Cheeseburger

The cheeseburger is a global culinary icon whose origins are most frequently traced back to the United States during the 1920s. While several individuals claim its invention, Lionel Sternberger is often credited with first adding a slice of cheese to a hamburger in Pasadena, California.

Today, the cheeseburger is produced by thousands of different entities ranging from global fast-food giants like McDonald's and Burger King to local independent restaurants and large-scale industrial food processing plants. Because it is a generic food item rather than a single trademarked product, the country of manufacture and the ultimate owner vary entirely based on the specific vendor or brand providing the burger.

In a commercial context, if purchased from a major chain, the brand origin is typically the United States, with manufacturing handled locally in each country to ensure freshness and compliance with regional food standards.