October 15th, 2010
09:15 AM ET
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Forget “where’s the beef?” - where’s the mold? It’s the latest front in the fast food wars: What does a Happy Meal look like after it sits out for six months?

A New York City photographer took a Happy Meal burger and fries and photographed it every few days for more than six months. The result: day one's photo looks almost identical to day 180. No mold, no decay - it’s the Happy Meal fountain of youth.

“The Happy Meal Project” has raised a ruckus. People love it or hate it, just as they love or hate fast food.

As it turns out, lots of folks have been saving Big Macs and other fast food fare to bolster the argument that they must be full of preservatives - one guy even has a hamburger museum. But, a neutral food scientist we talked to blames the lack of decomposition on low moisture rather than anything dastardly.

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Filed under: Business and Farming News • Fast Food • News • Think • Video • Weird News


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  1. Monica Hughes

    Sorry to disappoint you. Food rots. Yes, even McDonald's.

    http://sparkasynapse.blogspot.com/2010/10/of-mushrooms-molds-and-mcdonalds-day_31.html

    November 6, 2010 at 5:24 pm | Reply
  2. KrissyStar

    OOOOOO... yummy... Even if i ate meat i would not poision myself with this nasty crap....

    October 23, 2010 at 6:48 pm | Reply
  3. none

    think that's gross? can anyone tell the difference between new and old candy corn? i'm convinced the last batch was made in the 70s, and so few people like the stuff that they continue to try and sell that same batch, lol.

    October 18, 2010 at 9:33 pm | Reply
  4. RLF

    Low moisture is the culprit, eh? I don't buy it. If I leave a slice of whole wheat bread out on my counter in my air conditioned house it begins to show blue mold spots in a matter of days. As for cooked beef, well, I haven't tried it on the counter, but if I leave it in the fridge for a week it lets me know it's there!

    October 18, 2010 at 12:18 pm | Reply
  5. Adam

    We have a hamburger on display (in the open) in our Nutrition Club in Wisconsin that was purchased in September of 2009. No mold!

    October 18, 2010 at 11:09 am | Reply
  6. alek

    Watch what is really happening to a mcdonalds cheesburger streamed LIVE at: http://www.watchmyburger.com

    October 17, 2010 at 9:07 pm | Reply
  7. enness

    This experiment started in April in this lady's NYC apartment. So the six months would include the whole summer. Wasn't it a very hot summer in NYC? I wonder if she ever used her air conditioner...which, as some of you may know, can act somewhat as a dehumidifier...which everyone I know who suffers from mold allergies says is a tremendous help in keeping growth down!

    Come on, people.

    October 17, 2010 at 2:20 pm | Reply
    • alek

      our test shows the burger LIVE, with a thermometer and humidity meter next to it.

      October 17, 2010 at 9:09 pm | Reply
  8. Sarah

    Why couldn't they wait until Monopoly month was over????

    October 16, 2010 at 8:47 pm | Reply
  9. Kevin

    The fact that it looks the same is a testament to its lack of moisture. If it had moisture, it would shrivel up. It becomes hard because the oil solidifies, I think. Mold needs the right environment to grow and its possible that the combination of oil and salt is not very hospitable.

    October 16, 2010 at 1:27 am | Reply
    • Kevin

      Then again, i found a leather belt of mine with green mold covering it once. Mold likes leather belts over McDonald's. What are we thinking?

      It could be proven by hydrating a french fry. My guess is that McD's food is moisture-free so it can be stored for a long time. Pan fry a hamburger from the store once.. You'll see that there's a lot of water in the pan. Fast food just replaces water with grease

      October 16, 2010 at 1:34 am | Reply
  10. BlenderBabe

    What is really disturbing about all of this is...
    http://foodiegossip.blogspot.com/2010/10/just-throw-it-away.html

    October 16, 2010 at 12:14 am | Reply
    • Jenna

      Wow... That's really gross. You just took the "happy" out of "happy meal"

      October 17, 2010 at 1:28 am | Reply
  11. The 10 Year Old Happy Meal

    This is OLD news. In fact, this news is 10 YEARS old. Take a look at an interview made in 2008.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IGtDPG4UfI – McDonald's 4 Year Old Cheeseburger Video

    This woman has documented a 10 year old happy meal and 6 year old happy meal she owns. (Since now it is 2010). GROSS!

