McDonald's have attempted to make kids eat more vegetables – by experimenting with bubble-gum flavoured broccoli.

Astoundingly, the venture was not a success and the product was pulled before it even reached the shelves.

The fast-food chain’s CEO Don Thompson agreed that his company’s latest attempt to get children eating healthier did not pan out.

“It wasn’t all that,” Mr Thompson told Business Insider of the taste of the broccoli, which apparently confused kids.

The new product comes amid continuing criticism of the food giant’s advertising. Healthy food advocates claim that McDonald's fails to encourage children to eat healthily and instead leave children with a preference for calorific content, according to research from Dr Emma Boyland at Liverpool University.

McDonald's meals around the world Show all 14 1 /14 McDonald's meals around the world McDonald's meals around the world Black and White burger, served in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan The black burger contains beef and onion topped with black pepper sauce, while the white burger contains chicken with lettuce and a spicy sauce McDonald's meals around the world McCurry Pan, served in India A bread bowl filled with chicken curry McDonald's meals around the world McBaguette, served in France Baked in a ciabatta roll and topped with emmental cheese McDonald's meals around the world McLobster, served in Canada Only served in summer... McDonald's meals around the world Shrimp burger, served in Japan Prawn-filled burger topped with thousand island sauce McDonald's meals around the world Das Nürnburger, served in Germany Three Bratwurst sausages served with mustard inside a soft white bun McDonald's meals around the world Prosperity Burger, served in Malaysia Meat, meat, meat, onions and black pepper sauce McDonald's meals around the world Chicken Maharaja Mac, served in India McDonald's meals around the world Cheese Fondue (left) and Carbonara Burger (right) Served only in Japan McDonald's meals around the world Pasta Zoo Australia and New Zealand's take on the Happy Meal McDonald's meals around the world Deluxe Breakfast roll, served in Australia With bacon, hash brown an egg and spicy tomato McDonald's meals around the world McBeer Found in all good McEuropean restaurants McDonald's meals around the world McAloo Tikki, served in India McDonald's meals around the world Kiwi stick, served in Italy

Mr Thompson also claimed that McDonald’s still sells the most salads of any American restaurant in the US. There were 14, 157 McDonald’s stores in the United States as of 2012, according to data collected by the Guardian.

A criticism of the corporation mounts, it has seen profit drop 30 per cent over the third financial quarter of this year.

The fall was blamed on US customers switching to other fast-food outlets, while profits in Germany, Russia and especially China were damaged by a scandal over meat supplies.