Discontinued Frito-Lay Chips That Deserve A Comeback

In 1932, C.E Doolin and Herman W. Lay respectively got into the snack food business, with the former making Fritos name in corn chips, and the latter, a beloved (sur)name in potato chips.

The two rival companies merged in 1961 to form Frito-Lay, and four years later it became a part of the newly formed PepsiCo. For almost a century, Frito-Lay has built up one of the world's largest rosters of snacks, with the assistance of 29 different brands. Lay's alone currently has 200 flavors being munched on globally.



Yet . While in today's society, many can openly pine online about their forgotten favorites, these chips still remain fleeting food memories with no return in sight. Compiling a list of all these worthy chips that deserve a comeback would be a Herculean feat, but The Takeout has miraculously narrowed it down to the ones that we need in our hands again, right here, right now.

Lay's Wavy Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips Salty and sweet have proven to be a winning combination of tastes, and for Frito-Lay, it's one mash-up it's not often dipped into, beyond its Rold Gold Pretzels. In 2013, the company waded into new territory when it introduced Wavy Milk Chocolate Potato Chips on trial basis for the holidays. Ram Krishnan, vice president of marketing at Frito-Lay told that it "opens a world of possibilities that we haven't explored before.

" She added that if consumers ate up this new venture, "it gives us latitude to offer other flavor combinations that we've never done." . The chips returned the following year, and again in 2017.

Snackers enjoyed this partnering, with one taking to to admit they were "the most unique potato chip I ever had." Despite pleas, Lay's has towed the line, taking to , to say, "Lay's Wavy Original Milk Chocolate is currently enjoying time away from the shelf, but we'll let our team know you'd like to see it return soon." Jumpin' Jack Doritos "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is a classic Rolling Stones song that was released in 1968.

In 1990, the name was partially borrowed with the launch of Jumpin' Jack Cheese Doritos. To help sell these chips, the ever-smiling Frito-Lay spokesman Jay Leno played up the cheese in T.V.

ads, which ran with the tagline "Doritos knows Jack about cheese." Pop culture enthusiast Dinosaur Dracula proclaimed on that these Monterey Jack-flavors chips were "the best-ever Doritos flavor," adding that they were "like Cool Ranch's even cooler cousin." These chips hung around shelves until at least 1993.

However, they resurfaced in chrome silver bags for limited runs in the years 2012, 2016, 2022, and 2023. . At this point, shouldn't Jumpin' Jack Cheese Doritos just become a permanent flavor in the line-up? Tostitos Nacho Cheese Flavor Nacho Cheese is the signature flavor of Doritos ( ), but long forgotten is a flavor of Tostitos tortilla chips once blessed with a similar taste.

The Nacho Cheese Flavor was actually a part of the initial test launch of the Tostitos brand in 1978, where these rounded chips in a yellow bag debuted alongside the Traditional Flavor ones housed in a white bag. In 1986, the formula was tinkered with to include a "sharp cheddar cheese flavor," and renamed that to match. Old clips of T.

V.'s "The Lone Ranger" and Tonto were employed in a creative T.V.

ad to help sell the tangier new flavor. Sometime around or after 1991, Tostitos Nacho Cheese Flavor was quietly discontinued, before making a brief return from 1999 to2000. Lay's Crunch Tators The has served as a snack ambassador for Louisiana since 1985.

It was no real surprise that Frito-Lay chose the Cajun state in 1988 as the testing ground for a new line of chips hoping to ape Zapps' success — Lay's Crunch Tators. The company even tried to get the word out on its new chips by sponsoring a Lay's Crunch-Tator Crunch-Off at the French Quarter Festival. The test market proved to be a success that Lay's Crunch Tators were released nationwide a year later.

The flavors included Original, Mighty Mesquite BBQ, and Hoppin' Jalapeño. Energetic T.V.

ads featured a cartoon cowboy gator, hopping around everywhere the chips were explosively being crunched. Frito-Lay furthered the chips' brand awareness, when they were seen in the "Home Alone" scene where Kevin McAllister was munching on snacks. Frito-Lay said see you later gator to Crunch Tators sometime in or around 1993.

For those that longed for the big crunch of Lay's Crunch Tators, hope came in the form of its new Kettle Cooked line, which was introduced in 2001. , allowing some fans to channel their inner-Kevin McAllister once more. Texas Grill Style Fritos Ever since Bar-B-Q became the first non-original flavor of Fritos to hit the market in 1955, many smoky flavors have come and gone.

