Starting a couple of weeks ago, Brits were given a golden opportunity. Or rather, a bright orange one: Taco Bell in the UK has introduced its Doritos Locos Taco, a taco with a shell made entirely of one big Dorito.

Tempted? Disgusted? Whatever your reaction, the Tex-Mex chain’s creation – which originally launched in the US in 2012 – has a track record of doing rather well. Media outlets hailed the hybrid creation as “one of the most successful fast food innovations of all time”, selling a billion units in the first year.

It’s no wonder, then, that more of these snack-food-fast-foods are popping up, especially in the US.

Last month, Pizza Hut rolled out a calzone shaped like a Cheez-It, a square cracker with a cheddar flavour, and, in August, KFC released a fried-chicken sandwich stuffed with Cheetos, puffy cheese-flavoured crisps.

Many of these items only pop up for a limited time, but they always make a high-in-saturated-fats splash, especially on social media. And, as evidenced by the success of the Doritos Locos Taco, they move product – a lot of it.

But how did we get to a place where a mash up between fast-food favourite and vending-machine staple are becoming commonplace? Is America’s fast food-crazed culture to blame?