    I can't eat McD's without feeling sick later and I'm still in my 20s. The food is so processed I can't do it any more. This is the only fast food chain that makes me feel ill later. Take heed to the movies Super Size Me and Fast Food Nation. This is pure crap we are eating.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:31 pm | Reply
  12. Cheffie

    I live in the desert were the moisture is exceedingly low. The bread that I make, without preservatives, will go moldy in three days and dry in four, and the mold will still be there and continue to grow if I leave it as is. When I used to by sliced bread with preservatives, it would last at least a week and a half. Just saying. Also, a while back there was a program on TV that explained the reason that fast-food items taste and smell so GOOD when you first buy them, but if you save them and re-heat them for later consumption, they taste and smell are completely off...Apparently there are laboratories that do nothing but spend their time and money on finding "additives" which enhance both the aroma and the flavor of these "foods", to make them more appealing to the consumer, but they only function so long as the food is "fresh" and hot. The effects wear off as the food cools.

    I agree with MrsMC...A trip to one of these outlets for a Happy Meal and some fun time for the kids once in a while won't kill anyone, but then again, should we be using food outlets that we know are unhealthy for our children as "rewards"? Better to cook real meals at home and save up for a decent meal once in awhile at a reputable restaurant as a treat for the family, IMO.

    I really have to wonder if the latest generations of people in Western society in particular are not suffering from all the health problems and educational problems that they are because of the abuse and misuse of food preservatives in our food chain in general, and especially giving the proclivity of people taking advantage of fast foods as a quick way to feed the family.

    October 15, 2010 at 6:03 pm | Reply
    • enness

      You may well have varieties that are better adapted to the desert. Judging by the other kinds of animals and plants that tend to survive in deserts (i.e. cactus and camels), that's not an unreasonable assumption.

      October 17, 2010 at 2:53 pm | Reply
  13. MrsMC

    Awwww, come on, you guys. I've known that MickeyD's isn't actually food ever since I was a kid (about 1985). My friends and I used to hang out heads out the car window and yell, "It's not real meat!" as we passed by.

    This isn't even really news, is it??? Surely there's something more relevant to debate. A McMeal and a trip to the Playplace once in a while probably isn't going to kill you. And if you're stupid enough to eat it often, as if it really were food, I'll put you in for a Darwin Award.

    October 15, 2010 at 5:01 pm | Reply
  14. BrightBetty

    We compost and we've found that McDonalds fries do not decompose even in compost. Ewwwww. That was enough to convince me not to eat there again.

    October 15, 2010 at 4:32 pm | Reply
  15. Absurdist

    captain dangerous,
    People only do that crap because they know that customer service workers get paid to be nice, so they have to sit and be humiliated and take it if they want to keep their job. It's a cheap way to make yourself feel superior.
    There's a special section in Hades reserved for people who are mean to service industry workers.

    October 15, 2010 at 4:31 pm | Reply
  16. Absurdist

    Hey, anybody out there consider WHY McDonald's stuff doesn't have moisture? Shouldn't a burger and fries have moisture? Try frying some up yourself, then leaving them out on the counter for a while, see what happens. Heck, try doing that with some Five Guys (more calories and fat, less chemical preservative nastiness). You know what? It will mold and rot.
    The fact that McDonald's food doesn't have enough moisture to mold is kind of the POINT, that means it's UNNATURAL CRAP. You want to be fat and have a heart attack? Eat a REAL burger. Want to be fat, have a heart attack, AND have cancer? Eat McDonald's. There ya go.

    October 15, 2010 at 4:23 pm | Reply
  17. captain dangerous

    i saw a customer throw a burger at an employee once cus he asked for no onions and they put it on anyways.

    October 15, 2010 at 4:05 pm | Reply
  18. heath

    As a gag, someone in my family gets a McDonald's burger for Christmas every year...usually the person farthest from the fam is responsible for sending the burger. They're never in bad shape (even when sent from Asia or Europe) and we've even kept the same burger going for a few years. They just don't rot...they petrify. The same can't be said for the apply pies though. Try sending one of those in the mail...nasty.

    October 15, 2010 at 3:51 pm | Reply
    • RichardHead

      Heath,It's kinda like the Christmas Fruitcake. A Gift that keeps on giving year after year.

