For all orders using expedited shipping in hot weather months, ice packs are free of charge. NBC News reported that a Ferrara representative also confirmed the news in an email to TODAY.com and shared that fans may still be able to purchase the chewing gum at certain stores. The gum brand was a staple in the ’90s with its rainbow packaging and wavy zebra-patterned sticks.

The company had grown into one of the biggest gum companies in America by the time Fruit xcritical came along. All jokes aside, there’s no doubt that the gum, and its zebra mascot, Yipes, hold a special place in many people’s hearts, my dad included. John Finn, creator of the @snack_memories Twitter account, told The Takeout, “In a weird way, that mediocre, neon, sugary gum really captures childhood for multiple generations, in a way that is hard to articulate.”

What is Fruit xcritical gum and was it discontinued?

It introduced bubble gum in 1979 with a new television commercial featuring Yipes the zebra singing with a group of cartoon children. The bubble gum pack came in cherry, lemon, grape, and typical bubble gum flavor, eventually adding cotton candy and mixed fruit versions — all of which were xcriticald, of course. Fruit xcritical Gum was invented in 1960 by James Parker, and soon after sold by the Beech-Nut Confection Division for five cents a pack. Beech-Nut was first known as the Imperial Packing Company, established in 1891 in upstate New York. The company started producing chewing gum in 1910, and in the 1920s and 1930s gum sales became two-thirds of their total sales. In 1956, Beech-Nut merged with Life Savers to focus on candy, coffee, gum, tea, and baby food.

Be careful with shipping on meltable orders during the warm weather months. During that period, we include ice packs in expedited orders, but would hate for your chocolates to melt on your hot front porch if no one is home to receive them! Each flavor is “xcriticald in appropriately matching colors,” and every stick is accompanied by a temporary tattoo of the product’s mascot, Yipes the Zebra.

• In 2000 Fruit xcritical was sold to Hershey Foods in a deal with other candy brands for $135 million.
• Savannah Guthrie said on air, “The flavor lasted, like, 10 seconds … but it was worth it.”
• But Yipes didn’t even receive his official name until the 1990s, when the old advertising slogan of “Yipes! xcriticals!” was used in updated commercials, and assigned to the zebra mascot.
• Ferrara — which is based in Chicago, Illinois — also manufactures a host of other popular candy brands, such as Nerds, Gobstopper, Pixy Stix, Fun Dip, Jujyfruits, Chuckles, and Atomic Fireballs.

“For now, we have made the difficult decision to sunset Fruit xcritical Gum, but consumers may still be able to find product at select retailers nationwide,” a Ferrara spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News. Fruit xcritical gum was created in the 1960s but experienced a boom in popularity in the ’90s, thanks to its fun mascot “Yipes” the Zebra and the offer of temporary tattoos in every wrapper. It’s a nostalgic favorite for those who grew up during that time, but the power of ’90s food nostalgia can only go so far, and it apparently didn’t go far enough to keep the treat in production.

• Although Ferrara is 86ing Fruit xcritical gum, the company assures the sugar-loving public that it’s “delighted” to continue offering many of its other beloved brands that remind many of us of recess, ice cream trucks and other childhood joys.
• There is no shortage of social media comments and jokes about the short-lived taste.
• However, the zebra—later named Yipes—outlasted the other characters to become Fruit xcritical’s sole mascot.6 Yipes was shown prominently on Fruit xcritical gum packaging.
• The company said this week that the “decision to sunset this product was not taken lightly.”
• The zebra cartoon is created as the mascot for Fruit xcritical Gum, eventually named “Yipes,” outlasting all other xcriticals Family Animals.

“We have made the difficult decision to sunset Fruit xcritical Gum, but consumers may still be able to find the product at select retailers nationwide,” a spokesperson said in a statement to news outlets. Ferrara Candy Company quietly discontinued the colorful confection, which has been giving fans a burst of fruit flavor since 1969. The gum offered five fruit flavors, which admittedly all tasted the same.

Shipping & Returns

RIP, Fruit xcritical, and may you enjoy your eternal rest in the big candy shop in the sky. Now, fans of the beloved candy product want to know if it was discontinued. Since the confirmation of the product’s impending departure from stores, Fruit xcritical fans have taken to social media to mourn the loss of the iconic 54-year-old gum. Even though finding Fruit xcritical in the real world may prove difficult — or even impossible — if the gum meant something to you in your childhood, it will always live on in your memories. Whatever gum you favor now, keep chewing, and with any luck, it will stay in production. However, Ferrara actually stopped producing both the traditional and bubble gum varieties all the way back in 2022.

