Everyone has a childhood snack they remember fondly from lunch boxes or as a weekend treat.
But depsite a generation with undying love for many of these biscuits, bars, and bags of crisps, a lot of them have been slowly disappearing from supermarket shelves for years.
Whether it’s the questionable ice cream flavoured Monster Munch, or the recent travesty that was the Galaxy Truffle from the Celebrations selection box, we all have a retro treat we’ll always hold in our hearts and pray will make a reappearance.
Business Insider UK have compiled a list of some of the most saddening tragedies to hit kids’ lunchboxes since the 1990s. Keep scrolling to see 50 iconic British foods that have been discontinued, despite calls for their return.
Rowntree’s Secret chocolate bar
A delicate nest of milk chocolate strands surrounding a soft, mallowy centre similar to a Walnut Whip, these fragile chocolate bars were almost impossible to bring home from the corner shop still intact. Nevertheless, they were a firm fan favourite until they disappeared in 2003.
Many online petitions have circulated since the bar's untimely end, however fans aren't disheartened and continue to launch social media pages campaigning for the Secret bar's return.
SEE MORE: Nestle is launching new versions of its iconic Walnut Whip chocolate - without the walnut »
Nestlé Toffo
http://instagr.am/p/BFn6TBMF5OL
Discontinued back in 2008, the Toffo fanbase erupted when they realised it was missing from sweet shop shelves. That's why, in 2014, when a single remaining packet of the individually-wrapped soft toffees was found in a sweet shop in Dundee, the internet went wild with Toffo fans trying to bargain for the last intact roll.
Galaxy truffles
When fans realised that the Galaxy Truffle had been removed from boxes of Celebrations in the buildup to Christmas 2011, forums across the internet debated the travesty for months. In fact, there are still some active threads today debating which Mars-company sweet should have been axed instead of the national treasure truffle.
Diet Coke with Lemon
Bottles of this zesty sugar-free option were discontinued in the UK in 2006. Although they're no longer available here, fans can still grab a coke with lemon in multiple countries including Italy, Brazil, and China.
White chocolate Maltesers
http://instagr.am/p/nvuJB-jrbD
In what Maltesers called a "difficult decision" on their Facebook page, white Maltesers were officially axed in 2014. Regardless of the company's apparent regret, fans still leave comments on the page every month asking when the white variation will return - to no avail.
Rowntree's Bursting Bugs
http://instagr.am/p/6YTlUhMQfF
These jelly sweets filled with an oozing syrupy centre probably encouraged far too many children to play with their food in their heyday, which could have been a factor that led to their discontinuation in the early 2000s.
Cadbury's old Creme Egg recipe
When Cadbury confessed the change in this classic Easter treat's recipe in early 2015, fans were shocked. So shocked, that sales of the fondant egg dropped £6m in the first year of the new recipe being on the market. The change saw the classic milk chocolate shell subbed out for a cheaper product, and dedicated campaigners still haven't let the new recipe go - even two and a half years later.
Cadbury's Snaps
http://instagr.am/p/y7Rfu_trjR
These Pringles-esque chocolates started to slowly disappear from supermarket shelves in 2010, and lucky individuals might still be able to find a tube or a similar product in a discount store.
Nestlé Milkybar Choo
http://instagr.am/p/BSI9bNJg3aN
Reported inflation in the price of milk solids in 2005 meant that many confectionary companies had to reduce their number of product lines - one of those being Nestlé's Milkybar Choo. This white chocolate-fudge hybrid came in several flavours, including mint, milk chocolate, strawberry, and regular white chocolate.
Cartoonies
These molten chocolate-filled biscuits were a firm lunchbox favourite in the 1990s and 2000s. However, when their company - Burton's Biscuits - was bought out in 2013, bags of these fun-sized biscuits stamped with cartoon animals became harder and harder to come across.
Kit Kat Senses
This praline-filled variation of the classic Kit Kat experienced a short and sweet time on UK shelves. While its lifespan may have been shortlived, the bar will always be remembered thanks to its 2008 advertising campaign featuring Girls Aloud.
