Frozen Foods That Completely Disappeared From The Shelves

Whether you are shopping for vegetables, fully pre-made meals, or dessert, you can find just about everything in the frozen food aisles at your local grocery store. Some people may avoid the freezer section at all costs, opting instead for fresh ingredients and produce that contain less salt (though there are more healthier frozen options than you may realize). Others depend on frozen foods to stock up on items that can last for a really long time — and which definitely come in on those days you're pressed for time and energy when dinner rolls around.

Over the years, many brands have tried to capitalize on the convenience of frozen foods, offering a variety of appetizers, snacks, and entrees that only need a few minutes in the microwave. And there is definitely no shortage of frozen desserts at your local supermarket. With such steep competition happening in freezer sections worldwide, it's only natural that some products will rise to the occasion while others will fall short. All things must come to an end, and there are many frozen food products that have vanished off the shelves at some point over the years. Whether they are gone forever, or seem poised to triumphantly return like a phoenix from the ashes, we rounded up some popular frozen foods that have disappeared from the freezer aisle.

If you had the news turned on at all during summer 2022, then you are probably familiar with the tragic disappearance of this widely beloved dessert. Parent company Klondike made the decision to pull the Choco Taco off of store shelves nearly 40 years after it first debuted (via NPR). The internet immediately went into a frenzy, with celebrities even lending their thoughts on the matter (via People). Chef Andrew Zimmern said that the death of the Choco Taco was "insanity."

Other brands seemed to jump on the opportunity to cash in on the Choco Taco nostalgia before consumers even had the chance to miss them. The Portland-based ice cream shop Salt & Straw began selling their own version of the popular item, calling it a Chocolate Tacolate. The knockoff was sold exclusively online, and unsurprisingly, inventory was gone in a flash (via KGW8).

Though the treat has disappeared from the freezer aisle, there still may be hope when it comes to the future of the Choco Taco. Today reported that in response to fans' outrage over the demise of the dessert Klondike hinted on Twitter that they are looking into the possibility of bringing Choco Taco back. However, it will likely be a few years away.

If you grew up in the 1990s, then there's a possibility your refrigerator was well stocked with this next frozen treat on our list. Nestlé began selling the cylindrical Push-Up sherbet treats back in the '80s (via Eighties Baby). Shortly after their debut, there was a major collaboration with a popular cartoon that will go down in dessert infamy. Flintstones Push-Up Sherbet Treats first came about in 1990 and lasted for several years, with on-brand flavors like Yabba Dabba Do Orange, Lime Rock Lime, and Bedrock Berry.

Flintstones Push-Up Sherbet Treats are sadly a thing of the past, nowhere to be found in the grocery store (via Thrillist). You can, however, still purchase Push-Up Pops today. If you keep your eyes peeled in the frozen food aisle, you may spot a variety pack that includes Cherry Blast, Turbo Grape, and Outrageous Orange – not nearly as cool sounding as the Flintstone varieties, but we'll take what we can get. Nestlé also advertises these Push-Up Pops on its website, but notably our favorite cartoon residents of Bedrock are missing. Sadly, do not expect to find the Flintstones version anywhere but in your memories.

The national grocery chain Trader Joe's is well versed in creating products that stir up a cult-like following. But while we often find ourselves falling head over heels for its constantly evolving selection of private-label items, they can just as quickly disappear from store shelves. And over the years, Trader Joe's has earned itself a bit of a reputation for discontinuing its products, especially ones that shoppers actually enjoy.

That seems to have been the case with its frozen mashed potatoes. The frozen food aisle at Trader Joe's is a popular section of the store with an array of fan-favorite desserts, side dishes, veggies, and meals. But last year the mashed potatoes disappeared due to what was believed to be a supplier issue, according to shoppers on Reddit. It would seem that the frozen mashed potatoes weren't discontinued forever, but rather temporarily removed until the production issues can be resolved. Regardless, many fans haven't held back on voicing their disappointment and bitterness (via Reddit). 

Luckily, Trader Joe's has also been known to bring back some discontinued products to its stores depending on costs and customer demand. The company even has a section on its website for fans to write in and provide feedback on their favorite discontinued products. And in the case of the frozen mashed potatoes, all hope might not be lost, as they have been spotted in some stores in 2022 (via Facebook).