However, there was one that briefly made quite a mark, with actual grill marks. In 1996, Frito-Lay dropped Texas Grill Style Fritos into stores, which were supposedly less oily than regular ones. In , the company specified that the chips "are literally 'grilled' before they are fully cooked and seasoned, and actual grill marks are seen on each chip.

" Texas Grill Style Fritos came in two flavors, Sizzlin' Fajita and Honey Barbecue, in bags with see-thru windows shaped like the Lone Star state. Fritos employed country music star Reba McEntire to help sing the new product's praises. Lynn Markley of FritoLay remarked to , "We found that Reba appeals to the same audience we're trying to reach, so for us it's right.

" There was even a contest where the winner would get to have Texas barbecue with McEntire. . In a , one person said, "They remind me of summer, when we used to fire up the barbeque and throw down some Fritos.

I can still see my dad with the apron on. Better flip that Frito, dad, you know how I like it." Cheetos Mystery Colorz Who doesn't love a good mystery? Frito-Lay figured that would be the case with the school lunchroom set when it launched Cheetos Mystery Colorz, which had the very short shelf life of April 22 through June 2001.

These Cheetos were in the shapes of X's and O's, but otherwise had the same taste and orange exterior color as regular ones. Chester Cheetah forewarned consumers in an animated ad that they were "dangerously cheesy." However, the bag spelled out that one's tongue wouldn't stay permanently blue or green.

It , "Don't worry, it's harmless fun. You can clear the color just by rinsing your mouth. If you get it on your fingers, you can wash it off with soap and water.

Then grab another bag, because you never know which mysterious color your tongue might turn." Eaters are awaiting the best Cheetos mystery ready to be solved. Fritos x Twister In summer 2024, the movie "Twisters" rolled into theaters, whipping up a storm at the box office.

Frito-Lay looked to capitalize on the film by releasing a special bag of Fritos, which for the first time ever, featured two flavors in a single bag. The pairing of the film and Fritos was a natural one, as the chip line features spiral-shaped Flavor Twists. The Fritos x Twisters bag paired Flavor Twists takes on the Flamin' Hot, and the rare flavor Ranch.

. It also happened to be very hard to acquire a bag of these limited edition beauties. Fritos x Twisters weren't sold in stores, and could only be won through an Instagram contest.

Variety is the spice of life, and it seems like a no-brainer that Fritos should sell bags with multiple flavors within. Guess we have to wait for a third "Twister" movie. Sour Cream and Onion Doritos Just three years after introducing its Nacho Cheese flavor, Doritos tried to make magic strike again when it dropped Sour Cream and Onion in 1977.

The flavor of the creamy dip proved to be a winner with Lay's potato chips, and now it was being applied to the popular crunchy sister chip — Doritos. Sour Cream & Onion Doritos were promoted in ads to "have a snappy taste of onion, mellowed with the rich flavor of sour cream, for a mild oniony taste that's super!" It came in a fun lime-green bag, with its flavor name housed in a graphic of an onion. .

The zesty Cool Ranch came on the scene in 1986, and basically made everyone forget all about the Sour Cream & Onion flavor. In 2011, Doritos teased bringing them back, and followed through a year later, returning them to shelves. , but its current absence has left some eaters rather sour.

Lay's Potato Sticks The potato chip's invention dates back to 1853. It's not exactly clear when its snack brethren, the thinner, and perhaps even crunchier potato sticks joined the party, but they began to be advertised in newspapers by the early 1930s. That's the same decade that Lay's was just getting its chip business going, and by the tail end of the following decade, branched out by selling its own take on potato sticks.

They came in a can, with a wide-smiling potato logo adorning it, and they initially sold for $0.10. It the mid-'50s, they company also offered up Lay's Cheese Sticks.

before disappearing from shelves sometime after 1969. While this snack has been absent in mainland America, it appears it's still alive and well, and for sale today in Puerto Rico. In Europe, Lay's offers a "Stix" product that's thicker than potato sticks, and perhaps more reminiscent of Andy Capp's Hot Fries.

Flamin' Hot Munchos While the is a bit muddled, what is clear is that it started a frenzy of flavors that engulfed many other Frito-Lay brands in the ensuing decades. As of 2024, Frito-Lay offers up over 25 "Flamin' Hot" products. Sadly, one it used to offer — Flamin' Hot Munchos, is currently not on the roster.