Worcestershire sauce Twiglets
@JacobsSnacks Please bring back these super snacks? RT if you also miss the short lived classics #twiglets #bringbackworcestortwiglets pic.twitter.com/fLRwr1i3KU
— Elvira (@Cosmic3Creepers) May 29, 2017
It's been 25 years since these limited edition twiglets first hit our shelves, and they've made a few reappearances around Christmas time through the years to appease the snack's strong fan base. Regardless of their success, however, the Worcestershire sauce Twiglet is yet to become a full-time addition to supermarket shelves.
Extra Thin Ice Sheets
Extra Thin Ice Sheets pic.twitter.com/lpX3NLmzcK
— nostalgia (@nostalgia_thing) July 18, 2017
Back in 2003, Extra's Thin Ice Sheets took the breath-freshening world by storm. So much so, that some newspapers actually claimed that their creation would effectually end chewing gum.
Bernard Matthews' Turkey Twizzlers
The infamous turkey twizzler was a dinner-time favourite amongst children in the 90s and early 2000s until Jamie Oliver launched his 2005 campaign to improve the nutritional quality of school dinners.
When the truth was aired about the processed food that schools and parents alike were feeding infants, Bernard Matthews discontinued turkey twizzlers in an attempt to avoid further criticism and negative press coverage.
Cadbury's Flake Snow
Cadburys can you bring back flake snow now please 😩 pic.twitter.com/Ticnm1HSCp
— Emma (@elmarsden) August 11, 2017
This crumbly, white chocolate version of the Cadbury classic first graced British supermarket shelves in 2000 as the "Cadbury snowflake". Fans were left confused when the name changed to the less catchy "flake snow" in 2003, then left livid when it disappeared altogether five years later.
Vanilla Ice Cream Monster Munch
https://twitter.com/Connor517Pie/status/873864868243406848
Unsurprisingly, this vanilla flavour version of the otherwise savoury snack didn't receive an entirely positive reception from consumers. However its originality has left many customers still remembering this creative pairing 13 years after the limited edition crisp hit UK shelves.
Campino Strawberry and Cream sweets
Whatever happened to those strawberry and cream Campino sweets? I used to love them. pic.twitter.com/jYBZSwGtxp
— Stü (@stu_e_hughes) April 18, 2016
These red and white boiled sweets, formed of strawberry and yoghurt stripes of candy, could be found in supermarkets for over 40 years before they were suddenly axed in the mid 2000s.
Cadbury's Marble
This bar of milk and white chocolate with a hazelnut praline centre has been sorely missed since it was discontinued in the early 2000s, with even Facebook pages and online petitions trying to spark the bar's revival.
Cadbury's Dream chocolate
Don't think I've ever properly got over the termination of 'Dream' chocolate bars from the UK. pic.twitter.com/I66L45j9Zt
— Jord (@Jordtb95) May 9, 2016
Whilst UK shoppers can no longer get their hands on Cadbury's white chocolate line anymore, the range is still flourishing in Australia and New Zealand. Weirder products from the ultra-sweet British line included a white chocolate orb filled with strawberry mousse, and a bar filled with flakes of dried strawberry.
Mingles
These chocolates need to be brought back #Mingles #chocolate #christmas #NOMNOM #mint #Saturday #LUSH pic.twitter.com/nAEyEeo7lZ
— fifi dimples (@fifidimples) June 13, 2015
This selection box of minty chocolates first graced UK supermarkets in 2002, however the Benedicks product met an untimely end when the brand downsized their lines and moved manufacture abroad in 2011.
Cadbury Spira
Two fingers of hollowed, twisted milk chocolate, the Spira hardly had much going for it. With neither the solidity of a regular bar of chocolate or the refinement of a Flake, it's no wonder Cadbury axed the middle ground Spira in 2005.
Triple Power Push Pop
a mi pideme matrimonio con una triple power push pop, con un anillo que? pic.twitter.com/b9FPtvrR
— Ana Banana (@AnaidSaraoz) October 30, 2012
Fans of this lollipop-trio can still get their fix online, however the Triple Power Push Pop has been missing from newsagent counters since 2004.
Kellogg's Pokémon Cereal
Kellogg frist released this cereal comprised of oat rings and marshmallows in the shape of various pokémon characters. Despite huge popularity in many countries including the UK, the US, and Australia, Kellogg did not make this limited edition cereal a full-time addition much to many fans' dismay.
