We all know McDonald’s for gracing us with a juicy stacked Big Mac, and for mastering the art of the perfectly salted french fry – but perfection comes at a price. Over the course of its six-decade history, this fast-food mammoth has strived to keep up with the pace of business, leading to the constant creation of new menu items. While some of them have been ultimate successes, others have been quickly sent to the grave, never to be remembered. Follow along for twelve of the biggest failures McDonald’s has ever had.

1) Hula Burger

While Mcdonald’s founder Ray Kroc enjoyed many successes throughout his career, this 1960s sandwich was not one of them. This meatless burger was intended for Catholics who abstained from eating meat during Lent. It consisted of a pineapple slice between two pieces of cheese on a toasted bun.

2) McPizza

In the late 1980s, McDonald’s started to introduce pizza to its menu in hopes of attracting more dinnertime diners. Only available after 4 p.m, the pizza posed issues right from the get-go. The pies were made to order, which sounds nice in theory, but diners wanted speedy service more than anything. In the end, the pull was not strong enough to keep it going.

3) McSpaghetti

We are in another country and where do we eat lunch? @McDonalds Seriously though, how do we not have McSpaghetti in America? Someone needs to do something about that. #McSpaghetti pic.twitter.com/njWciAhD0K

— Dana LaBerge (@DanaLaBerge) February 13, 2019

Also introduced as a dinner option, McSpaghetti came to fruition in the late 1970s. Its debut was not well-received, as customers were not focused on Italian menu items, rather burgers and fries. It was removed shortly after, however, it remains a menu item in the Phillippines to this day.

4) Onion Nuggets

Remember these ? I hope not. McDonalds Onion Nuggets pic.twitter.com/U1rilIWOV7

— Tef Poe the 🐐 (@TefPoe) September 5, 2015

Before the history-changing Chicken McNuggets were introduced in the 1980s, McDonald’s first tried to introduce the onion nugget. They pitched them as an alternative side to french fries, but they could not compete.

5) McLobster

I bought this McLobster in Alberta in spring 2015 when it had a limited run (or swim?) here pic.twitter.com/D4dRAy6tAV

— canadian carrot (@peace_n_carrots) June 21, 2020

Reminiscent of New England lobster rolls, McDonald’s revealed their own take in 1992. However, lobster posed itself as a rather expensive ingredient for an item that wasn’t gaining much traction. It was yanked shortly after its inception but has been known to make appearances around New England and eastern Canada every now and then.

6) McHotDog

Founder Ray Kroc was known to dislike hot dogs and refused to serve them at McDonald’s. He wrote in his autobiography, “there’s no telling what’s inside a hot dog’s skin”. But Mcdonald’s has since tried to roll them out a few times over the years with little scandal. Unfortunately, customers just don’t equate hotdogs with the brand.

7) McLean Deluxe

As an early health-conscious effort from the fast-food chain, the McLean was advertised as being 91% fat-free in the 1990s. McDonald’s replaced a lot of the fat in the burger with water, and injected seaweed into it as a binder. In the end, the McLean’s taste wasn’t enough to keep it afloat and the burger was dubbed the ‘McFlopper’ according to The New York Times.

8) McSalad Shakers

Pitched as another healthy option – the McSalad Shakers met their demise only a few years after their roll out in 2000. The fast-food chain attempted to capitalize on the trend of having a salad on the go, offering the green option in a Slurpee cup. The idea proved to be unappetizing to customers and was changed to the regular salad bowls they have now.

9) McStuffins

This Hot Pockets rip-off got a cold reception in the 1990s when first introduced. Grab-and-go food became very popular in the 1980s, and this was McDonald’s attempt at weighing in on the trend. The recipe featured small stuffed baguettes, in multiple flavors including chicken teriyaki and pepperoni pizza. Unfortunately, they came and went in the blink of an eye.

10) McAfrika

Introducing one of the biggest marketing catastrophes in McDonald’s history. This pita-like sandwich featured beef, cheese, tomatoes, and salad. It appeared in Norway and Denmark locations in 2002, and was supposedly based on an African recipe. However, this period was also during one of Africa’s most intense famines. The public outcry was overwhelmingly negative.

11) Chicken Fajitas

While McDonald’s is best known for its typical American fare, it has dared to stretch its wings to other cuisines, including Italian and Mexican. Enter their chicken fajitas in 1993. The commercial claimed that one bite was like “a taste of Mexico…without the sunburn”. The tortilla roll-ups included chicken, cheese, bell peppers and diced onions. While it didn’t last long, it still has a large fan-base who periodically try to revive them.

12) McDLT

Blame the demise of the McDLT, introduced in the 1980s, on the rising consciousness of environmentalism. Food-wise, there was nothing inherently wrong with the burger. It was simply that – a burger with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and pickles. The problem itself was in the styrofoam packaging that featured two separate compartments. The idea was to keep the burger hot, and the vegetables cold, allowing you to assemble your sandwich before eating it. However, McDonald’s was heavily criticized for the packaging and withdrew this menu item.

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Sources: Eat This, Not That, Cheat Sheet, Business Insider