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Frito-Lay
Discontinued: 1991 (brief return 1999-2000)
Frito-Lay launched Tostitos Nacho Cheese Flavor nationwide in 1980 after test marketing in 1979. The round chips came in yellow bags with clear windows and tasted milder than Doritos. They sold $140 million in their first year, one of Frito-Lay's biggest launches ever. In 1986, the company added sharp cheddar to the recipe. The chips were discontinued around 1991. They returned briefly from 1999 to 2000, then disappeared for good.
Discontinued: Late 1990s to early 2000s
Frito-Lay introduced this baked variety in the mid-1990s. Each six-chip serving contained buttermilk, cream cheese, and salsa spices with only 3 grams of fat. A 1997 Deseret News review called them "spicy and tasty and different" compared to other baked chips. The chips built a loyal following but disappeared in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
Discontinued: Unknown
These thicker chips were built to hold heavy dips. Frito-Lay marketed them as strong enough for "the thickest of dips." They sold well at first, then quietly vanished. The company never announced when or why. Tostitos Gold still exists in Western Canada, made with premium yellow corn.
Discontinued: 2016
Frito-Lay released these fat-free chips in 1998. They were fried in olestra, a synthetic fat the body couldn't absorb. The bag warned buyers: "This Product Contains Olestra. Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools." First-year sales hit $347 million. Then people learned about the side effects. Nearly 20,000 consumers reported problems to the FDA, more than any food additive in history. Sales dropped to $200 million by 2000. Frito-Lay renamed them "Light" chips in 2004, hoping to shake the reputation. It didn't work. The company killed the entire olestra line in 2016.
Discontinued: 2020
These chips packed multiple Tex-Mex flavors into one bite. Frito-Lay cut them in 2020 when the pandemic hit. The company confirmed the news on Twitter, explaining they had reduced their product line by 21% to focus on bestsellers. Black Bean & Garlic didn't make the cut.
Discontinued: 2024-2025
This variety launched around 2023 with cheddar, parmesan, and cotija cheese on bite-size rounds. One reviewer gave it 9 out of 10. In late 2024, Frito-Lay announced it would replace Mexican Three Cheese with Hint of Queso. The chips lasted one to two years.
Discontinued: Paused 2020 (later returned)
This Sabritas flavor from Mexico combines mild heat with tomatillo-based salsa verde. Frito-Lay paused production in 2020 on Twitter, citing pandemic priorities. Unlike other paused products, Salsa Verde came back. It's available now, marketed as Tostitos' most popular Mexican flavor.
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