Scientists are claiming to have made a breakthrough on the taste of the much mocked Brussels sprout.
Through selective breeding, seed suppliers Syngenta claim to have neutralised the genes that give the sprout its traditional smell and slightly bitter taste, replacing them with ones that boost sugar levels.
As a result, the company said some of the sprouts hitting dinner tables this Christmas will taste sweeter.
Tests on panels of blindfolded children proved successful, with many of the subjects requesting a second helping - until the truth of what they were eating was revealed.
The company began the breeding programme five years ago after a survey showed sprouts to be one of the UK’s most unpopular vegetables.