The introduction and withdrawal of Life Savers Holes™️ occurred within a 4-month window, due to safety issues with the products packaging. (Sadly, I don't have any Holes in my collection. This is mostly because I was truing back to my original goal, which was to collect a roll of each flavor. When Holes came out, they generally replicated flavors already in the roll lineup.)
"Based on favorable test market results, national distribution of LIFE SAVERS HOLES, a miniature hard candy, commenced in October 1990. In January 1991, in response to a few isolated incidents where misuse of the package caused the package's cap to detach, the product as so packaged was voluntarily withdrawn from the market as a precautionary safety measure . It is anticipated that the product will be back in distribution with a modified package in the second quarter of 1991."
Incidentally, Life Savers Holes were also sold in Australia's Allen's Life Savers as a "limited edition". They had a different type of packaging, per https://petersmilkbar.com/lifesavers-holes-90s. Unlike American Holes, which had packages similar to the ⭕-shaped candy, the Australian Holes had a funky mid-century modern vibe in cobalt blue and neon green.
Sources
1990 annual report, RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp. Retrieved from: link
Photos ©️2025, courtesy of Eric at bumchex, an eBay supplier.