      October 15, 2010 at 3:59 pm | Reply
  19. ChatChatProductions

    Um, ChatChatProductions is doing a story about this today on YouTube. If its not up today It will be up tomorrow. Come and type in "ChatChatProductions" to hear our side of the story.

    October 15, 2010 at 2:44 pm | Reply
    • RickSanchez

      Your production Dept is about as fast as SI-NN's. I'll think about it.

      October 15, 2010 at 3:21 pm | Reply
  20. VeganFox

    Seems like these kinds of experiments bring out
    the village idiots with all sorts of stupid comments...

    Life is too precious to follow anyone's advice but
    those in the know.

    As a post-doctoral fellow, and nutritionist, and vegan
    I wouldn't touch the garbage those fast food restaurants
    sell if my life depended on it.

    Who are we kidding? Your life does depend on what
    you eat! Check out the CANCER rate in our most
    technologically advanced and most sophisticated nation.

    Are we a nation of sophisticated IDIOTS?

    October 15, 2010 at 2:15 pm | Reply
    • Sir Isacc Newton

      Your boyfriends NUTS are covering your eyes in a sophisticated way of course!

      October 15, 2010 at 3:06 pm | Reply
    • Give it a rest already...

      Vegans are worse than the freakin evangelicals when it comes to being annoying...

      October 15, 2010 at 3:08 pm | Reply
  21. Andii

    More McDonalds propaganda on the heels of the other stuff earlier this week? Really? Did someone not hire these people to work fast food as teens and this is their revenge? To be whiny and bitter, make useless studies and write equally useless articles?
    Seriously folks ... live healthy, eat healthy, die poopin' in your pants and not remembering who you are. Just like in "Super Size Me", eating just about anything in excess is going to cause odd issues. Look at vegetarians. They all look pale, sick and like the wind is about to take them out. RETARDED stories like this aren't going to keep me from eating Mickey D's. Then again, unlike the morons that study rotting speeds of food, I have a life.
    I'll be eating a burger in your honor.

    October 15, 2010 at 2:07 pm | Reply
    • Eienstein

      If it's in my honor please put some chili cheese and onions on it.

      October 15, 2010 at 2:11 pm | Reply
    • Jacob

      Methinks you don't know that many vegetarians...

      October 19, 2010 at 11:00 am | Reply
  22. Eienstein

    Is that why a dog turd turns white and quits smelling after 3 days?

    October 15, 2010 at 2:02 pm | Reply
  23. Stephanie

    Another ignorant article by yet another ignorant person. Anyone with a brain knows that food will not decompose without moisture. Please do your research on the decomposition of food before running off at the keyboard. It amazes me of all the crap people will believe without doing their own research.

    October 15, 2010 at 1:58 pm | Reply
  24. JeramieH1

    Salt is a preservative.

    Mankind has only known about it for a few thousand years.

    October 15, 2010 at 1:51 pm | Reply
  25. JoeSchmo2000

    Why is this surprising people? This person who did this "experiment" obviously just has no knowledge of how and why things decompose.

    I'm not one for defending McDonalds, but this is retarded. You can leave any food out if it isn't fresh fruit or vegetables. If the air is dry enough ANYTHING dries out and just gets hard. There has to be moisture and the general area has to have a certain level of humidity to promote the growth of mold and bacteria that breaks it down. This is basic science.

    Want to see something TRULY disturbing? Leave a BUCKET of margarine OUTSIDE. And then wait. You can wait as long as you want, no animals will touch it, no insects, and it won't change at all. Possibly melt a little if it is hot enough out. But yea, much worse than a burger and some fries turning hard. It's because margarine is 1 molecule away from plastic. Look it up.

    October 15, 2010 at 1:34 pm | Reply
  26. Joe

    So the point of this experiment is that McDonald's uses some kind of magical chemical preservative in their food. Here is the nutritional content from McDonald's Website:

    100% Beef Patty:
    100% pure USDA inspected beef; no fillers, no extenders. Prepared with grill seasoning (salt, black pepper).

    (Although the Angus beef patty seems to have a quite a few filler ingredients and flavor enhancers).

    French Fries:
    Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acid
    pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to
    preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.

