Diners at a five-star hotel who ordered a rare or medium rare burger from the restaurant menu were asked to sign a legal disclaimer waiving the establishment's responsibilities if they suffered food poisoning.

The chef on duty at the Curve restaurant at the Marriott West India Quay, in east London, and the restaurant supervisor also had to sign the document before customers could eat the £12 burger.

Tim Sanders, a lawyer who was handed the waiver, said: "I ordered a standard burger, cooked medium rare, and the waiter muttered something and walked away.

"He came back with a legal form which then had to be signed in triplicate, and which said 'Unless you sign this, you can't have your hamburger'."

Nick Scade, the chairman of the Restaurant Association, said: "It strikes me that some corporate person has got their knickers in a twist."

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