Though bone-in chicken isn’t usually what McDonald’s is known for (McNuggets is what most head to the chain for), in 1990, it launched Mighty Wings. The crispy chicken wings were sold up until 2003, and we still miss them.
Mighty Wings failed to stay on the menu principally because they were too spicy and too pricey. They returned briefly in the U.S. in 2013 with a newer breading, but customers didn’t get on board.
Life Savers Holes
These bite-sized Life Savers pieces hit the candy aisle in 1990. The candy's name has to do with its shape that resembles that of a traditional ring-style life preserver that we know as a "lifesaver." They came in a variety of flavors like minty Peppermint and island fruits, yet they were still markedly different from Tic-Tacs.
In 1991 they did face a recall after there were reports of kids and teens biting off the flip-top plastic cap.
Fruit String Thing
Remember these zany rope-like Fruit String Things? They were arranged like a maze, and unraveling them was a part of the fun. Fruit String Things are probably one of the healthier snacks on our list. As we know by now, fruit snacks come in all different shapes and sizes.
These fruity treats are sweetened with sugars, and they get their tough, chewy, bendy consistency from gelatin. These fruit leathers were actual bite-sized snacks that came as fruit roll-ups and fruit by the foot.
Whistle Pops
Throughout their lifetime, Whistle Pops have been produced by several companies over the years dating back to the mid-1970s. These lollipops not only gave kids a sugar buzz but were also designed with a stick that could make a whistling noise, so what could go wrong? Whistle Pops, these were popular candies in the '80s and '90s.
While these whistling lollipops are no longer around, Chupa Chups makes similar "Melody Pops."
Pop Rocks
There are very few food experiences that come close to that of the sugar blast in your mouth that we know as Pop Rocks. When you eat Pop Rocks, the moisture and heat in your mouth will melt the candy, and the subsequent popping sounds are a result of the high-pressure CO2 bubbles being released into atmospheric pressure, now isn't that cool! Though patented in 1961, Pop Rocks only hit the shelves in 1975, and they immediately became part of the spirit of that time.
Pop Rocks may have been discontinued in the '80s, but they've made a comeback and are thankfully available today.