Here’s why Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops were discontinued.
Introduction
Have you been wondering why Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops were discontinued?
Hubba Bubba, a brand of bubble gum created by Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company which is a part of Mars, Incorporated, first introduced the US to its brand in 1979.
Since then, it has created quite a following with its gum and candy products, one that has led to heartbreak over the loss of the beloved Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops.
While Hubba Bubba is still around, the squeeze pops are not.
Read on to find out why they were pulled from the market!
About Hubba Bubba
If you’ve always wondered why they called it Hubba Bubba, the name is based on the military phrase “Hubba Hubba,” which was used in World War II as an expression of approval.
Hubba Bubba won consumers over with its gum which was less sticky than other brands.
After all, it’s annoying to blow one of those big bubbles and have it stick onto your skin after bursting.
Hubba Bubba was far easier to peel off though it had a similar flavor to other gums at the time.
Eventually, it would branch out into making other flavors.
Before this non-sticky gum stuck with the name Hubba Bubba, it was called “Stagecoach” during its early development and manufacturing days.
An early commercial for the gum depicted a Wild West town with Gum Fighter, a character that was portrayed by Don Collier.
The Gum Fighter would end each commercial by saying, “Big bubbles, no troubles.”
Meanwhile, this was greeted with a playful response from Dub Taylor, a veteran of Western films.
The intent was to rise above the biggest competitor for Hubba Bubba in the 1980s, Bubblicious, a notably stickier product.
Hubba Bubba gum was sold in packets that contained 5 chunks originally.
Later, it was made into strips in a packet, much like Big League Chew.
In the early 1990s, Hubba Bubba was discontinued in the US but made a comeback in 2004.
Today, you’ll find many Hubba Bubba gum offerings that include 5-packs of chunk-style gum and bubble gum tape. But one thing you’re not going to see anymore is the Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops.
These squeeze and lick lollipops came in tubes that were filled with candy gel, making them resemble toothpaste.
They were a great alternative to regular lollipops.
But why was Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops discontinued?
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The Reason for Discontinuing Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops
Many people are upset about the Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops being discontinued.
This was a new age for lollipops, a liquid version that was intensely popular through the 1990s and 2000s.
From a child’s perspective, these made it easier to ingest more sugar at once.
They were fun and tasty to enjoy.
It’s likely that these were taken off the market because they contained high fructose corn syrup.
Unfortunately, this ingredient is a form of artificial sugar, and with so many studies pointing to how dangerous it is, especially when consumed excessively, they had to pull it from shelves.
There are alternatives to the Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops, though enthusiasts lament that they just aren’t the same.
Another flavor of Hubba Bubba that vanished away was the Hubba Bubba Bubble Jug.
It came in a jug, as the name suggests, and was filled with powdery candy nuggets that would turn into gum as you chewed them.
It was too easy to eat the entire contents of the jug at once, plus it lacked the flavor of Hubba Bubba’s original gum.
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What Can You Enjoy Instead of Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops?
If you’re feeling nostalgic for Hubba Bubba yourself or want your kids to see what you’re talking about, you can still find Hubba Bubba, just not the squeeze pops or the jug.
Hubba Bubba still makes the chewing tape in original, which gives you 6 feet of gum in every roll.
They also offer strawberry watermelon bubble gum in the max style of gum chunks, sour blue raspberry tape, and tangy tropical tape, among others.
Depending on where you’re located, you may readily find these items in your local supermarket or convenience store.
Or you can always look online with big retailers like Amazon or Walmart to see if you can track it down and have it sent right to your door rather than driving all around.
However, if you’re dead-set on having that Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pop taste, you can try the Kidsmania Ooze Tube.
They contain 4 ounces of flavored ooze in green apple, blue raspberry, and cherry.
The brightly-colored candy tubes are very similar to what Hubba Bubba offered, and many people are happy they can still get their candy in a liquid tube form.
Others are still upset as they say it’s not the same.
Regardless, you can judge yourself and see how you like them.
Even though Hubba Bubba no longer makes the squeeze pops or the bubble jugs, the brand is still around with an array of bubble gum products.
But if you loved the fun of squeezing liquid candy directly into your mouth with those squeeze pops, perhaps the Kidsmania products can help you satisfy that craving.
You may even be able to track down someone that is holding a stash of Hubba Bubba Squeeze Pops, though if you do shop for these vintage items in hopes of eating them, be sure to check the expiration.
It wouldn’t be worth your while to try it when it is expired.
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