Earl of Sandwich must be turning in his grave. McDonalds, the paragon of unhealthy eating habits wants to patent Sandwiches:

The burger company says owning the ‘intellectual property rights’ would help its hot deli sandwiches look and taste the same at all of its restaurants. The 55-page patent, which has been filed in the US and Europe, covers the ‘simultaneous toasting of a bread component’. Garnishes of lettuce, onions and tomatoes, as well as salt, pepper and ketchup, are inserted into a cavity in a ‘sandwich delivery tool’.