10 ’70s Snacks That Were Discontinued, Reinvented, Or Completely Ruined
There was something special about candy in the 1970s, a mix of imagination, color, and pure fun that made every bite an experience.
Kids never knew what to expect: fizzy powders that tickled the tongue, chocolates with hidden centers, and sweets that changed color mid-chew. It was a decade of snack-time surprises and bold inventions that defined childhood for an entire generation.
Some of those treats disappeared into memory, others returned looking a little different, and a few managed to survive the years, evolving just enough to keep their nostalgic magic alive.
This content is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and reflects publicly available product histories and cultural references at the time of writing. Product availability, ownership, and formulations may change over time. Mentions of specific brands or candies are included for historical context only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation.
Pop Rocks
If you wanted to feel like a mad scientist in the ’70s, Pop Rocks delivered that electric thrill. These carbonated candies literally exploded on your tongue, creating a fizzy party in your mouth.
General Foods pulled them briefly in the ’80s after wild rumors spread about kids and soda explosions. Spoiler alert: totally fake! They made a triumphant comeback and still crackle away in candy aisles today, proving that some magic never dies.
Bottle Caps
Picture this: soda flavors trapped inside tiny candy discs shaped like actual bottle caps. Genius, right? Launched in 1972, these tart treats let you taste cola, root beer, and orange without cracking open a bottle.
Over the decades, ownership bounced between companies like a ping-pong ball. Flavors shifted, some vanished, others appeared. Though they still exist, purists swear the original formula tasted better, sparking endless debates at candy conventions.
Everlasting Gobstoppers
Willy Wonka promised a candy that would last forever, and in 1976, Gobstoppers arrived to test that theory. These layered jawbreakers changed colors and flavors as you sucked on them, like a rainbow road trip for your taste buds.
Sure, they never actually lasted forever (bummer!), but the formula and packaging got tweaked over the years. Some fans claim the newer versions dissolve faster and taste different, sparking nostalgia-fueled rants online.
Fun Dip
Nothing screamed lunchbox rebellion quite like Fun Dip, originally called Lik-M-Aid. You got flavored sugar powder and a candy stick to shovel it into your mouth, bypassing spoons entirely like some kind of sugar outlaw.
Though the concept stayed brilliantly simple, packaging got slicker and flavor options multiplied over time. Cherry, grape, and razz-apple remain crowd favorites. Teachers everywhere still cringe when they spot that telltale colored tongue after recess.
Laffy Taffy
What happens when you combine stretchy taffy with groan-worthy jokes printed on the wrapper? You get Laffy Taffy, the Wonka creation that made everyone a comedian (or at least try to be one).
Born in the ’70s, this chewy champion has evolved through countless flavor experiments and size variations. Mystery flavors appeared, banana became controversial (people either love or despise it), and the jokes somehow got even cornier. Classic!
Spree
Though technically born in the ’60s, Spree hit its stride during the disco decade with those tangy, compressed-dextrose tablets. Each candy delivered a fruit punch of flavor without sticking to your teeth (a rare superpower in the candy universe).
Years later, Chewy Spree arrived as a softer spin-off, dividing fans into Team Crunchy versus Team Chewy camps. The original formula soldiers on, still delivering that signature tart-sweet combo kids crave.
Skittles
Taste the rainbow became a battle cry after Skittles landed in the UK in 1974, then conquered America by 1979. These fruit-flavored nuggets turned every handful into a flavor lottery.
However, the Great Green Controversy of 2013 shook Skittles Nation to its core. Lime got replaced by green apple, sparking petitions, protests, and passionate Reddit threads. Some call it reinvention; others call it candy treason. The debate rages on, proving nostalgia runs deep.
Fruit Stripe Gum
Yipes the Zebra galloped onto the scene earlier but became a lunchbox legend throughout the ’70s. Each stick came wrapped in temporary tattoos and packed with intense fruit flavor that lasted approximately… thirty seconds. Maybe forty if you chewed really slowly.
Availability has roller-coastered over the years, with production pausing and restarting like a flickering light bulb. Finding it nowadays feels like a treasure hunt, making each pack extra special for nostalgic gum-chewers.
Curly Wurly
Picture a ladder made of caramel, dipped in chocolate, and stretched into the most satisfying chewy snack ever. That is Curly Wurly, launched in 1970 and sold as Marathon in the US.
Sadly, Marathon got discontinued stateside, leaving American fans heartbroken and hunting for UK imports online. The braided beauty still thrives across the pond, though some claim the bar has shrunk over time (cue conspiracy theories about shrinkflation and childhood memories).
Ring Pop
Why just eat candy when you could wear it like bling? Ring Pop arrived in 1979, turning every kid into candy royalty. This genius invention let you rock a giant gem on your finger while slowly licking it away during class.
Unlike some snacks that faded or flopped, Ring Pop kept sparkling through the decades. New flavors and limited editions appear regularly, proving that wearable candy never goes out of style. Just saying, proposal candy rings would be hilarious.
