Starburst Lollies Are No Longer Being Sold In Australia Proving That My Childhood is Over

I really need to sit down for this, but who the HELL thought it would be a great idea to completely pull Starburst from Australian shelves? It’s a sad day for Aussie sweet-tooths because it’s been confirmed the brand will no longer be available in Australia.

A representative from Mars Wrigley, the parent company of Starbursts, has told 9News that the lolly brand has been discontinued in Australia due to supply chain issues.

“Like many businesses that are importing products from overseas, the brand has been exposed to supply chain difficulties and rising cost pressures over the last two years,” they said. “After reviewing all options, we’ve made the difficult decision to discontinue the brand in Australia from June 2022.”

It’s all a bloody disaster. Back in 2018, Starburst fans saw a massive loss after Starburst varieties were axed from Woolworths and Coles. Fans of the lolly still had access to the iconic snack via 7Eleven branches, but the news prompted a Change.org petition that currently sits at 3,000+ signatures.

“I get that this isn’t exactly an earth-shattering, world-changing issue. Everyone knows though how annoying it is to go to a grocery store to find your favourite items are being deleted in favour of homebrand products or just deleted all together,” the petition description says.

I remember when I was younger, Starburst had a lot more space on the lolly aisle, with gummy snakes, the iconic fruit mix, the delicious lollipops, and the gummy babies, but unfortunately, those are all just memories. Some TikTokers also thought the Starburst disappearances were a conspiracy theory.

TikToker @Nariman.dein mentions in her video that their absence is almost like a ‘Mandela effect’. “These were the best, and I can’t find them anywhere, and I’m having some conspiracy theory, like, did they just stop selling them and no one noticed or is this like a Mandela effect,” she says.

@nariman.dein @starburst i need some answers #comedу #westernsydney #fyp #aussie #aussiethings #woolworths #coles #shopping #conspiracy ♬ Clarinet main lazy atmosphere song(878137) – Yukito Hitoe

Just like Sunnyboys, Burgermen and Tasty Toobs, another Aussie childhood classic has gone. RIP Starburst, you were always my go-to for something tangy.