There's a reason Australians haven't been able to spot Starburst on supermarket shelves and it might leave a bitter taste in lolly lovers' mouths.
Confectionery giant Mars Wrigley has confirmed it has discontinued the Starburst brand in Australia.
The move means the brand's iconic chews, snakes and babies will no longer be stocked across the country.
The news came after TikTok creator Nariman Dein uploaded a video expressing her frustrations at being unable to find the lollies in Sydney, having scoured several supermarkets.
"These were the best and I can't find them anywhere," Dein said.
"And I'm having some conspiracy theory — did they just stop selling them and no-one noticed?
"Is this another Mandela effect?"
Mars Wrigley responded to the video, which attracted about 276,000 views, by releasing a statement confirming the absence of Starburst lines wasn't a conspiracy.
"Our Starburst products are imported from Europe and, 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," a spokesperson for the company said.
"After reviewing all options, we've made the difficult decision to discontinue the brand in Australia from June 2022."
Mars Wrigley is a major American multinational manufacturer of chocolate, chewing gum, mints and fruity sweets.
