Snack Chat August 2025

Hey, Snackology friends. Welcome to the August 2025 edition of Snack Chat — your home for all the major/fun news from the world of food over the past month. Snackology was super busy since the last edition of Snack Chat, publishing seven new reviews. (There’s a ton more on the way too!)

What snacks are you packing for your Labor Day weekend travels? Are you going to try to get Hidden Valley Ranch to cover your checked-bag fees? Or are you too torn up over the news that Keurig Dr Pepper is going to break up after acquiring Peets?

Fast food

• McDonald’s Drops New Special Edition Gold Sauce, Chicken Menu Items (McDonald’s): “Starting Sept. 3, McDonald’s is introducing our new Special Edition Gold Sauce — a harmonious blend of vinegary North Carolina BBQ sauce, infused with notes of honey, smoke and mustard. Made to pair perfectly with our delicious chicken, fans can try the new sauce on the side or on one of four fan-favorite chicken menu items ...”
  • Experience the Magic of McDonaldland with a Signature Meal & Specialty Shake (PR Newswire): “The meal features a new, limited-edition Mt. McDonaldland Shake – an ode to one of its major landmarks – that offers a secret concoction as enchanting as the world itself. It’s up to you to discover the surprise flavor. It also comes with your choice of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, World Famous Fries, and even a first-of-its-kind collectible souvenir that's sure to unlock core memories.”
    • 🍪 Snackology Review: The Mt. McDonaldland Shake is worth the trek: “We’re obviously going to dive into the Mt. McDonaldland Shake first, since that’s what I’d imagine Snackology readers are dying to know more about. McDonald’s isn’t a stranger to a milkshake with a pop of color, annually releasing the Shamrock Shake and also releasing the viral Grimace Shake back in 2023. This limited-edition shake is on a new level — a fluorescent blue dessert with an electric pink dollop of whipped cream on the top.”
  • ’Tis the pumpkin spice szn, and McDonald’s has the treats to fill your fall cravings (McDonald’s): “Starting Aug. 29, fans can enjoy the signature drink of the season with the McCafé Pumpkin Spice Latte. The McCafé Pumpkin Spice Latte features freshly brewed espresso steamed and spiced to perfection with hints of pumpkin and cinnamon flavors — or try it iced for a cool pick-me-up!”
• The Epic Mountain Dew Baja Blast Legacy Expands With New Mountain Dew Baja Midnight, Only at Taco Bell (Taco Bell): “Intentionally crafted to satisfy the thirst of a new generation, Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Blends passion fruit flavor with the instantly recognizable taste of Mountain Dew Baja Blast for an entirely new experience. This evolution builds on the Mountain Dew Baja Blast legacy while introducing modern flavors that reflect the vibrant tastes of today.”
  • Fan Favorite Returns: The Cheesy Street Chalupas Are Back (PR Newswire): “One of the most popular menu items of 2024, fans call the Cheesy Street Chalupas ‘the best thing Taco Bell has ever done’ since the Chalupa's original debut in 1999. The street-sized cheese-stuffed chalupa shells were inspired by the iconic Quesalupa shell, one of the Chalupa’s most innovative spinoffs which entered the scene in 2016 for a limited time. The Cheesy Street Chalupas bring together classic street food ingredients with a Taco Bell twist that instantly claims its place in the Taco Bell hall of fame.”
  • 🍪 Snackology Review: The clock strikes Baja Midnight for Mountain Dew and Taco Bell: “I’ve had a lot of Taco Bell, but I’ve somehow never had a Freeze, the chain’s frozen version of a soda like Baja Blast. To borrow from Shaquille O’Neal, I owe you an apology, Taco Bell Freeze. I wasn’t really familiar with your game. The Baja Midnight Freeze is the star of Taco Bell’s one-two Baja Midnight punch. The passion fruit flavor is amped up in Freeze form, which I’m guessing is to combat any dilution as the frozen beverage starts to melt.”
• 📖 Taco Bell’s Not-So-Secret Sauce: An Endless Stream of New Stuff (Deena Shanker, Bloomberg): “The chain’s not-so-secret sauce is to operate like a sort of junk-food DJ, mixing and matching, blending ingredients and tastes, reading the crowd and giving every dish an occasionally catchy, often cringey name. In March, Taylor Montgomery, Taco Bell’s chief marketing officer, told investors that adding products to the menu every four or five weeks helps the chain to consistently beat the rest of the category. And this year, Montgomery said, it will double that pace.”
• Popeyes Wings are Better Than Ever: Reintroducing Popeyes Wings Lineup Featuring a New Mild Marinated Base on Bone-In Wings Just in Time for Football Season (PR Newswire): “‘We went back to the kitchen and paired our mild base with our Louisiana marination which serves as the perfect canvas for both bold and balanced flavor. From the all-new dry rubs to returning fan-favorite sauces, every element was carefully crafted to give our guests more ways to enjoy wings. This lineup isn’t just better, it’s built to deliver real flavor flexibility for every kind of wing lover, especially on game day.’”
• Chipotle’s new rewards program lets Gen Z college students get free burritos faster. Here’s what to know (Jennifer Matson, Fast Company): “Chipotle’s focus on college towns and loyalty programs aimed at students is part of its strategy to increase growth and retain younger customers at a time when many fast-food and fast-casual chains are facing declining sales and slow growth fueled by higher prices, inflation, tariff fears, and changing customer habits.”
  • Introducing Zipotle: Chipotle Partners With Zipline for Aerial Delivery (Chipotle): “Chipotle’s new delivery option, Zipotle, will use Zipline’s fleet of quiet, zero emissions aircraft, to make super fast, convenient deliveries that save customers’ time and keep orders dine-in fresh. Chipotle’s entire menu is eligible for Zipotle delivery.”
    Score big with Grubhub’s fantasy football deals this August (Abbey Bowling, SavorNation): “It’s almost time for fantasy football season, and Grubhub is offering touchdown-worthy deals throughout August to fuel fantasy leagues.”

