The doughnut burger: is this a new low in unhealthy eating?

The culinary world has recently seen the launch of the black burger, the £1,100 gold leaf burger, the squirrel burger and even the 'human flesh' burger. But the latest in a long line of attention-seeking junk foods – a double beef burger with doughnuts for buns – may be a patty too far.

The "family friendly" pub chain Hungry Horse has been censured by doctors and academics for launching the Double Donut, the BBC reports. It contains a whopping 1,996 calories, just two short of a woman's recommended daily intake.

The chain, which may believe all publicity is good publicity, says it is catering for a "variety of tastes". Critics believe it is irresponsible and has created a "heart attack on a plate" comprising two deep-fried doughnuts, two beef patties, cheese, BBQ sauce and four rashers of bacon.

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Mel Wakeman, a senior lecturer in physiology at Birmingham City University, told the BBC: "To me, this is simply ludicrous and irresponsible. I am no killjoy but why is this sort of food available?"

He suggested the chain should at least list on the menu the amount of exercise a customer would have to do to burn off the 1,996 calories - around three hours of continuous running, he estimated.

This is far from being the first stunt burger of recent years.

Earlier this year a burger designed to taste "exactly like human flesh" promoted the release of a zombie-themed TV show, while squirrel burgers were sold in the Forest of Dean as a controversial way of disposing of the invasive animals.

In September, Burger King Japan announced its Black Burger - replete with a bamboo-charcoal bun, black cheese and a black pepper patty. A brave experimenter who ate one for Gawker described it as "a burger – but grosser".

Just weeks later, McDonald's Japan struck back with its own version, as Metro reported. Their bun was dyed with squid ink - though the cheese was a disappointing yellow colour. "Missed a trick," said Metro.

Last month the Daily Telegraph reported a Chelsea restaurant was serving what it called the world's most expensive burger, retailing at £1,100 each.

Wagyu beef, wild venison, Canadian lobster, black truffle brie, Iranian saffron, beluga caviar, maple syrup, mango and champagne jus, white truffle and a smoked duck egg all jostled for attention between gold-leaf coated buns.

The Guardian's food writer Marina O'Loughlin was already bemoaning the advent of the posh burger phenomenon as long ago as 2012. Posh greasy meat is still greasy meat, she wrote.

We have started "eating like children", O'Loughlin said, wishing the whole "gourmet junk food" phenomenon would go away.

The 'Glamburger': world's most expensive burger created in London

07 October

The world's most expensive burger, which includes Canadian lobster, Kobe beef and black truffle brie, has been created at a London restaurant.

Costing £1,100 and served in a gold leaf coated brioche bun, it took three weeks to create at Chelsea's Honky Tonk restaurant.

Made of a mixture of Kobe Wagyu beef and New Zealand venison, it will be served alongside Beluga caviar, a mango and Champagne jus, and topped off with a sprinkling of grated white truffle.

The dish contains over 2,618 calories, more than the daily recommended amount for an adult male.

Head chef Chris Large created the pricey burger in conjunction with marketing company Groupon to celebrate the sale of its five millionth food and drink voucher. Customers of the deals website can compete to win the chance to sample the dish.

Large told the Daily Telegraph: "After sourcing the best possible ingredients to create this masterpiece, the winner will certainly have a dinner to remember,"

The Glamburger, the world’s most expensive burger from Groupon UK & IE on Vimeo.