. After they were discontinued, fans scrambled for another bite. Some started petitions, others and took to social media to ask for their return, and one person even clung onto an empty bag of them in their closet for safekeeping.

Frito-Lay's common response on sadly states "right now, we don't have plans to produce them." Doritos Roulette Most people don't like to gamble when they eat, but Frito-Lay challenged that notion when it introduced Doritos Roulette in South Africa and Venezuela back in 2012. For about every five standard Doritos in the bag, one would sneakily be super spicy.

Even though the packaging displayed a roulette wheel, this game was more akin to Russian Roulette, and was even promoted as such in T.V. ads with "Deer Hunter"-like scenes.

It proved to be such a winning chip that it travelled the globe, including the United States by 2015. For some, these chips posed an actual threat to their lives, including an asthmatic British team who thought they were going to die after encountering Doritos Roulette. took a few years off, before returning to in , exclusively at Walmart.

The following year, it introduced a Cool Ranch version, and then changed things up in 2023 where random Flamin' Hot Limon Doritos would be sour. Cheetos Crunchy Salsa con Queso . Frito-Lay described its Cheetos Crunchy Salsa con Queso snacks as "equal parts cheesy, spicy and savory.

With tangy tomato, earthy chiles, a hint of lime and rich cheddar cheese." They disappeared from shelves a year later, before briefly returning in 2016. That appeared to be the end of Cheetos Crunchy Salsa con Queso, but Frito-Lay wiped off the in the summer of 2024 for a limited time run to help promote its Deja tu Huella ("Leave Your Mark") initiative.

Bags featured a QR code where eaters could win the chance to become a Deja tu Huella ambassador. Tina Mahal, senior vice president of marketing at PepsiCo Foods North America, said in a , "All it takes is one talented and determined person to make a meaningful impact, and the Deja tu Huella Ambassador program provides much-needed visibility and funding to help make lasting change." Honey Butter Lay's by at least 2014.

Lay's took notice of this, with Tina Mahal, senior vice president of marketing, PepsiCo Foods North America saying in a , "Our fans often post about the fun flavors they see while traveling abroad and continuously ask for them here." In 2024, it offered up its own take on Honey Butter Chips, where buttermilk, honey, and butter flavors come together. Mahal added, "We're proud to continue to demonstrate our expertise in crafting delicious flavors that appeal to the unique senses and tastes of communities all over the world.

" that also included Lay's Wavy Tzatziki and Lay's Masala. The Honey Butter chips were easily the best of the lot, even if it was more buttery than sweet. The Daily Meal even proclaimed that it wished " .

" WOW! WOW! was made with Olean, Crisco's version of olestra, which was a fat-free, calorie-free cooking oil. After a couple of years of test trials, WOW! went nationwide in 2018, with its formula being applied to Lay's Original and BBQ, Ruffles Original and Cheddar and Sour Cream, Doritos, and Tostitos Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips. So, did WOW! chips wow eaters? Some could easily tell them apart from the original full-fat versions, while others praised them.

food critic Carolyn Wyman wrote in 1998, "The Doritos Wow! Tortilla chips are delicious though not quite as crisp as the regular kind. The Ruffles Wow! are most like the real thing although they could use more salt." One of the problems that plagued these chips' run was literally giving people the runs.

Although it may have only affected 2% of eaters, Frito-Lay had to slap on a warning on the bags that read "Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools." . Frito-Lay Chips in a can In the annals of the Frito-Lay company, chips have come in wax paper bags, plastic ones of various make-ups, and even canisters.

Lesser known is its brief flirtation with delivering chips and pretzels to consumers in aluminum cans. In 1997, it partnered with parent company PepsiCo. for a trial run where its respective products, sodas and chips would be housed in a single new vending machine.

Emanuel Goldman, an analyst with PaineWebber, told the AP in 1998, "They're the low-cost little pleasures of life. They fit together because if you have salty snacks you get thirsty." Now one could pick up a can of Doritos to pair with their Pepsi, Fritos with Slice, Cheetos with Mountain Dew, or for those looking to not overdo it, Diet Pepsi with Rold Gold Pretzels, all in one convenient place.

Ruffles and Lay's were also there for the taking. The 12-ounce snack cans were lighter than the soda ones, and could be opened with a pull-off tab. Just like the sodas, they retailed at the time for $.

55 to $.75 cents. .

Sadly, canned Frito-Lay products never were given a proper national release. Hopefully the company has a change of heart all these years later and forms a can-do attitude to get them back in vending machines. Recommended.