Some food ideas sound great in a boardroom but fall apart when they hit the shelves. Whether it was weird flavors, sketchy ingredients, or just an epic misread of public taste, these products faced the wrath of the internet, angry parents, or general consumer confusion.
From bizarre combos to tone-deaf marketing, here are 20 food products that sparked enough backlash to be yanked from stores. One minute, they were tried trendsetters; the next, they were gone without a trace.
20. Crystal Pepsi
Pepsi tried reinventing the wheel by clarifying cola, but people were not buying the see-through hype. It came back briefly for nostalgia, but most people remembered why they didn’t like it in the first place.
19. McDonald’s Arch Deluxe
McDonald’s thought they could win over adults with a “sophisticated” burger. Turns out, nobody wanted fancy from the place known for Happy Meals.
18. Orbitz Drink
This drink had floating gelatin balls inside, and the vibe was more lava lamp than refreshing beverage. The novelty wore off fast once people tasted it.
17. Cheetos Lip Balm
Cheetos flavor? Sure. On your lips? Not. This cursed product left people horrified and confused.
16. Colgate Frozen Meals
A toothpaste brand tried to sell actual food, and unsurprisingly, no one wanted dinner from the same company that makes cavity protection. It tanked faster than you can say “mint lasagna.”
15. Heinz EZ Squirt Ketchup
Green and purple ketchup might’ve been fun for a hot second, but the appeal wore off when people realized neon condiments are unsettling. Parents were especially not thrilled with the mess factor.
14. New Coke
Coca-Cola messed with perfection and got roasted for it. The backlash was so loud, they had to bring back the original as “Coca-Cola Classic” to save face.
13. Doritos 3D (Original Version)
People weren’t sold on the puffed version of their favorite chip the first time. They eventually brought them back with better flavor, but the 2000s rollout was a bust.
12. McDonald’s Hula Burger
A burger with grilled pineapple instead of meat? Not even during Lent did this one catch on. It quickly vanished and left no trace.
11. Frito-Lay Wow! Chips
These chips were made with Olestra, a fat substitute that caused let’s say, unpleasant digestive side effects. The backlash was immediate and very graphic.
10. Lifesavers Soda
If you’ve ever wondered what a melted bag of candy would taste like in liquid form, this was it. Spoiler: it wasn’t good, and people were vocal about it.
9. Taco Bell Seafood Salad
Taco Bell and seafood are two words that should never be in the same sentence. Customers were understandably horrified and let the chain know it.
8. Kellogg’s Breakfast Mates
This all-in-one breakfast kit included cereal, milk, and a spoon, but people didn’t trust unrefrigerated milk just hanging out in a box, so the concept never caught on.
7. McDLT
It came in a weird two-compartment box to separate the hot and cold parts. Consumers found it overly complicated and not particularly tasty.
6. Pepsi A.M.
Designed for people who wanted to drink soda for breakfast, this idea fizzled fast. Coffee won that battle without even trying.
5. Gerber Singles for Adults
Yes, baby food for grown-ups was a real thing. No, it did not last, because no one wants to eat meat puree out of a jar past the age of two.
4. Burger King’s Satisfries
Burger King tried to offer a “healthier” fry, but it didn’t taste good, and no one wanted to pay more for less flavor. They got pulled without much fanfare.
3. Coca-Cola BlāK
Coffee and Coke in one bottle sounded exciting, but it was a disappointment. The backlash brewed fast and strong.
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2. Reese’s Peanut Butter & Banana Creme Cups
A limited release inspired by Elvis Presley, but the flavors didn’t hit the right note. Fans of the King weren’t enough to save this combo.
Read More: 20 Fast Food Items That Disappeared for a Reason
1. Lay’s Cappuccino Chips
Yes, these were real. And yes, they were gone almost as fast as they arrived after people begged for mercy from the flavor gods.
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