Burger King published an open letter to McDonalds in two newspapers yesterday where it proposed creating a combined McWhopper burger for one day next month.

The burger would mark a cessation of competitive hostilities between the companies and would be sold on International Peace Day, September 21, and would only sold in Atlanta, half way between Burger King’s base in Miami and McDonald’s in Chicago.

McDonald’s chief executive, Steve Easterbrook replied tersely on Facebook last night.

He begins: "We love the intention but think our two brands could do something bigger to make a difference" - suggesting that the two global corporations could do something more affective to help to bring about World Peace than making a special burger.

The statement seems to hint that the suggestion, and the tie-in with International Peace Day, could be viewed as being in bad taste - "Let’s acknowledge that between us there is simply a friendly business competition and certainly not the circumstances of the real pain and suffering of war."

The letter ends, "PS. A simple phone call will do next time" - in what could be read as a dig at Burger King attempts to garner publicity with the newspaper stunt.