    Regular Bun:
    Enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, enzymes), water, high fructose corn syrup,
    sugar, yeast, soybean oil and/or partially hydrogenated soybean oil, contains 2% or less of the following: salt, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, wheat gluten,
    ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, dough conditioners (sodium stearoyl lactylate, datem, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated
    monoglycerides, monocalcium phosphate, enzymes, guar gum, calcium peroxide, soy flour), calcium propionate and sodium propionate (preservatives), soy lecithin.

    There ya go, I did the research for you. If you don't know what you're eating when you get a Happy Meal, read the ingredients. If you don't like it then don't eat it. Don't try to convince people not to eat somewhere with sensationalism.

    For those of you who don't think they can trust McDonald's ingredient list because they are some crazy evil corporation, consider that they are regulated by the FDA. Even if you don't trust the FDA, I'm sure independent food scientist have done plenty of research on the ingredient composition of McDonald's food. If McDonald's were to misrepresent their ingredients, they would surely have a giant lawsuit on their hands, not to mention all the bad publicity that would come with it.

    October 15, 2010 at 1:34 pm | Reply
    • Zebe

      Hey Joe,
      McDonald's lied about putting meat juice in their french fries and were sued for it.

      October 18, 2010 at 12:52 am | Reply
  27. misha-vishious

    omg,that is so weird and nasty.i found a chicken sandwich from wendy's in my babies toy kitchen it wass 8 months old and it had no mold or anything.it was so fresh my dog even ate it.it was nasty.she was groudned to eatign food at the table for know on.so micdonnolds and wendys have the same emat and bread i think.

    October 15, 2010 at 1:12 pm | Reply
    • PairAzzHilton

      You grounded your dog? Your a tuff Mutha!

      October 15, 2010 at 1:16 pm | Reply
  28. Granet

    What this means is that it's not food. Look at any natural food and it will rot or grow things. Not. Food.

    October 15, 2010 at 1:03 pm | Reply
  29. GwT

    "Organisms don't eat only food that is moist." Organisms on the micro level require moisture to live and function. Without moisture, the decomposing actions of bacteria can't occur. Think of the three things that were used to preserve mummies in ancient Egypt: Dry air, tons of salt and tons of sugar. They essentially made hams out of humans, and thousands of years later, their bodies have dried out, but not decomposed.

    Science and critical thinking are your friends.

    October 15, 2010 at 12:50 pm | Reply
    • Burbank

      In that case the rest of us dare you to eat a six month old happy meal!

      October 15, 2010 at 12:52 pm | Reply
  30. LOLCatz

    I can has cheezburger happy meal?

    October 15, 2010 at 12:47 pm | Reply
    • Burbank

      Only if you share with Ceiling Cat.

      October 15, 2010 at 12:50 pm | Reply
  31. Veggiehead

    This is nothing but a stupid stunt by an uninformed person. All of that food is very high in salt. Salt is a desiccant and a preservative. End of story.

    October 15, 2010 at 12:45 pm | Reply
    • flossmore

      And we are the salt of the earth !

      October 15, 2010 at 1:05 pm | Reply
  32. terry, Los Angeles, CA

    Um. Organisms don't eat only food that is moist. They put preservatives in food so nothing eats it. Then of course, we feed this to our kids in Happy Meals. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity anyone? But it tastes so good!

    October 15, 2010 at 12:38 pm | Reply
  33. kevin

    hell, look at Ronald Mc Donald the clown he must be 80 + an he looks great all those yrs suckin down those burgers an fries that bastard looks like he was 20

    October 15, 2010 at 12:35 pm | Reply
    • JoeBleaux

      It's all those McPreservatives.

      October 15, 2010 at 12:41 pm | Reply
  34. flossmore

    Smoking will eventually kill you.....fat and sugar and salt will also kill you.....alcohol also will eventually kill you. Just go take a pee on Mecca and those effin' Muslims will kill you. Auto emissions will kill you, as will looking directly down a volcano. Some people's mother in laws will kill you. If you are white and walk through a black neighborhood on da Souff-side you'll probably get killed. Screwing a queer without a condom will probably kill you. So my advice is to fast, and then go spank your crank for a few hours.....remember "candy is dandy but sex won't rot your teeth!! Just sayin'...!