“Dew The Worm. Do The Dew.”

• Trolli and Mountain Dew Collide for the Most Epic Collaboration Across Sour Gummy Candy and Refreshing Beverages (PR Newswire): “Trolli, the boundary pushing sour gummy candy brand known for its dual neon colors, bold flavors, and soft and chewy texture, today announced a game-changing collaboration with Mountain Dew. The brands are launching two limited-edition innovative tangy and sweet products: Trolli x Mountain Dew Sour Brite Crawlers gummi candy and Mountain Dew Zero Sugar x Trolli Cherry Lemon, bringing the products to life in both chewy gummy candy and a refreshing beverage.”

More candy

• SweeTARTS, Lemonhead, and Spree Tap into Candy Trends with the Launch of Freeze-Dried Varieties for the First Time (PR Newswire): “Each tasty piece of SweeTARTS, Lemonhead, and Spree Freeze Dried candy offers the same one-of-a-kind flavors from these fan-favorite brands, transformed into an unexpected and flavorful light and airy bite. The new candies offer an exciting sensory snacking experience, delivering bold textures and tastes that will delight consumers everywhere.”
  • 🍪 Snackology Review: Freeze! Spree, SweeTARTS and Lemonhead get the freeze-dried treatment: “While Spree Freeze Dried and SweeTARTS Freeze Dried both operate in the fruity candy zone, Lemonhead Freeze Dried comes in just one flavor: Lemon. (Yes, I know that lemons are fruits too, but you get what I’m saying here.) The tartness of a Lemonhead easily powers through the freeze-dried style and was immediately my favorite of this trio.”
• Skittles Brings the Heat with its Newest Innovation: Skittles Gummies Fuego (PR Newswire): “‘At Mars, we're always paying attention to emerging trends and looking for exciting new ways for our fans to experience Skittles,’ says Ro Cheng, Vice President, Marketing, Mars Wrigley North America. ‘With Skittles Gummies Fuego, we're adding some spice to a sweet, original fan favorite, bringing a bold flavor experience that we know “swicy” fans will enjoy.’”
• Bubs, Viral Swedish Candy Brand Has Landed Stateside (PR Newswire): “BUBS built a cult following in Sweden since its founding in 1992, but it was TikTok that turned the brand into an international obsession in 2024. Videos of the candy's unique chewy-meets-marshmallow texture and playful oval and skull shapes generated billions of views, sparking demand among U.S. candy lovers eager for a taste. BUBS heard their fans and answered, bringing their beloved candies to candy aisles nationwide.”
• Hauntingly Tasty: The Hershey Company Unwraps New Twists on Beloved Halloween Classics (PR Newswire): “‘Hershey continues to be at the forefront of Halloween festivities, with iconic brands that have become seasonal staples for our consumers to look forward to year after year,’ said Katie DeCapria, Senior Manager Halloween at The Hershey Company. ‘This season, we elevated those signature brands and created treats like Reese’s Mini Pumpkins and Kit Kat Counts in convenient, shareable packaging making it easier for everyone to enjoy and celebrate together.’”

More food

• Pizza Hut Launches New “Crafted Flatzz”: An Abundantly Topped & Flavorful Hand-Crafted Personal Pizza Built for Adultzz Only (PR Newsire): “Crafted Flatzz is rolling out around the world in more than 20 countries. From Nashville Hot Chicken in the U.S. to Pesto Veggie with Balsamic Drizzle in the United Kingdom, Korean BBQ in Taiwan and Tandoori Chicken in India, in addition to a range of globally consistent recipes, each market brings its own unique twist to this bold new offering. As the largest simultaneous global menu launch in Pizza Hut history, Crafted Flatzz deliver an elevated personal pizza experience — inviting fans everywhere to take a moment for themselves, enjoy bold flavor and feed good times around the world.”
  • 🍪 Snackology Review: Are Pizza Hut’s Crafted Flatzz a hit? Or do they fall … flatzz?: “Upon opening the boxes, I instantly realized that the Crafted Flatzz are Pizza Hut’s take on the style of pizza you’d be familiar with if you live in an area where &Pizza does business. Flat pizza cut into slices that you can eat in a bite or three. Nothing wrong with that. I love &Pizza. It’s probably our daughter’s go-to suggestion for a lunch stop if we’re out running errands. (She’s a cheese pizza person, but I love their American Honey pizza.) How would Pizza Hut’s take on this style work?

• Count Chocula Milk Bath? (The Jim Henson Company): “Anyone else have Count Chocula milk bath on their 2025 bingo card? … Anyone else?”
• Pringles Is Bringing Bold New Flavors to the Snack Aisle With Six Smoky, Salty and Sweet Innovations (PR Newswire): “When it comes to Pringles, flavor innovation never takes a summer vacation. The brand is continuing to deliver what its fans crave with more new, unique flavor combinations hitting shelves starting in September. From a brand-new collection of crisps with a smoky twist to launching a well-known flavor combination and introducing new sweet and savory Pringles Mingles flavors, there is truly something to satisfy every craving.”
• Campbell’s Chunky and Pabst Blue Ribbon Invite Fans to “Crack Open a Warm One” with New Collaboration (PR Newswire): “‘This is the ultimate flavor collaboration,’ said Ryan Pawling, Senior Brand Manager, Campbell’s Chunky. “Our fans love bold, unexpected taste experiences, and pairing Chunky’s hearty recipes with the iconic, malty flavor of PBR brings something totally unique to the soup aisle.’”