Few breakfast items are as convenient as frozen waffles. Though there are many brands out there that sell their own version of the toaster-friendly treat, perhaps the reigning champ in terms of brand recognition is Eggo. The brand, owned by parent company Kellogg's, is responsible for producing a wide array of frozen waffles, from classic buttermilk and chocolate chip flavors, to various designs with popular cartoon characters. 

And for a while, Eggo offered a sweet and satisfying spin on its classic trademark product. In the early 2000s', the brand introduced Waf-Fulls, a frozen breakfast waffle with various fillings inside. Flavors included the usual suspects like strawberry and blueberry. According to one former consultant for Kellogg's, Waf-Fulls were discontinued after approximately eight years on the market (via USNA). Fans were understandably disappointed to see their favorite waffles vanish, and a petition has even emerged on Change.org where similarly let down customers can add their signature to hopefully one day resurrect the Eggo Waf-Fulls. Though Eggo has made it clear that it's probably not going to happen (via Facebook). 

Ah, Jell-O. The name brand gelatin dessert that remains a gastronomical mystery to many people, but nevertheless remains a pantry staple to this day, especially for households with children. Whether you buy Jell-O pudding mix to whip together at home or purchase the pre-made pudding packs to include in school lunches, the brand has cemented itself in popular culture as a go-to snack option. But throw pudding in the freezer for a tasty dessert? Now you're talking.

In fact, Jell-O's Pudding Pops were actually quite the hit for a number of years when they were initially launched around 1980, reaching $100 million in sales in the first year. Despite the encouraging volume of sales, the pudding pops ultimately flopped financially due to a drop off in customer demand. Jell-O confirmed on Twitter in 2018 that the Pudding Pops were ultimately discontinued due to insufficient sales. However, while you may not be able to buy a box of Jell-O Pudding Pops these days, copycat recipes are readily available online.

When television became a focal point in the homes of more Americans throughout the 1950s, frozen prepared meals became the perfect accompaniment. However, the introduction of Swanson TV Dinners was less about the search for the perfect meal to eat while watching television than it was a correction for a surplus in Thanksgiving turkeys. The overabundance of poultry was repurposed into ready-made meals, and the rest is history (via Orlando Sentinel).

After the popularity of the turkey dinners took off, additional meals were introduced to the lineup during the '60s and '70s. Swanson became a household name, with one of the main selling points being that the meals were so easy to prepare that kids could make themselves something to eat while mom and dad went out for "real dinner." While Swanson TV Dinners do not exist on store shelves today, you may still be enjoying Swanson meals without realizing it. According to Orlando Sentinel, the Swanson TV Dinner brand was retired, but the products themselves were re-labeled as Hungry Man, which is still sold in grocery stores to this day.

If you are one of those individuals who like your breakfasts to taste a little sweet, then Pillsbury Toaster Strudel is a convenient way to treat yourself first thing in the morning. Toaster Strudel is part of a long line of successful products from Pillsbury, the champion of packaged baked goods. The Toaster Strudel comes in a variety of flavors and is still sold in groceries stores to this day. But there is one flavor that you will no longer be able to track down in your frozen food aisle.

The Boston Cream Pie Toaster Strudel was noticeably different from the majority of strudels on the market. Why? Whereas most of the toaster strudel varieties have a jam filling, such as strawberry or blueberry, the Boston Cream Pie variety had a creamier custard filling. We even ranked it as our top Toaster Strudel flavor. Unfortunately, Pillsbury confirmed on Twitter in November 2021 that the Boston Cream Pie flavor was discontinued. Fans took to Change.org to start a petition to bring the flavor back, but Pillsbury has given no indication other than letting some fans on social media know that it will "share your request with the team."

While Swanson TV Dinners provided parents with a quick and convenient meal option for the entire family when they were introduced, the products were not necessarily marketed for kids. Then, starting around the 1970s, Libbyland TV Dinners hit the shelves and gave kids their own option when it came to frozen meals (via TV Dinners Fandom). The brand even had its own cowboy-themed mascot, Libby the Kid. And each meal came with colorful crystals that could change the color of your glass of milk. There were various themed dinners available for purchase, inspired by pirates, safaris, and deep sea diving.

Libbyland TV Dinners did not have a very long lifespan, only lasting on the market until 1976, according to Long Island 70s Kid. The meals clearly had all of the traits of a product that could be marketed to children, but ultimately it was up to the parents — those with buying power — to decide what foods were added to their grocery carts.