    October 15, 2010 at 12:20 pm | Reply
    • JoeBleaux

      Life will kill you. So have fun and enjoy the little time you have left.

      October 15, 2010 at 12:41 pm | Reply
    • Burbank

      Not true. Sex will rot your teeth if you catch AIDS. They can turn black and fall out.

      October 15, 2010 at 1:09 pm | Reply
  35. Clete

    I used to, on occassion, stop at McDonalds. I don't anymore. It's hard for me to order there since I don't speak Spanish.

    October 15, 2010 at 12:13 pm | Reply
    • ohsnap!

      I went to a McDonald's drive up here in Providence and the woman at the window actually had to go and find someone to interpret for her. I could not believe it.

      October 15, 2010 at 12:33 pm | Reply
  36. SLSA

    Nothing that I read about McDonald's ever seems to deter me from craving it... I keep my distance most of the time because I'm usually pretty health-conscious, but there's nothing like a a Big Mac or a McDouble and those yummy fries dipped in sweet & sour sauce after a bad day. Everything in moderation, right? :)

    October 15, 2010 at 12:04 pm | Reply
  37. SeenItBefore

    Morgan Spurlock did that experiment already. It was one of the Special Features on the "Supersize Me" DVD.

    October 15, 2010 at 12:03 pm | Reply
  38. Laurie

    CNN and all others involved in this report: You have too much time on your hands.

    October 15, 2010 at 11:54 am | Reply
    • flossmore

      Oh yeah....guess what I've got in my hand right now?

      October 15, 2010 at 12:21 pm | Reply
      • PairAzzHilton

        Oh Please tell us! I'm guessing it's Brown,Warm and squishy!

        October 15, 2010 at 12:35 pm | Reply
  39. StrangerRick

    Just don't ask what part of the chicken they get McNurgetts from...

    October 15, 2010 at 11:53 am | Reply
  40. Cameron

    I'm not saying that McDonald's food it food for you, but this is normal for most foods. Mold needs a warm, wet, dark place to grow. I did a science project a million years ago where i tried to grow mold. I left bread and other food out and was annoyed when all that happened was that it dried up.

    October 15, 2010 at 11:28 am | Reply
  41. Shad, Tennessee

    Does McDonalds sell hamburgers so slowly that they actually need preservatives?

    October 15, 2010 at 11:26 am | Reply
  42. Mary Magdeline

    So by this token, the masses will look beautiful and well preserved by eating McD's? Go to any McDonalds, take a look around you and you'll likely throw that theory out the window – big fat overweight trashy people is generally all I see there. Most look like half dead and bloated bags of flesh – especially the regulars. I know because I used to work there.

    October 15, 2010 at 11:23 am | Reply
  43. jenn, philadelphia

    Frankly, I'm getting tired of people going in to fast food joints expecting to walk out with something that's good for you. Thanks to them, we have labels on everything. Only an idiot goes into McDonald's, or any of the others, looking for health food.

    October 15, 2010 at 11:22 am | Reply
  44. SeenIt

    My doctor's office has a happy meal on display that's been there for 3 years. It STILL looks the same. Welcome to the wonderful world of preservatives and artificial food! Eat up kiddies!

    October 15, 2010 at 11:20 am | Reply
  45. sarah

    McDonald's food does not decay because of all the fat that's in it. AND NOT from all the preservatives and such. Therefore, McDonald's can claim they're serving preservative free, somewhat "healthy" food.

    October 15, 2010 at 11:16 am | Reply
  46. shutup

    put it under a cover or in a plastic bag sealed for 180 days and show us what happens. I'm completely unimpressed by the findings and even more unimpressed by the commenters. Besides if they rotted a happy meal to hell and back and took pictures of it THAT would be the news story. Do you want to eat something that gets this disgusting?! ZOMG!

    stfu

    October 15, 2010 at 11:14 am | Reply
  47. Laney

    Hmmm. I wonder if you eat enough of them, the preservatives will transfer to you. Sorta like being mummified ahead of time...:)

    October 15, 2010 at 11:09 am | Reply
  48. Greg from the Future

    Maybe McD's could sell Specially Aged Burgers For extra cost. It works with wine and cheese, why not burgers?

