Trader Joe’s has a plethora of iconic products that have been on shelves for decades, from the popular Mandarin Orange Chicken to its iconic can of corn. But beyond the staples, TJ’s is also known for continuously introducing new and innovative items that celebrate the season or capitalize on current trends. Unfortunately, “in with the new” often means “out with the old”—and there’s plenty of reasons why your favorite Trader Joe’s product may suddenly disappear from stores with no warning to stock up.
In fact, there are plenty of tried-and-true products that long-time customers still dream about, and many have shared those favorites on Reddit. One thread in particular asked TJ’s shoppers, “What’s an item you’ll never forgive Trader Joe’s for discontinuing?” It garnered more than 5,000 comments, including one about the discourse itself. “Makes me miss things I didn’t even know existed,” someone wrote. And I have to agree.
Here are nine discontinued Trader Joe’s products that fans still miss, whether they’re from two years ago or twenty.
9 Trader Joe’s Products That Should Come Back, According to Reddit
Sweet & Savory Tomato Spread
One shopper said that they loved the Sweet & Savory Tomato Spread, which was available in 2020. “I seriously need this back, please, please, pretty please,” they commented, adding that they “haven’t found a decent replacement, much less a comparable price.”
Another fan of the spread echoed the sentiment, writing “I miss this dang jam every single day.”
Yogurt Stars
One Redditor is still not over the “yogurt frosted stars with raspberry, blueberry, and vanilla frosting,” adding that they “miss them so much.”
“I miss these! I crave them all the time,” wrote one shopper on a thread dedicated to the treat, which was discontinued in 2016. “Wish Trader Joe’s would bring them back!”
Chocolate Sunflower Seed Drops
The chocolate-covered sunflower seeds were mentioned multiple times on the Reddit thread, with one particularly passionate devotee joking, “May whomever made the choice [to discontinue them] step on Legos everyday of their lives while barefoot.”
“Oh my god I forgot about these,” wrote another shopper, saying the seeds are “one of the items I’m terribly sad are gone.”
Goat Cheese Pizza
One shopper shared a photo of an early 2000s TJ’s favorite: a ready-made Goat Cheese Pizza that featured mozzarella, Asiago, Romano, and smoked provolone cheese, plus garlic and basil over a red sauce. “This was the absolute best thing at Trader Joe’s,” another responded, adding “I will never forgive them for discontinuing this item.”
Another Redditor chimed in and said, “I feel like the last time I had this was 2008, and I’m still mad about it.”
Honey Butter Chips
Sure, Trader Joe’s may have the beloved Blue Cheese Irish Potato Chips and more unique Deli Sandwich Style Potato Chips, but one customer said they “desperately miss the Honey Butter Chips” on a thread devoted to the snack. “Probably my favorite chip they’ve ever done. All these years later [and] I still think about them…”
“It was the best chip flavor I ever ate in my life and have never tasted a flavor quite like it in anything else,” added another.
Pappa al Pomodoro
TJ’s is no stranger to a solid soup or delicious frozen item, and according to one Redditor, the Pappa al Pomodoro frozen tomato soup, which was a Tuscan-inspired recipe and included a slice of rustic bread, is the discontinued item they miss most.
“That is without a doubt the best tomato soup I’ve ever found in a store,” another shopper agreed. “I still look every time I’m in TJ’s in case by some miracle it comes back.”
Sea Salt Brownie Petites
This one is personal. One of my all time favorite desserts was Trader Joe’s Sea Salt Brownie Petites, which were the perfect mini bite of fudgy chocolate brownie that wasn’t too soft or chewy, but perfectly sweet and salty—and I’m not alone.
“The little sea salt fudgy brownie bites,” were the unforgettable pick for one user. “I yearn for them,” they added.
“I still can’t believe it’s gone!” echoed another, who said that the brownie dessert “was a staple in my life for like 20 years.”
Danish Pancakes
Trader Joe’s has plenty of grab-and-go breakfast items, from McGriddle copycats to TJ’s Hashbrowns, but one beloved bite was discontinued in 2016: Danish Pancakes, or Aebleskivers.
The fluffy spherical pancakes were “my favorite quick breakfast,” wrote one fan, who loved them “especially with my cinnamon coffee cake coffee.”
“I still get choked up about it as there is no equivalent in the market that I am aware of,” added another.
Gummy Tummies
One of the most popular mentions was a bag of Gummy Tummies. The penguin-shaped gummy bites featured a soft middle packed with different fruity flavors.
“Gummy Tummies! God they were so good,” recalled one shopper. They also added that they “couldn’t buy them often” because “I’d inevitably eat them all in one sitting.”
“Every time I walk into a Trader Joe’s, I am reminded how those delicious gummies were vigorously ripped from my very own arms,” lamented another Redditor. “If a genie were to grant me one wish and one wish only…I would tell the genie that I wish for Trader Joe’s to return the gummy penguins to their shelves and never take them off again.”
Similar Recipes to Try
Copycat Trader Joe’s Gone Bananas
Copycat Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
