The Weirdest 90s Food Products You Forgot Existed

The 1990s brought us a wave of unique foods that many of us look back on with nostalgia and bewilderment. Food companies were trying to get creative, experimenting with colors, flavors, and textures in ways we hadn’t seen before. These weird products didn’t always last, but they definitely left an impression. Here’s a look back at ten of the strangest 90s food items you might have forgotten.

Orbitz wasn’t just a drink; it was an experience. Imagine a clear bottle filled with fruity liquid and suspended, colorful blobs that looked like a lava lamp. Created by Clearly Canadian, Orbitz was more about the look than the taste. These floating “lava lamp” bits were actually made of gellan gum. While they were perfectly safe to drink, their thick, gelatinous texture made Orbitz feel more like a novelty than a refreshing drink. It didn’t take long for it to disappear from shelves, but it’s hard to forget this oddball beverage.

Heinz decided to make ketchup “fun” for kids by releasing EZ Squirt, a line of colored ketchup in shades like green, purple, and blue. Kids loved the novelty of dunking their fries into a neon green or purple sauce, but adults weren’t quite as enthusiastic. After a few years of hype, the excitement wore off, and Heinz quietly pulled EZ Squirt from the market. Today, condiments remain slightly more conventional, but we still remember when ketchup came in different colors.

Butterfinger BBs were the mini, round version of the classic Butterfinger bar. These little bites were delicious but had one major drawback: they melted almost instantly. Fans loved the taste but could never avoid ending up with chocolate-covered fingers. Despite the mess, BB’s had a devoted fanbase until they were discontinued in the early 2000s. Even now, some people still wish they would make a comeback.

Long before today’s wave of flavored sodas, Sprite Remix hit the market in 2003 with a lineup that included Tropical, Berryclear, and Aruba Jam. Each flavor offered a different twist on classic Sprite, but it was just different enough to throw people off. While some liked the change, most missed the clean taste of the original, so Sprite Remix quietly vanished from stores after only a few years.

SqueezeIt was more about the packaging than the juice itself. Each bottle featured a funny face and was designed to be squeezed to release a brightly colored, sugary drink. Kids loved the squishy, twist-off bottles, which made them feel like they were drinking something extra special. But despite its popularity in the 1990s, SqueezeIt disappeared in the early 2000s, leaving only memories of squashing the bottle to get the last drop.

Technically a product from the 80s, Jell-O Pudding Pops saw their biggest wave of popularity in the 90s. Creamy and rich, these frozen treats combined the smooth texture of pudding with the satisfaction of ice cream. Flavors included chocolate, vanilla, and swirl; for many kids, they were an after-school treat. Despite their popularity, Jell-O Pudding Pops were discontinued due to production costs. No other brand has been able to replicate their unique taste and texture quite the same way.

Cheetos Paws brought a playful twist to the classic Cheetos snack by re-shaping them into paw prints. Kids loved the paw shapes, making the snacking experience a little more fun. Despite their popularity, Cheetos Paws didn’t stick around. By the late 90s, they had disappeared from the snack aisle. Though they’ve made brief returns over the years, their original fans still remember them as a beloved snack from their childhood.

Crystal Pepsi was Pepsi’s clear attempt (pun intended) to create a “pure” soda. The drink looked like water or Sprite, but it tasted like Pepsi. The clear look was supposed to symbolize health and purity, but many fans felt that the soda tasted slightly off. The novelty wore off fast, and Crystal Pepsi left the shelves within a year. Despite its short lifespan, Crystal Pepsi is one of the most memorable “failures” of 90s food experimentation.

Dunkaroos were the ultimate sweet snack pack of the 90s. Each container had small graham cookies and a section filled with sugary frosting, letting kids dip each cookie into the frosting. The combination was simple, but kids loved it. Although they disappeared from stores for a while, Dunkaroos recently returned, proving that some snacks are too iconic to stay gone forever.

Inspired by the success of Kinder Surprise eggs, Nestle introduced Magic Balls in the U.S., filling chocolate spheres with tiny collectible Disney figures. While kids loved the surprise factor, parents were concerned about the potential choking hazards. The toy-in-chocolate combo ultimately led to its discontinuation. Though they’re no longer available in the U.S., Magic Balls remain fond for many who remember unwrapping them in the 90s.

Bubble Jug Bubblegum took an unusual approach to gum by presenting it as a powder in a small jug. When you poured it into your mouth, the powder magically transformed into bubblegum as you chewed. This transition made it popular with kids looking for a fun, new way to enjoy gum. Despite the novelty, Bubble Jug eventually faded from stores. Still, it left a lasting impression as one of the weirdest candy formats of the decade.