Top 20+ Products from the 80s That Were Pretty Controversial

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

Whether you powered up with power suits, did jazz fingers through fingerless gloves, or went big with big hair, one thing is certain: The 1980s were rad. But their totally-tubularness aside, they weren’t perfect. This decade was gnarly, in more ways than one, a hotbed of infomercials, get-rich-quick schemes, and questionable commerce. The following is a list of somewhat controversial ‘80s (and ’80s-adjacent) products. Hold on to your bucket hat….away we go! 

#1: Diet Candy

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

Does diet candy sound like a too-good-to-be-true oxymoron? That’s because it is. Ayds Diet Candy was a snack meets appetite suppressant meets lawsuit waiting to happen. It was a popular brand in the ‘80s (and earlier) but was discontinued due to a lack of effectiveness and safety concerns (a result of the phenylpropanolamine the candy contained). Regular users were at risk of increased heart rate, stroke, seizures, and high blood pressure. 

#3: Sea-Monkeys

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

From Chia Pets to Pet Rocks, the ‘80s were an era of gimmicky pet projects, and sea monkeys fit perfectly. Of course, these creatures weren’t actually aquarium apes; they were brine shrimp eggs in a state of dormancy. When introduced to water, the eggs hatched, eventually growing into adult shrimp. Fun Fact: Sea monkeys are one of the easiest pets to raise due to their low level of need. Some have lived up to five years in captivity. 

#4: Tanning Oils

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

Between tanning beds and lotions that topped off at SPF 2, the ‘80s weren’t known for their UV awareness. This was readily apparent in their tanning oil selections. Rather than protecting the skin from the sun’s dangerous rays, these oils welcomed them, leading to sunburn, an increased risk of skin cancer, and premature aging. In most cases, the tanning oil companies didn’t advertise these dangers; it’s possible they didn’t understand them yet, either. Regardless, the shift in public opinion led tanning oil to fall out of favor and gave sunscreen its chance to shine.

#6: Mood Rings

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

Mood rings were once all the rage, marketed as intuitive jewelry that could convey how someone was feeling. But they came with a big hang-up: They didn’t work. Mood rings changed color based on the body temperature of the wearer, not their emotions. This meant they weren’t accurate and didn’t control for environmental factors. A mood ring may have changed when someone felt a little hot under the collar, yet it would have changed just as readily when that same person experienced a rush of happy endorphins during a workout.

#7: Candy Cigarettes

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

While banned in some countries, candy cigarettes can still be found in American stores today (although their popularity peaked in the ‘80s……an era when anything flew!). Certainly approved by Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man, candy cigarettes fell into controversy when research revealed a link between these sticks and tobacco use. In other words, sugar-laden cigarettes are a gateway sweet. 

#9: The Infamous Clapper

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

Most children of the ‘80s can recall the iconic Clapper commercial. (Clap on. Clap off. The Clapper.) The Clapper was an electrical switch activated by sound. It was designed to be controlled by hand clapping, but its oversensitivity proved to be its downfall. Dogs barking, doors shutting, and TVs and radios often triggered the Clapper inadvertently, especially in early models. While you can still find vintage products online, the Clapper never seemed to reach its full potential. However, it provided a preview of the future and the automation yet to come.

#10: Electric Face Toning Devices

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

The ‘80s was an era marked by weight loss shakes and ThighMasters, so it’s fitting that electric face-toning contraptions were also popular. These products promised beauty seekers more youthful skin (at least until they used the tanning oils mentioned above). They didn’t exactly work efficiently, but they did pave the way for improved technology. In modern-day, microcurrent therapy is used by both novices and dermatologists to stimulate facial muscles, resulting in tighter skin and fewer wrinkles.

#12: Fake Leather Jackets

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

Leather jackets were an extremely popular clothing choice in the ‘80s, up there with leg warmers and high-waisted mom jeans. However, they were a conundrum for animal lovers, so the faux leather jacket was a viable solution. Initially considered a win-win for fashion fanatics and cow supporters, the material proved unreliable; it lacked breathability and disintegrated quickly. Eventually, it went the way of oversized blazers and shoulder pads…off to the big walk-in closet in the sky.

#13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

Scratch-and-sniff stickers once filled our sticker books (and our hearts). Gaining immense popularity in the mid-80s thanks to the 3M Corporation, these stickers used a fragrant coating of scented oil, water, and polymers to release odors when scratched. Generally considered safe and non-toxic, this wasn’t always the case, and some smelled more like chemicals than others. It was recommended that parents check the manufacturer’s safety specs beforehand, something pretty much no one in the ‘80s ever did.

#15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

Self-cleaning ovens rose to prominence in the ‘80s, even though they are a bit of a misnomer. While these ovens have features that help them burn off food at high temperatures, they’re not truly self-cleaning; instead, they require some degree of manual cleaning (such as wiping away residue). Perhaps they’ll someday successfully channel the likes of The Jetsons, but even modern-day self-cleaning ovens require a human-machine partnership for optimal success.

#16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

It slices! It dices! Ginsu knives were all over the television screen in the ‘80s, spearheaded by their claim to carve through anything and everything. Even the Ginsu name was carefully selected, conjuring up images of Samurai swords and capitalizing on America’s interest in Japanese culture. The knives were manufactured in Ohio, however, and that wasn’t even their most devious deception. Although they were marketed as a cut above the rest, they were just ordinary knives. Once people figured this out, they ended up on the chopping block.

#18: Lawn Darts

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

Lawn darts (also commercially known as Jarts) were a lawn game featuring heavy-metal darts you were meant to shoot into hoops in the backyard. The thing is, letting kids play with heavy metal-tipped darts can be more than a little dangerous, as parents started to realize in the 80s. The toy was eventually recalled in 1988 after causing a few injuries and tragic deaths.

#19: Ouija Boards

#1: Diet Candy, #3: Sea-Monkeys, #4: Tanning Oils, #6: Mood Rings, #7: Candy Cigarettes, #9: The Infamous Clapper, #10: Electric Face Toning Devices, #12: Fake Leather Jackets, #13: Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, #15: “Self-Cleaning” Ovens, #16: The “As Seen on TV” Knives, #18: Lawn Darts, #19: Ouija Boards

The 1980s were all about having some spooky fun and communicating with the dead, and that’s where Ouija Boards entered the picture. Board games like Ouija and, for some reason, Dungeons & Dragons led to the Satanic Panic, fear (mostly by religious groups) that such games weren’t so innocent and were encouraging dark behaviors. Of course, these games were perfectly harmless.

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