08 July 2023 , 06:00
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Most historians agree White Castle, in Kansas, America, was the world's first fast-food chain, having opened in 1916.
The chain sold hamburgers for five cents apiece from its inception - paving the way for competitors such as McDonald's and Burger King.
But it isn't just their burger-heavy menus that they have in common, the companies all have similar colour schemes too.
It prompted one Reddit user to ask: "Why do fast-food restaurants share the same colour schemes - red, yellow and white. I was doing a marathon drive last night and realised that many fast-food companies share the same colour combinations with their logos. Why is this? In N Out, McDonald's Carls Jr, Burger King, Wendys, KFC."
Burger King was founded in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida–based restaurant chain (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)However, according to psychologist and leading colour expert Karen Haller, it isn't just a coincidence. She claims these eye-catching shades help to entice customers through the doors without them even realising it.
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According to a post shared on Karen's official behavioural consultancy website, "mood this combination of colours emits is perfect for their target market".
Delving into the science behind this, Karen wrote: "Looking at the positive psychology qualities of red and yellow in relation to the fast food industry, red triggers stimulation, appetite, hunger, it attracts attention.
"Yellow triggers the feelings of happiness and friendliness. When you combine red and yellow it's about speed, quickness. In, eat and out again."
She added: "Yellow is also the most visible colour in daylight, which is why the McDonald's M can be seen from a far distance. The language of colour is communicated quicker to the brain than words or shapes as they work directly on our feelings and emotions."
Colonel Harland Sanders opened the first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1952 (Getty Images)Karen touched upon why exactly McDonald's has changed a number of branch colours to green in recent times, which instead "elicits the feelings of nature, natural and environmentally friendly."
She says it gives a more relaxed, and less rushed feel, in a way that Karen compares with fellow high street giant, Starbucks.
Amazed by this revelation, one user said: "Is that why my mouth starts watering every time I see pizza?"
Another user added: "No joke, it makes me crave fries and ketchup. When I get there, I figure I might as well get a McDouble and chicken sandwich to wash it all down."
A third user said: "You learn something new every day."