9 Grocery Store Foods Boomers Grew Up With That You Can’t Find Anymore
Baby boomers remember a grocery store that looked very different from today’s giant supermarkets. The aisles were narrower, the brands were fewer, and many of the products came with catchy jingles and cartoon mascots seen on Saturday morning television. Kids begged their parents for treats from the candy rack and the cereal aisle.
Many of those products have since disappeared. Some were discontinued because of poor sales, others because of changing regulations or company mergers. A few vanished so long ago that younger shoppers have never heard of them.
For boomers, though, the memories are still vivid. Here are nine grocery store foods boomers grew up with that you can’t find anymore, or at least not in the form they remember.
1. Tab Cola
Tab was one of the first diet sodas, introduced by Coca-Cola in 1963. It came in a distinctive pink can and became a favorite among people watching their weight, especially women. For decades, it had a fiercely loyal following.
As Diet Coke and other diet sodas took over, Tab’s popularity declined. Coca-Cola officially discontinued it in 2020, ending a run of more than half a century. Loyal fans were heartbroken, and some stockpiled cases before the last cans disappeared from shelves.
2. Marathon Candy Bar
The Marathon bar was a long, braided caramel bar covered in chocolate, sold by Mars beginning in the 1970s. It was famous for its length, and the wrapper even had a ruler printed on it. Kids loved how long it lasted.
Mars discontinued the Marathon bar in the early 1980s. Many boomers and older Gen Xers still remember it fondly. A similar candy bar has been sold under a different name, but fans insist it is not quite the same.
3. Funny Face Drink Mix
In the 1960s, Pillsbury introduced Funny Face, a powdered drink mix meant to compete with Kool-Aid. Each flavor had a cartoon character on the packet, such as Goofy Grape and Freckle Face Strawberry. Kids loved collecting the colorful packets.
Funny Face was popular for years, but it eventually faded from shelves. Many boomers still remember the flavors and characters. Today, the packets are collectors’ items for fans of vintage grocery products.
4. Fizzies
Fizzies were fizzy drink tablets that, when dropped into water, created an instant fruit-flavored soda. They were popular with kids in the late 1950s and 1960s. Watching the tablet bubble and dissolve was half the fun.
Fizzies were sweetened with cyclamate, an artificial sweetener that the U.S. government banned in 1969. That ban led to the product’s decline. While versions of Fizzies have been revived over the years, many boomers say they never matched the original.
5. Jell-O 1-2-3
Jell-O 1-2-3 was a unique dessert mix that separated into three layers as it set: a dense jelly layer on the bottom, a creamy middle layer, and a fluffy top. It was introduced in the late 1960s and became a favorite in many homes.
The product was discontinued in the 1990s, and fans have asked for it ever since. Many people remember being amazed at how one mix could create three distinct layers. It was a dessert that felt almost magical to children.
6. Danish Go-Rounds
Kellogg’s Danish Go-Rounds were toaster pastries shaped like a swirled Danish, introduced in the 1970s. They came in flavors like cinnamon and apple and were meant to compete with Pop-Tarts. Kids loved them warm from the toaster.
Danish Go-Rounds did not last as long as Pop-Tarts and were eventually discontinued. Many boomers and Gen Xers still remember their unique shape and flavor. They remain one of the most requested forgotten breakfast treats.
7. Carnation Breakfast Bars
Carnation Breakfast Bars were marketed as a quick, nutritious breakfast for busy families. They came in flavors like chocolate chip and peanut butter. Many kids ate them on the way to school.
The bars were eventually discontinued, though Carnation’s breakfast drinks continued. Many boomers remember them as a sweet treat disguised as a healthy breakfast. They were an early example of the breakfast bars that are so common today.
8. Bonomo Turkish Taffy
Bonomo Turkish Taffy was a hard taffy bar that kids would smack against a table to break into pieces. It came in flavors like vanilla, chocolate, banana, and strawberry. The commercials told kids to “smack it, crack it.”
The candy disappeared from stores in the 1980s, and many boomers thought they would never taste it again. It was revived decades later, but it is far less common than it once was. For many boomers, it remains a beloved childhood memory.
9. Hydrox Cookies
Hydrox cookies, chocolate sandwich cookies with a creamy filling, actually came out before Oreos, in 1908. They were popular for decades, and some fans insisted they were better than their famous rival. But Oreos eventually dominated the market.
Hydrox was discontinued in 1999, much to the dismay of its loyal fans. It was later revived by a smaller company, but it is far harder to find than it used to be. Many boomers remember it as the “original” chocolate sandwich cookie.
Why Products Disappear
Grocery products disappear for many reasons. Sales may fall as tastes change, ingredients may become too expensive, or a company may decide to focus on its most profitable brands. Tab, for example, was one of several slower-selling drinks Coca-Cola cut in 2020 so it could focus on bigger brands like Diet Coke and Coke Zero, as ABC7 News reported at the time.
Government rules have also played a role. The ban on cyclamate sweeteners in 1969 forced changes to many diet products, including Fizzies. Mergers and buyouts can lead to discontinued products as well, when a new owner decides an older brand no longer fits.
For boomers, these changes are a reminder of how much the grocery store has evolved. Many of the vanished grocery items from their childhood are now collectors’ items. Losing a favorite product is a small thing, but like many little rituals from the past, it can leave a surprisingly big gap.
A Trip Down the Grocery Aisle
These products may have disappeared, but they live on in the memories of the people who grew up with them. They remind boomers of childhood, family shopping trips, and simpler times. For many, just seeing the names brings back a smile.
Ask the boomers in your family which of these they remember most. Chances are, one name on this list will spark a story you have never heard before.