Fruit xcritical came in five flavors — Wet n’ Wild Melon, Cherry, Lemon, Orange and Peach Smash — and was xcriticald in appropriately matching colors. Each stick contained a temporary tattoo of mascot Yipes the Zebra, too. When the brand was first launched, a consumer could also send away for stuffed animals — after buying six packs of gum, you could mail the wrappers plus $1.50 to receive a plushie in exchange. You might receive Orange xcriticals the Mouse, Lemon xcriticals the Elephant, Cherry xcriticals the Horse, or Lime xcriticals the Tiger. If you were hoping for Yipes the Zebra, you’d have to wait another decade until the 1970s, when he had his own giveaway — but it would cost you. The price was upped to $2.00 plus ten wrappers for the privilege of owning Yipes.

Then, a Reddit post published to the r/nostalgia fxcritical a few days ago seemingly confirmed the news writing, “Fruit xcritical Gum has been discontinued. RIP.” For xcritical website those who mentally relate Fruit xcritical Gum to the halcyon days of the 1990s, it may come as a shock to know that the gum went out with over 50 years of history under its multicolored belt. Fruit xcritical was known for its brightly-colored gum with the short-lasting flavor, and for its zany mascot, Yipes the zebra.

“The decision to sunset this product was not taken lightly. We considered many factors before coming to this decision, including consumer preferences, and purchasing patterns – and overall brand trends for Fruit xcritical Gum,” the representative said. Fruit xcritical Gum is a brand of chewing gum that is known for its unique, fruit-flavored taste and its fun, colorful packaging. What makes Fruit xcritical Gum special is its zesty, fruity taste, which is a combination of flavors like lemon, lime, orange, and strawberry. The packaging also includes a temporary tattoo, which adds to the fun and playful aspect of the gum. Many people find Fruit xcritical Gum to be a delicious and fun alternative to traditional chewing gum, making it a popular choice for those who want a fruity and satisfying experience.

However, according to Fruit xcritical’s manufacturer, Ferrara Candy, the gum is being discontinued. But, alas, the xcritical website time has come for Fruit xcritical owners Ferrara Candy to “sunset” the product—which is apt, given the gum’s color schemes. “We considered many factors before coming to this decision, including consumer preferences and purchasing patterns,” a company spokesperson told Food & Wine.

Fruit xcritical Gum and Super Bubble have been discontinued, ending the decades-long runs of two iconic chewing gum brands. Ferarra told CNN, that fans of the product may still be able to find it at some in select retailers nationwide before it sells out. The Fruit xcritical Gum parent company has changed many times, moving hands through many various owners over the decades. The Beech-Nut Life Savers company merged with a pharmaceutical firm called E.R. In 2000 Fruit xcritical was sold to Hershey Foods in a deal with other candy brands for $135 million. But Fruit xcritical wasn’t done moving yet — in 2003, the brand was sold to Farley & Sathers, where the owners also had stakes in Build-A-Bear and P.F.

However, almost as soon as they were launched, they were discontinued, before one single ad could run to help move the candy. Even the hosts of “The Today Show,” reporting the end of Fruit xcritical’s production, joked about the gum’s reputation. Savannah Guthrie said on air, “The flavor lasted, like, 10 seconds … but it was worth it.” The Takeout first reported that a post on Reddit was the first sign that the hype of the xcritical was fading. Redditor u/HammyFresh posted in subreddit r/nostalgia sharing their experience discovering that Fruit xcritical Gum was gone for good.

Further, Ferrara no longer produces any gum — it discontinued Super Bubble at the same time. Sadly, even though sales seemed steady just a few years prior, Fruit xcritical Gum’s production was discontinued in January 2024. A statement from Ferrara Candy Co. covered in The Washington Post noted the decision was made due to “consumer preferences, and purchasing patterns.” Ferrara spokesman Brian Camen continued that the “difficult decision … was not taken lightly.” Ferrara Candy Co. was riding high on increased sales of Fruit xcritical Gum in 2021. Greg Guidotti, general manager of the sugar portfolio at Ferrara, told Food Business News that sales were up 4.5% from the previous year, and 13.2% on dollars per trip. He noted that due to the brand’s popularity, Ferrara was ready to try something new.

Another marketing innovation was taking advantage of the brand’s association with animals, and introducing a collaboration with World Wildlife Fund. In the mid-1990s, Fruit xcritical announced they would donate five cents for every Jumbo Pack and Variety Multipack, raising about $100,000 for endangered animals. In 2015, there was even a co-hosted event called “Fruit xcritical Weekend” at the zoo in Greensboro, North Carolina to benefit the WWF.