Doo Dads snack mix has been a beloved snack food since it was first introduced in 1967. This crunchy mix of mini pretzels, peanuts, Cheddar cheese crackers, sesame sticks, wheat crackers, rye chips, and corn sticks quickly became popular thanks to clever marketing campaigns and its ability to satisfy salty cravings. While Doo Dads was discontinued for a period of time, the snack made a comeback in the early 2000s due to consumer demand. So do they still make Doo Dads today? Let’s take a look at the history and current availability of this nostalgic snack mix.
Original Run of Doo Dads (1967-1982)
Doo Dads first hit shelves in 1967, created by Nabisco as a new salty snack mix to compete with the growing popularity of savory snack foods. The original Doo Dads mix contained mini twisted pretzels, toasted peanuts, cheddar cheese crackers, sesame sticks, rye chips, wheat crackers, and corn sticks. It was marketed under the tagline “For the kid in someone you know” with bright, colorful packaging and TV commercials featuring animated characters. Doo Dads quickly became one of Nabisco’s most successful new products.
For 15 years, Doo Dads had strong sales and built up devoted brand loyalty among consumers. However, in the early 1980s, economic conditions led to rising costs for ingredients. Nabisco made the decision to discontinue Doo Dads in 1982 rather than raise prices or alter the recipe. For the next two decades, Doo Dads snack mix would be no more.
The Return of Doo Dads (Early 2000s)
Though Doo Dads were off the shelves through the 1980s and 1990s, nostalgic snackers who remembered the mix from childhood kept interest alive. Online petitions pleaded for Nabisco to bring Doo Dads back. The snack mix even inspired knock-off recipes so people could recreate the distinctive medley of crunchy goodies.
This passion from fans did not go unnoticed. In 2001, Nabisco (then part of Kraft Foods) announced that Doo Dads would return to production due to popular demand. The new Doo Dads hit stores nationwide in early 2002, revived with the original ingredients and packaging design. Initial sales exceeded expectations.
Recent Years of Doo Dads (2000s-Today)
Since the early 2000s return, Doo Dads have remained solidly on the market. Some varieties and formats have come and gone:
- Doo Dads Xtreme Heat with spicy seasonings (discontinued)
- 100-calorie Doo Dads packs (discontinued)
- Doo Dads Minis with smaller pieces (limited availability)
But the classic Doo Dads mix has stayed in production. Today, Doo Dads are made by Mondelez International, which now owns Nabisco and other Kraft Foods snack brands. Though not as ubiquitous as snacks like Chips Ahoy or Oreos, Doo Dads have proven to be a nostalgic brand with staying power.
Current Availability of Doo Dads
So do they still make Doo Dads? The answer is yes – Doo Dads snack mix is still readily available for purchase today. Here are some details on where to find Doo Dads:
Grocery Stores
Doo Dads can be found in the snack aisle at most major grocery chains across the United States.Availability may vary by region, but Doo Dads are stocked in many stores including:
- Kroger
- Safeway
- Publix
- Target
- Walmart
- Costco
- Albertsons
- Winn-Dixie
Be on the lookout near other salty snacks like chips, pretzels, trial mixes, nuts, and crackers. Doo Dads typically come in 6.5oz to 8oz packages retailing for $2 to $3.
Online Stores
If Doo Dads aren’t carried locally, they can easily be found through online snacks retailers. Many sell Doo Dads mix in bulk cases or individual packages:
- Amazon
- Walmart.com
- Target.com
- Jet.com
- Boxed.com
- Snack Nation
- Nuts.com
Prices are very similar to in-store, and shipping costs vary by retailer. Online ordering lets any Doo Dads fans get their fix!
Other Venues
In addition to grocery stores and online, Doo Dads can occasionally be found in:
- Convenience stores like 7-Eleven
- Drug stores like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid
- Discount retailers like Dollar General
- Vending machines
- Fundraising product catalogs
So while not as ubiquitous as some snacks, Doo Dads still have a retail presence across multiple channels today.
Packaging and Nutrition Facts of Current Doo Dads
The revival of Doo Dads stayed true to the original snack mix recipe and packaging design. Here are the key details on today’s Doo Dads:
Packaging
- Bright red cardboard boxes with colorful illustrations
- Vintage logo and font
- “For the kid in someone you know!” tagline
- Whimsical characters and designs
- Usually 6.5oz or 8oz resealable packages
The look immediately evokes nostalgia for 70s-era Doo Dads fans. The packaging appeals to kids while winking to adults about childhood memories.
Ingredients
Doo Dads have stayed true to the original medley of crunchy snacks:
- Mini pretzel twists
- Peanuts
- Cheddar cheese crackers
- Sesame sticks
- Rye chips
- Wheat crackers
- Corn sticks
This winning combo still satisfies cravings for salty crunch over 50 years later. There have been no major recipe changes or replacements to cheaper ingredients.
Nutrition Facts
Here are the nutrition facts for a 1oz (28g) serving size of Doo Dads snack mix:
| Calories | 160 |
| Total Fat | 9g |
| Sodium | 230mg |
| Total Carbs | 18g |
| Protein | 3g |
The snack mix is high in fat and sodium, as might be expected. But the nostalgia factor makes up for the high calorie count for most fans. Moderation is still recommended for a healthy diet.
Why Doo Dads Have Staying Power
Doo Dads clearly have enduring appeal decades after being introduced. What gives this snack mix such longevity and staying power?
Tastes Familiar
The combination of crackers, pretzels, nuts, and cheese flavors is a proven classic. Doo Dads offer familiar, comforting flavors in every bite. Who can resist the tasty medley of crunchy, chewy, nutty, salty, and cheesy? It’s a perfect match to satisfy snack cravings.
Conjures Nostalgia
For generations that grew up with Doo Dads, the snack represents happy childhood memories. Munching Doo Dads can feel like time travel back to being a carefree kid. The vintage packaging enhances the retro appeal. Eating Doo Dads allows people to relive this nostalgia.
Fun Branding
From the start, Doo Dads established a fun, memorable identity with its whimsical ads and packaging. The name itself evokes something playful. Doo Dads has enduring brand appeal, especially among adults who look to recapture the spirit of their youth.
Internet Fandom
When Doo Dads went out of production, early internet sites allowed fans to share stories and lobby for their return. This showed the passion for seeing Doo Dads again and created momentum leading to their comeback. Today, Buzzfeed-type sites revel in Doo Dads nostalgia, stirring fond memories among fans.
Variety in Snacking
Doo Dads offer something a bit different from plain chips, nuts, pretzels, or crackers alone. The mix of textures and flavors in one package provides welcome variety for snacking. People crave this diversity of crunchy treats.
The perfect storm of taste, nostalgia, branding, internet fandom, and variety has given Doo Dads tremendous staying power. It’s clear this beloved snack mix will continue satisfying fans well into the future.
Conclusion
Doo Dads snack mix has come a long way since debuting in the late 1960s. While the original run ended in the 1980s, fan demand and nostalgia brought Doo Dads back in the early 2000s. Today, Doo Dads remain widely available in stores across the U.S. and online. Though the packaging and ingredients stay true to their vintage origins, Doo Dads continue to feel fresh and appealing for long-time fans and new generations alike. Thanks to its taste, branding, and ability to conjure childhood nostalgia, this beloved snack mix looks poised to stick around for many more decades to come. So the answer is yes – they do still make Doo Dads! Cravings for this crunchy treat can be satisfied once again.