling out the rug from under us. Read on for more discontinued items that fans are still petitioning to bring back.
McDonald's Nixed Their McGriddle For COVID-19
The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the world in various ways, including the discontinuation of the beloved McGriddle. The breakfast sandwich isn't the only thing Mickey D's is dropping from their menu.
To keep their employees spaced out, McDonald's decided to streamline their operations by removing all salads, bagels, croissants, danishes, and their Big Breakfast. We're hoping these items will be back someday. For now, you may want to verify their menu before heading out to McDonald's for breakfast.
Costco's 10-Inch Cakes Replaced Their Half-Sheets
If you turned to Costco to get massive cakes for cheap, we have some unfortunate news. The warehouse giant has decided to discontinue its half-sheet cakes. Gone are the days that for just $18.99, you could serve forty guests a slice of cake.
That's all changing since Costco announced that they will only be serving their round, ten-inch cakes. Some members were not pleased with the new arrangement, pleading on Facebook for Costco not to remove the larger cakes. The company told Today that they have "no immediate plans to bring them back."
Trader Joe's Eggplant Cutlets Were Perfect For Parm
If you love eggplant parmesan, then nothing compared to Trader Joe's eggplant cutlets. The versatile dish was a perfect addition to any number of entrees, and could even be made into a sandwich. They were also delicious on their own as a snack or an appetizer.
Sadly, Trader Joe's discontinued the wonderful cutlets in the fall of 2019. One disgruntled fan admitted to Refinery29 that she still tells employees how sad she is that her favorite eggplant dish is gone.
Altoid Sours Were Tiny Candies On The Go
Altoid Sours were the candy version of the "curiously strong" mints that the line in the grocery store wouldn't be complete without. Rather than being spicy like the peppermint or spearmint flavored Altoids, these ones were tangy and sour.
They came in a variety of flavors, including raspberry, apple, and mango. Though they didn't impact your breath as much as the mint versions do, they were a delightful candy for anyone with a sweet tooth on the go. As fate would have it, they were discontinued in 2010.
Eggo Waf-Fulls Were Packed With Tasty Filling
Eggo Waf-fulls were essentially a cross between a Toaster Strudel and waffles. The delicious breakfast featured a layer of filling that came in blueberry, strawberry, and apple cinnamon. One fan told Buzzfeed that they were "out of this world good!"
Rather than coating your waffles with jam or syrup, you could eat them plain and still enjoy the sweetness of the filling. It was the perfect food to take on the go without making a mess, but sadly it is no longer on shelves.
Doritos 3D Transformed Over The Years
If you thought that regular Doritos were addictive, then you probably had even more of a battle with portion control when Doritos 3D hit the scene. As with Twisted Cheetos, the main difference was not the flavor but the shape and texture.
The triangular chips were smaller and puffed up so you got the same amount of flavor packed into a bite-size snack. After being discontinued in the early 2000s, they reemerged as Doritos 3D Jacked in 2015. This time, their shape was more like that of a honeycomb. The new style isn't fooling any die-hard fans, though.
Butterfinger BB's Were Tiny Balls Of Sweetness
Advertised by the Simpsons, Butterfinger BB's became a huge hit when they hit the shelves in 1992. The snackable sweets were the marble-sized version of regular butterfingers, making them easier to savor without leaving a crumbly mess.
Though the dessert was a hit in the '90s, their popularity had slowed to the point that they were discontinued in 2006. Just three years later, the company realized fans longed for a bite-sized equivalent. Thus, Butterfinger Mini Bites emerged as the square-shaped replacement.
Trader Joe's Didn't Bring Back Their Seasonal Matcha Joe-Joe's
If you love Oreos, you may be familiar with Trader Joe's Joe-Joe's. The cream-filled cookies come in chocolate or vanilla but also have appeared in various seasonal flavors. These include mango, pumpkin, and the oh-so missed matcha.
In recent years, matcha has taken over coffee houses and grocery stores by storm. The green tea treat was a perfect flavor for the cookies. Sales must not have been as impressive as they'd hoped, because we haven't seen the seasonal flavor return to Trader Joe's shelves in years.
Trader Joe's Chile Relleno Was One Of A Kind
Trader Joe's Chile Relleno was the kind of microwave dinner you don't come across every day. The lovely combination of poblano chiles, cheese, tomato paste, and breadcrumbs makes this comfort food irresistible.
That's why fans were disheartened to learn that the Chile Relleno was discontinued in December of 2019. One shopper told Refinery 29, "No other brands compare." Hopefully, Trader Joe's will hear the outcry and bring back this tasty entree. After all, not too many microwave dinners are so adored.
Oreo Cakesters Were Delightfully Soft
If you love Oreos and you enjoy Hostess cupcakes, then Oreo Cakesters would have been your dream treat. The sweet was essentially a cake version of Oreo cookies. Two soft cookies replaced the crispy ones in a traditional Oreo.
