#13: Fizzies
Back in the 1950s, amidst the burgeoning popularity of carbonated giants like Coke, a novel invention called Fizzies was making waves. Created in 1959 by Ruth Millard for the Emerson Drug Company, these fruity tablets could instantly transform water into a sparkling beverage. With flavors like grape, orange, cherry, and cola, Fizzies soared in popularity, outpacing rivals such as Kool-Aid and marking a significant decade of sales success.
The fizz fizzled out in the 1970s when Fizzies production halted due to a ban on artificial sweeteners. Nevertheless, the 21st century saw these tablets return under Amerilab Technologies with a healthier recipe. Despite the reformulation, Fizzies struggled to regain their former glory in a changed market landscape and ultimately ceased production in 2016.