8 Iconic ’70s Snacks Everyone Loved—And Why They Disappeared Over Time

The 1970s were a golden era for processed snack foods — candy bars, flavored spreads, novelty sweets and convenience products that filled grocery store shelves and after-school pantries. Many of those iconic treats were later discontinued. But a handful have quietly resurfaced in forms you might not expect.

Marathon Bar

The Marathon Bar was introduced by Mars Candy Company in 1973. It wasn’t subtle — an eight-inch-long chocolate bar made of braided caramel coated in milk chocolate. Despite its memorable size and shape, the product was discontinued in 1981 after declining sales. If you’re feeling nostalgic, a similar product called the Curly Wurly is still sold in the U.K.

Space Dust Sizzling Candy

Space Dust was a carbonated candy produced by General Foods in the 1970s, offering a fizzy texture similar to Pop Rocks. The product was discontinued in the 1980s following public concerns about Pop Rocks, including rumors that the candy could be dangerous when consumed with soda. Pop Rocks were later reintroduced, but Space Dust never made it back.

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Kraft Squeez-A-Snak

Kraft Squeez-A-Snak was a processed cheese-based spread packaged in tube-like containers. It came in flavors including garlic, pimento, bacon and hickory smoke, designed to be spread onto crackers or other foods. The product has since been discontinued, though other Kraft products like Cheez Whiz remain on the market.

Koogle

Chocolate-flavored peanut butter might sound like a modern invention, but Kraft got there first. Koogle was a flavored peanut butter introduced in 1971, sold in flavors such as chocolate, banana, cinnamon and vanilla. Despite its novelty, the product was discontinued by the end of the 1970s.

Jell-O Pudding Pops

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Few ’70s snacks had the commercial success of Jell-O Pudding Pops. Introduced in test markets in 1978 with a national rollout in 1979, the frozen dessert came in flavors including chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch and banana. The product generated $100 million in its first year and tripled that amount within five years. Even with that blockbuster start, Pudding Pops were discontinued in 2004 due to declining sales. Jell-O has a recipe on its website if you want to make your own.

Pizza Spins

Pizza Spins were pizza-flavored snack chips introduced in the late 1960s and popular into the early 1970s. Their run was brief — the product was discontinued in 1975 after a short production run.

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Growing up, state fairs were a yearly tradition, and let’s be honest—the food was just as fun as the games we played. State fairs as the Wild West of food—anything goes, and the weirder, the better. I’m talking giant portions, unlikely pairings and deep-fried everything. But some of the concoctions out there go way beyond […]

Reggie Bar

The Reggie Bar, produced by Curtiss Candy Company and named after Reggie Jackson, was introduced in the late 1970s. It contained peanuts, caramel and chocolate. The bar was discontinued in 1981 and briefly re-released in 1993 following Jackson’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Then, in 2023, the candy returned — this time produced by Sai Chocolates in Pennsylvania with input from Reggie Jackson himself.

Jell-O 1-2-3

Jell-O 1-2-3 was introduced in 1969 as a layered gelatin dessert mix that separated into multiple textures during preparation. The multi-step process was part of the appeal — and part of the challenge. The product was gradually phased out beginning in the mid-1980s and discontinued in 1996.