What you were left with is a soft pastry that some found even more enjoyable than its original counterpart. Nevertheless, the Cakesters were discontinued in 2012. Since then Oreos have come out with a plethora of flavors, but their crispy exterior has remained the same.
Creme Savers Were A Spinoff Of Life Savers
Fans of Life Savers were delighted to discover the candy spinoff, Creme Savers. The hard candies differed from their parent version in that they were creamier and didn't have that signature hole in the middle.
Though the spinoff candies gave Life Saver fans plenty more options to chose from, they just couldn't fill the giant shoes of their predecessor. Creme Savers disappeared off the shelves somewhere around 2010. For those who are still reeling in their absence, Halls Breezers may be a decent replacement.
Twisted Cheetos Had A Uniquely Satisfying Texture
If you love Cheetos, you likely would have enjoyed the Twisted Puffs variation that Frito-Lay put out in the early 2000s. Though the only difference was the shape of the beloved chip, it became a hit.
One of the key differences between the twisted Cheetos compared to the original version is their texture. They had the volume of a puff, but the satisfying crunch of a regular Cheeto. Frito-Lay admitted to a disappointed fan on Facebook that the spinoff was discontinued in 2013.
Planters Cheez Balls Came Back After 12 Years!
Unlike the other items on this list, the discontinuation story of Planters Cheez Balls is one that has a happy ending. The addictive snack first hit the shelves in the '90s and had been a hit for years. Still, the owners elected to discontinue the cheesy, crunchy snack until 2006.
After more than a decade of fans asking for the snack to make a return, the company finally caved! In 2018, Business Insider reported that Planters Cheez Balls were making a comeback at Walmart stores and on Amazon.
PB Max Was Crunchy, Chocolatey Goodness
For those who believe that peanut butter and chocolate were a match made in heaven, PB Max was a perfect treat. The candy bar consisted of a whole grain cookie topped with creamy peanut butter and layered in milk chocolate.
The crunchy treat was allegedly discontinued due to the Mars family's distaste for peanut butter. Fans strongly disagree with the decision, and one woman even told Buzzfeed that she still craves them all the time!
Black Pepper Jack Doritos Were The Right Amount Of Spicy
Doritos had has many flavors over the years, but who could forget their delicious Black Pepper Jack variation. The jack cheese was a slightly different taste than the nacho cheese flavor that's remained so popular.
Complimenting the jack cheese was the black pepper. The spice wasn't so dominant that you couldn't stop sneezing, but it was certainly distinct. One fan told Buzzfeed that the flavor was, "the perfect amount of heat." Though the flavor arrived in the '90s, it was overshadowed by other flavors and eventually discontinued.
Twizzlers Twerps Were Sour Soft Chews
Some are on Team Redvine, and some are on Team Twizzler. If you fall into the latter, you may have loved the Twizzlers Twerpz that came out in the early 2000s. The candies consisted of a small piece of a Twizzler vine filled with a chewy flavor.
Some compared the treat to a Starburst, which may explain why the candy was ultimately discontinued. After all, why be limited to strawberry and orange flavors when you can enjoy an entire Starbursts sleeve?
Cinna-Crunch Pebbles Were Sweet And Crunchy
The Pebbles cereal line is known for their famous Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles. They've been through an array of flavors over the years, but some fans are still longing for the Cinna-Crunch Pebbles to make a comeback.
The tiny cereal bits were flavored with cinnamon, making them comparable to the beloved Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Considering how many types of cinnamon cereals are out there, it's no wonder that the competition led to their discontinuation, but we still hope to see them again one day.
3 Musketeers Truffle Crisp Left Too Soon
Chocolate bar lovers who can't decide if they love 3 Musketeers or Twix better would have adored the Truffle Crisp variation. The 3 Musketeers spinoff bar consisted of chocolate meringue topped with whipped chocolate and coated in milk chocolate.
The fluffy treat borrowed the fluffiness of an original 3 Musketeers and paired it with the crunch of a Twix. It only remained on the shelves for about a year back in 2011, but those who were able to try it loved it.
Squeezits Were Kid-Friendly Juices
Squeezits were all the rage back in the '80s and '90s, most notably because of their bottle shape and twist-off cap. What kid doesn't enjoy feeling like a grownup sipping on a beverage? Plus, they were bright colors that appealed to the younger crowd.
As for parents, they could appreciate that the Betty Crocker punch was made from 100% juice! Despite their impressive fan base, the fun drink didn't make it far into the 2000s, being discontinued in 2001.
Fudge Magic Middles Featured Fudge Or Peanut Butter
When it comes to prepackaged cookies, Keebler takes the cake for versatility. After all, little elves are fantastic at baking. Back in the '80s, the company came out with its delicious Magic Middles.
The shortbread cookies were filled with either fudge or peanut butter. As marvelous as the treats were, they ultimately were discontinued in the '90s. Even decades later, we haven't forgotten about those delicious cookies. Some fans are still petitioning to get them back.
