11 Discontinued Canned Soups You'll Never Buy Again

It's official, these cans have been canned — some of your favorite soups are no longer available for purchase. Companies don't always offer reasons for canceling customers' go-to products, but when they do, it can soften the blow. Whether the discontinuation was recent or occurred decades ago, the wound still stings for many. The origins of canned soups date back to the late 19th century, when Joseph A. Campbell began selling myriad fruits, vegetables, and meats in metal tins. Though Campbell's Soup Company began operating around 1869, it wasn't until 1895 that the entity would introduce a first-of-its-kind canned soup product known as the New Jersey Beefsteak Tomato Soup. Though it disappeared for many years, it would ultimately make a return. Not all soups are so lucky.

Many products have been discontinued, whether due to lack of interest, limited stock, or another driving factor. Some were nutritious, while others were among the unhealthiest canned soups around. Some became products of popular distaste, while others quickly gathered cult-like followings after their disappearance. Customers even write to brands, begging for their favorite soups to return to the shelves. But these cries are often met with blunt obstinance. Revivals like the Beefsteak Tomato Soup happen from time to time, garnering favor amongst canned soup fans. But once a soup goes, it's usually gone for good. Here are 11 canned soups you'll never buy again — not because you don't want to but because you can't.

Turtle soup might sound like a meal from a Dr. Seuss book, but it makes appearances in the real world too. The earliest record of this delicacy dates back centuries to when travelers and navigators harvested these reptiles from islands and local shores to eat. When times or money were scarce, people would eat mock turtle soup, more aptly described as a stew made from a calf's head. In fact, Abraham Lincoln ate it at his first inauguration, likely due to the dearth of resources in the previous years.

Campbell's describes its Mock Turtle Soup in advertisements as a recipe that wasn't commonly made at home. It contained tomatoes, celery, fresh herbs,  sherry, and chunks of meat in a smooth and stewy base. The meat wasn't turtle but rather came from a calf's head, following a distinct process to remove it. The skull had to be opened and the brains extracted before the meat could be boiled until tender. People enjoyed this soup for many years until it was ultimately discontinued sometime before 1960. It may be gone, but if it had stuck around for a little while longer, we might have seen it in an Andy Warhol print.

If you don't live near the seaside, your only source of seafood may be a can of oyster stew. Campbell's has many great feats in its storied history, and among them is the company's acclaimed Campbell's Oyster Stew, made with a mix of oysters, cream or milk, butter, and a blend of spices and seasonings. This savory treat was a predominant hit in the 1960s, and even Andy Warhol turned the seafood soup into a pop art legacy.

Customers seem to say Campbell's discontinued it due to falling demand. In a September 2012 post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the company addressed any uncertainty as to whether the canned soup was gone by stating, "Sorry, but our Condensed Oyster Stew is discontinued." The company offered no insight into why it made this decision but simply provided a resource for finding new soup choices from its condensed line. While Campbell's version is no longer in production, you can still make oyster stew at home if you have the ingredients. And if you're lucky enough to live by the beach, you may be able to wrangle up an extra fresh soup.

You may know it more for its biscuits and bread, but Pepperidge Farm has been serving soup in tandem since the 1960s. An article in The Daily Times from Mamaroneck, NY, highlighted the introduction of canned soup with a piece that focused on the value of Pepperidge Farm over other brands. "These are not run-of-the-mill soups, so they cost a little more than many others. To a soup-lover, money means little if a truly fine soup is purchased." Indeed, money is nothing to a canned soup connoisseur, but what will money buy you when your favorite soup no longer exists?

Pepperidge Farm Hunter's Soup rose to fame for its lavishness and hearty servings. It was a standalone item, not meant to be mixed with water for serving. One tin only had two servings, but it was ready to eat anytime and anywhere. A 1967 ad for Hunter's Soup displayed it boasting both turkey and beef, which made it stand out from the rest. It's hard to say when it went out of production, but as of today, you can no longer find the soup in stores.

Campbell's condensed soups have changed a bit over the years, and the consistency has become less solid over time. The Black Bean Condensed Soup is no exception. Some fans of the former products voice distaste that the soups no longer look, feel, or taste like they once did. Campbell's allegedly discontinued its Black Bean Condensed Soup sometime between 2000 and 2010, though the exact time frame is unknown. While customers note that the smoother texture is likely due to the cooking agents added to the tin to speed up the prep time, they also acknowledge that it doesn't taste the same anymore. The same could be said for almost any condensed soup that has withstood the test of time.

Though the historic Black Bean Soup dates back many decades, its discontinuation seemed inevitable. With the influx of flavor mixing and enhanced taste profiles, a simple black bean soup no longer made the cut. Though there is no indication as to why Campbell's discontinued the soup, it seems the company did so due to a decline in interest or demand for the product. 

Progresso's Green Pea Soup was exactly what it sounded like — green pea soup. It had a creamy texture and offered a one-note twist on homemade versions. But somehow, it gave way to ingenuity. With the introduction of Progresso's Green Split Pea Soup Flavored with Bacon, Green Pea almost disappeared, and eventually, it did.

In 2021, one Redditor went to the site to ask if anyone knew if Progresso's Green Pea soup had been discontinued. They lamented its absence and had no idea if it would ever appear again. All they could find was the new, more loaded version with bacon. Their query was allegedly met with a firm yes from General Mills, Progresso's parent company, who responded to the Redditor, saying, "Unfortunately, this product has been discontinued and is no longer available. While you enjoyed this product, overall general demand was insufficient to warrant its continued distribution." As is often the case with favored food products, if people start preferring other items, the old ones are discontinued.