Scotland's "worst" foods have been ranked, with a beloved takeaway staple shockingly topping the list and some north-eastern gems making an unexpected appearance.

Scotland is famed for its distinctive culinary offerings, from the crumbly sweetness of shortbread to the hearty warmth of Cullen skink. While some Scottish dishes are an acquired taste, others enjoy widespread adoration.

The online travel guide TasteAtlas has controversially published a rundown of the 25 "worst-rated Scottish foods", with some of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire's finest unexpectedly featuring on the list.

Claiming the dubious honour of first place with a paltry score of 2.7 out of 5 is the deep-fried pizza. Ubiquitous in fish and chip shops nationwide, this greasy delight has become a quintessential part of Scottish nightlife.

Also referred to as 'pizza crunch', this guilty pleasure involves a pizza dunked into boiling oil rather than the traditional oven bake, according to the Daily Record.

TasteAtlas didn't hold back, branding the pizza crunch as "extremely caloric and unhealthy". Despite this, it remains a firm favourite among Scots, often savoured post-pub crawl or nostalgically recalled as a school lunchtime treat.

Hot on its heels in the second spot, rated at 3.1 out of 5, is the Dundee cake. This traditional fruit cake bears resemblance to Christmas cake but boasts a lighter, more brittle consistency.

The iconic Dundee cake, renowned for its rich mix of currants, sultanas, and almonds that create its distinctive patterned top, is steeped in history. Legend has it that this Scottish treat dates back to the 16th century, originally baked for Mary, Queen of Scots.

In a surprising twist, the Lorne sausage, also known as square sausage, has been ranked third on TasteAtlas' list of the worst Scottish foods. Scoring a modest 3.3, this traditional component of the Scottish breakfast is crafted from minced meat, rusk, and spices, and notably lacks a casing to maintain its shape.

Another Scottish favourite facing criticism is the deep-fried Mars bar, which lands at number five on the "worst" list with a score of 3.4 out of five. This divisive snack, a love-it-or-hate-it item, is believed to have originated in the early 1990s at The Haven Chip Bar, now called The Carron, in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire.

It's made by dipping a chilled Mars bar into flour batter and frying it until golden.

Other traditional Scottish dishes that have found themselves on TasteAtlas' infamous list include cranachan and stovies. Cranachan, a luscious dessert, is traditionally whipped up to celebrate the summer raspberry harvest, while stovies are a hearty potato-based dish typically created to repurpose Sunday roast leftovers.

One unexpected entry from the north-east was the renowned buttery or rowie, which ranked 16th, just one spot above haggis - Scotland's national dish.

The complete list of the least-liked Scottish Foods can be viewed on the TasteAtlas website.