Cadbury's Astros
These candy-coated chocolate pebbles resembled Smarties with the addition of a crumbly biscuit centre. It's unclear when Astros officially vanished from UK shelves, however die-hard fans can still grab a box in South Africa.
Terry's White Chocolate Orange
Is it bad to buy yourself a Terry's white chocolate orange for Xmas & eat it now??? pic.twitter.com/w0oDBUVW
— Adhere Training (@AdhereTraining) December 22, 2011
The limited edition white-chocolate version of the Terry's classic may have only been available for one Christmas period, but fans are left still craving one last segment of this chocolate orb.
Penguin Flipper Dipper
https://twitter.com/SamJJShawcross/status/854086479731150849
Tiny chocolate biscuits with a white and milk chocolate dip, these snack pots were McVities' alternative to the KP choc dip.
Burton's Potato Puffs
Got a serious hankering for some Burton's Potato Puffs... pic.twitter.com/Y0iAoIEF
— Wingman S (@Skullet) December 10, 2012
The sudden disappearance of Burton's Potato Puffs around 2009 left consumers heartbroken. Many fans continue to search for the crisps - which came in ready salted, cheese and onion, and salt and vinegar - online, but to no avail.
Starburst Joosters
Starburst Joosters - smaller and firmer than the brand's trademark confectionary - hit peak popularity in the 1990s, however bags of these bursting juicy sweets can now only be found in the US under their new name, "Starburst Jelly Beans".
Squeezit drinks
Reminiscing on time before insomnia, bills and work. This was summer front porches, Squeezit's and tag all the days long. #summer1995 pic.twitter.com/thuCGFRFMb
— Nona (@NonaEd) August 4, 2017
Twist-top drinks were all the rage in the last 90s and early 2000s. The initial appeal of drinking from a rim of hard, jagged plastic wore off quickly, however, and "Squeezit" and similar brands quickly disappeared from supermarket juice and squash aisles.
Nichols' Panda Pops
http://instagr.am/p/BQtLcigFKAU
Panda pops were another iconic emblem of weekend treats for many children born before the millennium. After 35 years on corner shop shelves, the line was unfortunately axed in 2011 after complaints that the bottles packed too many artificial ingredients and E-numbers.
Heinz Baked Beans Pizza
https://twitter.com/Jstn9/status/850679628196966400
In their pizza-making heyday, Heinz was the UK's fourth biggest pizza manufacturer on the market. However, pizza is not a thing the ketchup and baked beans brand is known for in 2017. The idea of a frozen pizza with baked beans instead of a tomato base feels especially out of place, despite its widespread popularity in the 1990s.
Cadbury Taz
Do these still exist @CadburyUK @CadburyWorld @DairyMilkIn #Taz #Cadbury #Chocolate pic.twitter.com/M3XH0N20iP
— Sam Reid (@Reidy_15) January 25, 2015
Before the caramel Freddo existed, there was the Taz.
Mars Delight
Mars Delight may have only been on the shelves for four years, but in that time the chocolate bar developed a large and devoted following. This slender version of the classic Mars bar, also featuring a wafer layer, was nowhere to be found by the end of 2008. Nine years after their discontinuation, petitions are still being signed online demanding that the bar be brought back.
Wonka Bars
The range of chocolate bars inspired by the 2005 film adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were only meant to be a temporary addition to supermarket shelves, however due to popularity they stuck around for five years before finally being axed by Nestlé.
3D Doritos
http://instagr.am/p/BERbwHfS83a
These 3D snacks, compared to a cross between a standard Dorito and a Walkers Bugle, first graced children's lunchboxes back in the mid 1990s but were axed in the mid 2000s due to a lack of popularity.
Rowntree's Cabana Bar
I think it's time to bring back the cabana bar! pic.twitter.com/qDZdvXtc1W
— Lisanne Valente 🏴🇪🇺 (@lizzlevalente) June 6, 2016
This mix of caramel, coconut, and cherry wrapped in milk chocolate is unparalleled by anything available on news agents' shelves today, which might be why fans were so furious that the Rowntrees bar was discontinued in the early 1990s.