    October 15, 2010 at 11:09 am | Reply
  49. crzymomw6

    Ive seen this type of thing with my own eyes with taco bell. YUCK. Makes you second think what you put into your body.

    October 15, 2010 at 11:09 am | Reply
    • shellemush

      mmmmmmmmmmm Taco Bell. I'm a very healthy eater, but sometimes I just have to drive to Taco Bell and get some of the "bad stuff".

      October 15, 2010 at 11:47 am | Reply
      • star

        have you ever seen what the taco bell machine poops out into your taco????????

        October 15, 2010 at 12:22 pm | Reply
      • Nick

        @ star

        Who cares. Its delicious. I'm not saying its OK for every day but you have to treat yourself to some crap once in a while.

        October 16, 2010 at 2:45 pm | Reply
      • Jdizzle McHammerpants

        Sometimes I dive into my childhood favorite: Chicken Nuggets from McDonald's for shits and giggles. Always immediately regret it. Gut rot.

        October 16, 2010 at 2:48 pm | Reply
  50. Capt. Slapaho

    It's a McConspiracy.

    October 15, 2010 at 11:07 am | Reply
  51. Olli

    Instead of the "unhappy meal" try out a green smoothie – see a demonstration in Youtube under doctortouk. It's much healthier and will spoil in a matter of days!! lol..

    October 15, 2010 at 11:02 am | Reply
  52. DACOOLE

    The NEUTRAL SCIENTIST'S ARGUMENT DOESN'T HOLD. Comparative tests have shown significant decomposition with other similar items in the same environment. There is a reason why their food is so cheap. IT IS A CONCOCTION OF A FLAVORFUL MIX OF CRAP. Just investigate a little.

    October 15, 2010 at 11:02 am | Reply
  53. Mr. Fraud

    This is a fraud, and no one is calling them on it. Take some time to look at the images and you will see the hamburger patty increase in size between a few of the pictures. This implies the patty was replaced or images from early in the experiment were used as images later in the experiment. You will also see the bun repair itself where a portion was broken off.

    Fast food isn't the best food you can eat, no one is denying that, but to perpetuate this fraud is wrong.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:54 am | Reply
    • DACOOLE

      I seriously doubt it. A group of students at a prestigeous U. grilled a chicken rep with regard to what is in Chicken McNuggest. He tried very hard to evade answering these brilliant students' question. You don't want to know.

      October 15, 2010 at 11:05 am | Reply
      • DACOOLE

        Sorry for the typo.

        October 15, 2010 at 11:07 am | Reply
    • DACOOLE

      I happen to know one of the students very well.

      October 15, 2010 at 11:05 am | Reply
    • jonathan

      I avoid fast food as much as i can. Most of it is very unhealthy food, but in all fairness – this photographer's experiment is totally off-base. OF COURSE it's not going to grow mold sitting in the open air, sitting on a plate like that. Neither will a regular burger made at home, with the same patty thickness. A home-made home-grilled burger & fries would dry out too. The experiment done on "Supersize Me" was more honest.

      October 15, 2010 at 11:16 am | Reply
    • RichardHead

      Mr.Fraud–The photographer is using a zoom lens at many different angles during different times of the day for consecutive days. She states during the video that she is just shooting,nothing scientific. If it were scientific the camera would be placed on a tripod,the zoom lens ratio would not be changed and the product would not be moved. Please try another thesis.

      October 15, 2010 at 9:56 pm | Reply
  54. star

    as a science project, my kids took a burger king burger, a home made burger, and a restaurant burger and aged it for 6 weeks. The homemade burger molded, reeked, and liquified within a week. The restaurant burger was not far behind. The burger king burger still looked edible 3 months later. Just sayin'.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:52 am | Reply
  55. Sharon O

    Every now and then, when I pass by a fast food place, I can smell burgers being cooked. However, when I pass by a McDonald's, I smell absolutely nothing. Why is that?

    October 15, 2010 at 10:50 am | Reply
    • Hamburglar

      What youre smelling is burgerking because they use a flame broiler to cook their burgers, where theres a flame theres smoke and a chimney, thats why you can smell it from outside. McDonalds doesnt have chimneys because they dont have a flame broiler.

      October 15, 2010 at 1:39 pm | Reply
      • Sharon O

        That is true but in McD's, you smell nothing.No French fries, no fish, nothing.
        My husband says that they must have the world's best ventilator.

