The Most Nostalgic ’70s Snacks People Loved — and Why You Can’t Find Them Now
The 1970s were a golden age for processed snack foods. Candy bars, flavored spreads, novelty sweets and convenience products filled store shelves — many of them wildly creative and unlike anything available today. But most of these beloved treats didn’t survive. Here’s a look at eight snacks from the era that people couldn’t get enough of.
Marathon Bar
The Marathon Bar was introduced by Mars Candy Company in 1973. At eight inches long, it featured braided caramel coated in milk chocolate — a distinctive design that set it apart from other candy bars of its time. The product was discontinued in 1981 after declining sales. A similar product, 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. Similar to Pop Rocks, it offered a fizzy texture that made it a novelty hit. 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 was not.
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 and was 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
Koogle was a flavored peanut butter introduced by Kraft in 1971. It was 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
Jell-O introduced Pudding Pops in test markets in 1978, with a national rollout in 1979. The frozen dessert came in flavors including chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch and banana. It was a massive commercial success, generating $100 million in its first year and tripling that amount within five years. The product was discontinued in 2004 due to declining sales. For those feeling nostalgic, Jell-O has a recipe on its website to make your own at home.
Pizza Spins
Pizza Spins were pizza-flavored snack chips introduced in the late 1960s that remained popular into the early 1970s. The product had a remarkably short run and was discontinued in 1975.
Reggie Bar
The Reggie Bar was produced by Curtiss Candy Company and named after Reggie Jackson. 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. Similar products, such as Bun Bars, later filled its market space. The candy returned in 2023, produced by Sai Chocolates in Pennsylvania with input from Reggie Jackson.
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 product required a multi-step preparation process. It was gradually phased out beginning in the mid-1980s and discontinued in 1996.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