Nestle Caramac Kit Kat
https://twitter.com/MrDaftPrawn/status/711301615085428736
This limited edition hybrid was so popular during its initial stint on British shelves in 2005 that it was brought back again in 2007. Sadly, the caramel-flavoured white chocolate wafer never made the leap into Nestlé's full-time range.
Onken Frufoo yoghurts
I'm gonna start a campaign to bring back #Frufoo dammit! pic.twitter.com/o1umdSwXLH
— Katie Price (@keepitunreal) April 6, 2014
These yoghurts were a welcome addition to any lucky kid's lunchbox, thanks to the toy enclosed inside each one.
Cadbury's Chocolate Coins
@CadburyUK plz bring back the chocolate coins this year #bringbackthecoins #cadbury #christmas pic.twitter.com/i8qA9JIy0Q
— Daniel Kerley (@DANIELJAMESREC) January 23, 2017
In the lead up to Christmas 2014, Cadbury announced that they would no longer make their iconic gold foiled chocolate coins. Consumers couldn't believe it and despite constant online appeals to the chocolate company by fans, the coins are yet to make a return.
He-Man Jellies
#BlastFromThePast Who remembers these jelly sweets? I think they were He-Man when I was little. pic.twitter.com/GuCOGt7kJM
— Zoey White (@WhiteZoey) July 27, 2016
Named and styled after the cartoon and comic series, He-man jellies were individually wrapped fruit jellies that were most popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s. Similar sweets can still be found sporting different themes although the original, cartoon-hero line was discontinued before the millennium.
Burton's Fish'n'Chips snacks
http://instagr.am/p/3yzZVQMz2h
These cheese savoury sized biscuits laden with salt and vinegar to recreate that by-the-seaside sting were at their peak popularity in the 1980s, and made a re-emergence more recently thanks to popular demand.
Mars Bisc&
These long shortbreads topped with chocolate and some of Mars' most known products - like M&Ms and Twix - were discontinued in 2003 when Mars reduced their line of products.
Walkers BBQ Rib
Are @walkers_crisps ever going to bring back the Barbecue flavoured crisps? pic.twitter.com/Y26XVUWOfs
— Fin (@Fin__1999) January 31, 2017
When fans realised that their beloved BBQ Walkers were missing from shop shelves, they took to Walkers' customer service contacts by storm. So much so, that the flavour reappeared as part of a "Bring me Back" campaign in 2015. However, the campaign ended and the fans are once more left without their favourite flavour.
Pizza Cheesestrings
Pizza flavoured cheesestrings.
To quote Tim Westwood "packing crazy flavour" pic.twitter.com/l59XwH5Mb2— Drunk Uncle Scissors (@TonyOfBingus) May 24, 2017
It's not clear when these tomato and basil flavoured string cheeses disappeared from the UK's market, but fans weren't happy about it.
Jacobs Trio Bar
Biscuit, caramel, and milk chocolate - a trio that's been proven time and time again to work. So when Jacob's Trio bar was discontinued in 2003, fans couldn't believe it.
Applause
Wholemeal biscuit, dried apple, raisins, and caramel - the applause bar verged almost on healthy but unfortunately didn't see its way into the 2000s.
Cadbury's Fuse
Discontinued in 2006, Fuse mixed nuts, peanuts, fudge, cereal, and caramel with milk chocolate.
In 2015, Cadbury launched a Halloween-timed campaign to raise one of their discontinued chocolate bars "from the dead". Fuse was the clear winner, proving its popularity. However the bar quickly fell back out of manufacture at the end of the campaign.
Fruitang
These chewit-like candies containing sour sugar crystals may have been popular in the late 1990s, but were discontinued shortly into the new milennium.
Wotsit oven chips
When the "Wotsit" brand still belonged to Golden Wonder, you could get your hands on a bag of frozen Wotsit flavoured oven chips on most high streets. However, the product was cut from the line when the branding was bought by Walkers in 2002, making an all-too-brief re-emergence for frozen supermarket Iceland in 2013.
Mars' Flyte
Brandishing the catchphrase "a real chocolate bar with half the fat", Flyte officially left UK aisles at the end of 2014. It's mallowy, chocolate nougat core has yet to be replaced by anything similar in the sweet market, leaving fans hungry for more.