        October 15, 2010 at 9:19 pm | Reply
  56. dave

    i like mine with the occasional bone chips inside and a hair every now and then

    October 15, 2010 at 10:50 am | Reply
    • Ralf

      Do you want flies with that?

      October 15, 2010 at 12:03 pm | Reply
  57. love4music

    I mean come on. How many people have found that french fry under their seat like a month later in their car. There's never any mold.

    Only two things are guaranteed in life...Death and Taxes. So I had a tasty snack on my way out...oh well.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:50 am | Reply
  58. Cole

    Good to see some knowledgeable comments.

    For the less-than-knowledgeable: LIFE DOES NOT SPONTANEOUSLY APPEAR!
    Expecting something to happen to the burger is like saying that (and this really used to happen) mice spontaneously grow out of grain.

    For mold to appear on food, the fungi has to get on it and it has to be a good condition for growth (not much interfering with water). With the bun, the salt is an issue, but more importantly, the fact that it came directly from McDonald's (sanitary conditions) and it was placed in a room with low humidity prevented growth (life needs water/moisture).

    Why does my store brought bread go bad? Three reasons.
    1: It's simply exposed to more environment than something that's tucked away on a shelf. People open/close the container it's in and so there are a lot more chances for fungi to get on it (We make awesome carriers).
    2. It's probably sealed (in a bag). Bread has moisture. If you seal it, you're going to create a good condition for fungi growth.
    3. Like the video said, the bun needs to be firm (so it doesn't break from the burger), so it has less water than regular bread.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:49 am | Reply
    • Jules

      Very good point. Also if bread which is sealed in its bag and never opened still has been baked with yeast. :D

      October 15, 2010 at 11:35 am | Reply
  59. samueltx

    I have never seen a twinkie last longer than a day....
    Who really believes these stupid stories that food can last decades long? I think Honey is the only food that won't spoil. Watch the movie Food Inc. Quit eating so much, start exercising, and quit watching realty shows and live a life.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:43 am | Reply
    • SoulCatcher

      Nope, honey does spoil.. it will crystalyze after a while.

      October 15, 2010 at 11:14 am | Reply
      • Jules

        Honey Crystallizes however it is still consumable. Not spoiled. Honey has been recovered from the Great Pyramids and is perfectly eatable.

        October 15, 2010 at 11:32 am | Reply
      • Spoiler Alert

        Honey may crystalize, but that does not mean it is spoiled. Warm some water to about 100 degrees farenheit then place the honey container in the warm water. It will return to edible consistency.

        October 15, 2010 at 11:40 am | Reply
    • Burbank

      Diet soda doesn't spoil either and bugs won't touch it, they are smarter than we are, they know it's not food, same with margarine.

      October 15, 2010 at 12:47 pm | Reply
  60. yummy

    Yummy.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:35 am | Reply
  61. Mik

    If you don't believe it, cook a "homemade" hamburger, place it on a bun, with condiments and leave it in your lviing room for 6 months... I believe the STENCH would be unbearable... McDonalds Food is PLASTIC.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:33 am | Reply
    • Laura

      Go ahead – make your homemade hamburger with salt and pepper (use quite a bit of salt) make the patty about 1/3" thick and cook it well. Put it on a bun with a high sugar content and no condiments (see above picture) and indeed your burger will dry out and last 6 months with no rot, just like the McDonalds one. McDonald's uses THREE ingredients in their patties – beef, salt and pepper.
      Salt does this. Not some sort of crazy McChemical.

      October 15, 2010 at 10:59 am | Reply
      • Burbank

        If that were true, the ants would be going after that sugary bun, someone else commented that ants were passing up the Mickey D under the couch (probably have kids that kicked it there playing around) and going for some almonds right next to it.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:46 pm | Reply
  62. Beth

    Another example of the true meaning of TRIVAL PURSUIT

    October 15, 2010 at 10:25 am | Reply
  63. joe

    yeah its not just fast food. i once had a piece of pizza crust from a local restaurant in my room for several months (not something im proud of, but it happened). it got pretty dusty and a bit hard, but no mold.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:25 am | Reply
    • Maurice

