Chex Mix is a beloved snack mix that has been around since the 1950s. It originally consisted of Chex cereal combined with nuts, pretzels, bread sticks, and other salty snacks. The traditional Chex Mix contains Wheat Chex, Rice Chex, Corn Chex, nuts, pretzels, bread sticks, and seasoning. However, over the years, many different varieties of Chex Mix have been introduced, including Cheddar, Spicy, and Peanut Lovers.
Peanut lovers Chex Mix contained peanuts in addition to the traditional Chex Mix ingredients. The nutty flavor of the peanuts paired deliciously with the seasoned Chex cereals and other snacks. Peanut Chex Mix quickly became a fan favorite for peanut butter lovers. However, in recent years, fans of Peanut Chex Mix have noticed that it has become very difficult to find in stores. The Peanut Lovers variety appears to have been discontinued by the manufacturer, General Mills. This has left Chex Mix fans wondering, what happened to peanut Chex Mix?
When Was Peanut Chex Mix Introduced?
Peanut Chex Mix was first introduced to the Chex product line in 1997. It joined other Chex Mix flavors at the time such as Traditional, Cheddar, and Spicy. Peanut Chex Mix brought the delicious roasted peanut flavor to the popular snack mix. It gave peanut butter fans a new way to enjoy Chex Mix.
Ingredients in Peanut Chex Mix
Peanut Chex Mix contained all the ingredients of traditional Chex Mix such as Wheat Chex, Rice Chex, Corn Chex, pretzels, bread sticks, and seasoning. Peanut Chex Mix also included:
– Roasted peanuts
– Peanut oil
– Sugar
– Molasses
– Salt
The peanuts and peanut oil gave Peanut Chex Mix its signature peanutty flavor. The sugar, molasses, and salt balanced out the snack mix’s sweet and salty taste.
Nutrition Facts for Peanut Chex Mix
A 1 cup serving of Peanut Chex Mix contained:
| Calories | 250 |
| Total Fat | 13g |
| Saturated Fat | 2g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 380mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 29g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g |
| Total Sugars | 8g |
| Protein | 6g |
Like other Chex Mix varieties, Peanut Chex Mix was high in carbohydrates and sodium. The peanuts added protein and fiber. Peanut Chex Mix provided a tasty snack full of crunchy, salty, sweet, and nutty flavors.
When Was Peanut Chex Mix Discontinued?
It appears that Peanut Lovers Chex Mix was discontinued sometime around 2015. The variety slowly started disappearing from store shelves around that time. By 2018, fans of the snack mix noticed it was almost impossible to find Peanut Chex Mix anywhere.
There was no official announcement from General Mills about Peanut Chex Mix being discontinued. The beloved variety simply faded away without explanation. General Mills has not included it in lists of Chex Mix flavors on their website since 2016. Peanut Chex Mix eventually disappeared from all store shelves.
Why Would General Mills Discontinue Peanut Chex Mix?
While General Mills has not provided an official reason, there are some possible explanations for why Peanut Chex Mix was discontinued:
– Declining sales – If the variety was not selling well enough, General Mills may have decided to discontinue it. Other Chex Mix flavors may have been more popular.
– Manufacturing costs – Peanuts and peanut oil may have made Peanut Chex Mix more expensive to produce compared to other varieties. Discontinuing it would save on manufacturing costs.
– Allergies – Peanuts are one of the most common food allergens. General Mills may have decided having a peanut variety was too risky for people with allergies.
– New product development – General Mills may have discontinued Peanut Chex Mix to make room for new Chex Mix varieties on store shelves.
– Distribution issues – Keeping Peanut Chex Mix widely distributed at stores may have become too challenging compared to other flavors.
Without an official explanation from General Mills, the reason for Peanut Chex Mix’s discontinuation remains speculative. However, it was likely a business decision to streamline their Chex Mix product line.
Where You Can Still Find Peanut Chex Mix
Although Peanut Chex Mix has been discontinued nationwide, there are a few limited places it can still be found:
– Some online retailers – Amazon and smaller online snack retailers occasionally have stock left over from when it was discontinued. However, supplies are extremely limited.
