Social media page UK Nostalgia has shared a list of 23 discontinued foods that Brits fondly remember and wish would return to supermarket shelves. The treats range from crisps and chocolate bars to sweets, drinks, and fast food items.
Chocolate bars and sweets that vanished
Among the most missed chocolate bars is the Animal bar, made by Nestlé. Each bar featured two different animals with their names pressed onto the chocolate, such as Leo the Lion or Sid the Snake. It was discontinued in November 2023 after 60 years on the market.
Cadbury Wispa Mint, which featured aerated textured milk chocolate with a smooth layer of mint, was discontinued in 2003 after an eight-year run following its 1995 launch. Cadbury Dream, a white chocolate bar launched in 2001, was discontinued in the UK in 2002, though it remains available in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Stores such as B&M sometimes stock it as an import.
Maoam Crazy Roxx, irregular rock-like sweets with flavours including blue raspberry, strawberry, orange, lemon, and apple, were quietly discontinued around 2020. Haribo The Smurfs, raspberry and strawberry-flavoured gummy treats shaped like the cartoon characters, were relaunched in 2017 ahead of the Smurfs: The Lost Village movie but eventually disappeared from UK shelves. They are still sold in France, Germany, and Canada.
Crisps, cereals, and fast food classics
Walkers MixUps, sharing bags combining snacks such as Wotsits, Doritos, Monster Munch, and French Fries, were discontinued in stages. Cheese MixUps were axed in December 2023 and Spicy MixUps followed in May 2024.
Nestlé Toffee Crisp cereal, launched in 2014, was quietly discontinued a few years later. Smith's Chipsticks Ready Salted flavour was discontinued in the early 2000s due to declining sales, though the classic Salt and Vinegar flavour remains in production.
McDonald's Chicken Legend, a firm favourite since 2007, was discontinued in 2022 and replaced by the McCrispy. Some fans say they would do "anything" to try one again.
Drinks, ice lollies, and other favourites
Skittles Milkshake, a sweet-flavoured milkshake popular with kids, was quietly phased out in the early 2000s. Lucozade Energy Watermelon & Strawberry Cooler, a limited-edition summer drink launched in May 2019, vanished from standard UK shelves around 2021 to 2022.
Refreshers ice lollies, inspired by the classic Barratt Refreshers fizzy sweets, faded away from ice cream vans and corner shops by the late 1990s or early 2000s. The Drifter, a chewy chocolate bar with crisp wafer, caramel, and milk chocolate, was discontinued in October 2018 due to low demand.
Other items on the list include Mars Planets, Cadbury Magical Elves, Polo Fruits, Lunchables Ham and Cheese Sub, McVitie's Taxi, and Squashies Lemon and Strawberry. Mini Pringles Sour Cream and Onion returned to shelves after a 17-year hiatus in May.