Before there were Eggo Waf-Fulls, there were Care Bear Waffles. The Care Bears were big in the 1980s, so much like any successful, modern-day kids franchise, the characters were everywhere, including as a part of your breakfast.

The waffles themselves were a bit nondescript. If you didn't see the box beforehand, there really was no indication that these were inspired by the Care Bears, other than the rainbow sprinkles baked into the waffles (via In The 80s). However, the packaging was decorated with Care Bears characters, which was the only thing kids needed to spot in the grocery store in order to beg their parents to add it to the shopping cart.

Much like the Care Bears themselves, the waffles declined in popularity over the years, and they were eventually discontinued. Even the popularity of the waffles at their peak is to be debated, though, as a few Redditors noted that they didn't realize this product ever existed. Perhaps that had something to do with its inevitable fate of being pulled off of shelves.

Growing up in the 1990s meant that you probably tried some unique food and drink items as a kid, like Dunkaroos, Dippin' Dots, and Fruitopia. Another staple in many '90s kids' freezers were Kid Cuisine meals. Everything from the bright blue microwavable tray, to the penguin mascot, to the brownie that may or may not have been actual food all culminated in the Kid Cuisine experience. The Kid Cuisine craze continued past the '90s and into the 2000s and even the 2010s — and to this day it is still available in grocery stores.

However, not every frozen meal that you grew up with is included in the brand's current lineup. Kid Cuisine once sold a Friends Forever Mac and Cheese meal inspired by the hit cartoon "Spongebob Squarepants," which was a big hit among many customers. However, this particular meal has been discontinued, along with other Kid Cuisine varieties that have come and gone over the years, including the Constructor Beef Patty Sandwich and All-American Fried Chicken. In fact, a quick trip to the Kid Cuisine website will show only three meals currently listed: All Star Nuggets, Popcorn Chicken, and Mini Corn Dogs. But don't worry, the questionable brownies are included with all three varieties.

Another brand shoppers are probably highly familiar with when it comes to frozen meals is Marie Callender's. The real-life inspiration behind the company, who began baking pies in the 1940s, grew into a household name over the years since then, and even opened pie and coffee shops before the brand was sold to ConAgra Foods in 1994, resulting in the launch of the widely popular frozen meals (via Reuters). But the heart of the company is still the dessert that started it all — the pie.

You can find lots of pies sold by Marie Callender's, like the savory Chicken Pot Pie and the sweet Lattice Apple Pie. Unfortunately, not every pie flavor the company has sold is around today. Marie Callender's confirmed on Facebook in 2020 that its Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Pie was discontinued, along with a few of its other frozen food offerings, including the Chili Pot Pie and the Herb Roasted Chicken Dinner. 

As an fan probably knows, Trader Joe's has been known to allow fans to fall in love with certain items, only for those items to be discontinued before those fans have any time to stock up on their beloved favorites. This was true yet again in the case of Trader Joe's Cheese-Less Cheesecake. The vegan dessert was made with a base of lima beans instead of any dairy products, and reviews were mixed. While some complained that the taste of this dessert wasn't very strong, Freezer Meal Frenzy pointed out that, despite it being a vegan dessert, it still had many of the characteristics one would look for in a typical cheesecake.

The cheesecakes did amass a cult following, with shoppers voicing their disappointment on Reddit at the news that the item was discontinued. Not only did they lose out on a tasty dessert, but vegans and those avoiding dairy products were back at square one when looking for a sweet dairy-free treat.

A lot of strange things came out of the 1980s, and Funny Feet ice cream is no exception. It's not that strawberry-flavored ice cream popsicles are a bizarre concept by themselves, but the idea to mold it into the shape of a foot certainly is, at least for most people. Whether it was due to general confusion over the shape of the dessert or dwindling sales over the years, it was once believed that Funny Feet Ice Cream would be an 80s trend that stayed in that decade after it was discontinued.

However, all was not lost for fans of Funny Feet. The ice cream has actually made a resurgence a couple of times in recent years, but not in the United States. Anyone looking to try the foot-shaped ice cream would have had to hop on a plane and head to Europe, where fans voted to bring Funny Feet ice cream back in 2013 (via Daily Mail). The dessert came back again in 2021, this time courtesy of Iceland Foods, where one enthusiastic shopper discovered a box and shared a photo on Instagram. But once again, fans looking to relive their 1980s childhood with Funny Feet ice cream will need to travel across the pond in order to try and track down a box.