– Dollar stores – Some dollar stores still have outdated boxes of Peanut Chex Mix on shelves from before it was discontinued. Shoppers may get lucky finding them.
– Resale sites – People sometimes resell unopened boxes or packs of Peanut Chex Mix for inflated prices on sites like eBay. Stock is very limited.
– International stores – Peanut Chex Mix is still available in some international stores in Canada, Europe, and Australia where it has not been discontinued.
For the most part though, Peanut Lovers Chex Mix is impossible to find in regular U.S. grocery stores. Stocks remaining in the other outlets listed are dwindling.
Consumer Reaction to the Discontinuation
Many Chex Mix fans were deeply disappointed when Peanut Chex Mix disappeared from stores. A few consumer reactions included:
– Confusion over why it was discontinued when it was a beloved flavor
– Frustration over General Mills giving no notice or explanation
– Sadness that their favorite variety was taken away
– Annoyance that they could no longer find it anywhere
– Outrage that Peanut Chex Mix was replaced by pretzel only and bagel chip varieties
– Demands that General Mills bring the peanut variety back
General Mills received many appeals calling for the return of Peanut Chex Mix. However, so far those appeals have been unsuccessful and the variety remains unavailable.
Petitions and Campaigns to Bring Back Peanut Chex Mix
Diehard Peanut Chex Mix fans did not let their favorite snack go quietly. A few petitions and campaigns tried to get General Mills to reinstate the discontinued peanut variety including:
Petition to General Mills
– A Change.org petition created in 2016 urged General Mills to bring back Peanut Chex Mix due to popular demand. It gathered over 2,500 signatures but did not result in the variety returning.
#BringBackPeanutChexMix Campaign
– Fans tweeted the hashtag #BringBackPeanutChexMix in 2018 to get General Mills’ attention. The campaign trended but General Mills did not comment on it.
“Where’s the Peanut Chex Mix?” Facebook Page
– A Facebook page was created for fans to share their love of Peanut Chex Mix. It served as a gathering place to remember the discontinued snack.
Despite the campaigns, General Mills has given no indication of bringing back Peanut Chex Mix anytime soon. The petitions and social campaigns ultimately went unanswered by the company.
How to Make Your Own Peanut Chex Mix
Since Peanut Chex Mix can no longer be found in stores, many fans have resorted to making their own versions at home. Here is a recipe to recreate the peanutty snack mix:
Ingredients:
– 3 cups Rice Chex cereal
– 3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
– 3 cups Corn Chex cereal
– 1 cup peanuts
– 1 cup pretzel sticks
– 1 cup bite-size breadsticks
– 1/4 cup peanut oil
– 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
– 1 tablespoon onion powder
– 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
– 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
– 1/2 cup brown sugar
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 250°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the Chex cereal, peanuts, pretzels, and breadsticks.
3. In a separate small bowl, stir together the peanut oil, worcestershire sauce, onion powder, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and brown sugar.
4. Drizzle the oil and worcestershire sauce mixture over the Chex mix and stir to coat evenly.
5. Spread the snack mix in a single layer on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
7. Let cool completely before serving.
Will Peanut Chex Mix Ever Come Back?
There is always a chance that General Mills could choose to bring back Peanut Chex Mix if consumer demand is loud enough. They have reintroduced discontinued products before when fans wouldn’t stop calling for their return. However, so far General Mills has not indicated any plans to bring back Peanut Chex Mix to store shelves. Fans may have to settle for making their own versions at home for now.
Conclusion
Peanut Chex Mix was a beloved addition to the snack mix lineup with its roasted peanut flavor. Fans were deeply disappointed when it was suddenly discontinued without explanation in the mid-2010s. Despite campaigns urging General Mills to reinstate the variety, Peanut Chex Mix remains unavailable nationwide. It can only be found in extremely limited supplies from online resellers. Diehard fans have taken to creating their own peanut Chex Mix recipes to get their fix of the now nostalgic snack. While the future return of Peanut Chex Mix is uncertain, it will live on in the memories of Chex Mix devotees.