Peeps Will Be Missing From Store Shelves This Halloween and Christmas (as If 2020 Couldn’t Get Any Less Sweet)

Peeps Will Be Missing From Store Shelves This Halloween and Christmas (as If 2020 Couldn’t

However, Easter Peeps are still on track to return in 2021.

This has been one hot mess of a year, but the one sweet delight we thought it couldn’t cancel? Marshmallows.

We were wrong.

Just Born Quality Confections, the company responsible for the production of Peeps, just announced that its Halloween-themed marshmallow treats—think ghosts, black cats, and pumpkin-shaped Peeps—will not be available this year, and same goes for its Christmas confections. Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day marshmallow Peeps will also not be available in February 2021, and holiday-themed treats from the company’s other candies—including Mike and Ike and Hot Tamales—will be missing from shelves this year, too.

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How could this happen, you ask? They have good reason—according to the brand's website, Just Born temporarily suspended production in late March at its Bethlehem and Philadelphia, Pa. facilities in order to take responsibility for the health and safety of its employees during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Despite being designated an ‘essential business’ by state and federal authorities, we took this step to help ‘flatten the curve’ while helping ensure the health and safety of our associates, which is our top priority,” says Just Born. “We officially restarted our two production facilities on Monday, May 4 in accordance with local, state, and CDC health and safety guidelines.”

Though it reopened in early May, the limited production and new protocols to ensure employees’ safety came with repercussions.

“This situation resulted in us having to make the difficult decision to forego production of our seasonal candies for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day in order to focus on meeting the expected overwhelming demand for Peeps for next Easter season, as well as our everyday candies," said the company in a statement.”

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At last, a silver lining: there will be Peeps come Easter 2021, which is (of course) is its biggest holiday.

"We look forward to offering our fun seasonal shapes and packaging at all major seasons again beginning with Halloween of 2021,” the site says. “We appreciate your interest in Just Born’s iconic candy brands, and we look forward to being a part of seasonal traditions again next year!”