      Hi Dan and Joanne, I think of you guys all the time and I am praying hard for Marina. I know this has to be such a hard time for all of you. I wish I was there to keep you copanmy in the hospital. Marina is such a fighter! Hang in there. I will keep the prayers coming. Please give a big hug to Mason. Jane

      December 23, 2012 at 7:07 pm | Reply
  64. natro

    Space meat!!! (from Invader Zim)

    October 15, 2010 at 10:21 am | Reply
  65. BrickellPrincess

    I left a McDonald's french fry on my office floor to see how good our cleaning crew cleans. A month latter, I realized that they don't clean and the fry was still where I left it. It was intact! Nothing touched it, not mold, not ants...nothing. Now, take into consideration that the air conditioning in my office building is turned off at night and off during the weekends. Temperatures can creep up to 90 degrees and the humidity is unthinkable. I am sure it has a lot to do with McDonald's heavy use of MSG.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:16 am | Reply
    • RichardHead

      Please try this with a piece of Bacon and let us know the results. Inquiring minds want to know!

      October 15, 2010 at 10:21 am | Reply
    • Jdizzle McHammerpants

      Did the same thing with a cigarette butt at my last branch. Sucker sat there for a month (just right of a high traffic area). New cleaning crew is employed.

      October 15, 2010 at 11:20 am | Reply
    • Burbank

      Meg Whitman's (running for Gov in CA) ex maid needs a job, she's here illegally and will only sue you if you don't pay her more than $24 per hour. She doesn't need to use cleaning products, she has plenty of copious crocodile tears, she just cries on it and wipes with a sponge. She might charge extra for actually bending over to pick up that fry though.

      October 15, 2010 at 12:43 pm | Reply
  66. Mayor McCheese

    That's my boy! You made daddy proud son!

    October 15, 2010 at 10:13 am | Reply
  67. Jason

    Twinkie shelf life is 25 days. The only reason it's that long is because there aren't any dairy products in it. That twinkie myth has been going around forever. Google is your friend.

    http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/twinkies.asp

    October 15, 2010 at 10:13 am | Reply
    • 10Porkchops

      Really? Because I saw a Discovery channel special....After all the people are gone...or called something like that, and it said that twinkies would still be edible after 25 years.

      October 15, 2010 at 11:08 am | Reply
      • Burbank

        That's for Twinkies still in the package.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:38 pm | Reply
      • Bubba

        Sure it wasn't ZOMBIELAND?

        October 15, 2010 at 12:47 pm | Reply
    • Jacksmom

      Actually, it's 20 years, not 25 days. I am a microbiologist student working on my masters, and we have studied similar cases. It will make you think twice about the things you give your kids as well as yourself. Also, for you Burger King lovers out there, I am about to make your day... That wonderful "flame baked" taste that their burgers get when they are cooked over an open-flamed grill, yeah, that flavor is injected into the meat before they even make the burgers in the factory! Just sayin......

      October 15, 2010 at 11:39 am | Reply
      • Jacksmom

        Forgot to post this link as well...

        http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/04/mechanically-separated-meat-chicken-mcnugget-photo_n_749893.html

        October 15, 2010 at 11:46 am | Reply
      • Bubba

        mom, it's not really a secret. It's called Liquid Smoke and similar names and you can buy it in grocery stores.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:46 pm | Reply
      • Wzrd1

        Funny, I thought they taught you how to spell the name of the field of study at the beginning.
        You wouldn't be a microbiologist student, but a MICROBIOLOGY student.
        Twinkies are high fat, which replaces water for the "moisture" in it. Hence, you get greasy fingers when handling them.
        And the high sugar filling is a hypertonic solution of sugar. How, what happens to microorganisms when you place them into a hypertonic solution of sugar? Say, pork in hypertonic sucrose/saline or even glucose solution and the inevitable bacteria come along? Nothing, they can't stay hydrated and you end up with a style of ham.
        You can preserve with salt, sugar or dehydration easily. Those techniques are thousands of years old.
        And who helped us turn it into a science so that the process works EVERY time? Microbiologists, who explained exactly what was going on.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:53 pm | Reply
  68. Dom

    I've seen this before. Yes, it will last a long time because it was cooked and the moisture content is low. Toast a slice of bread - even all-natural organic bread - and it will last a long time too. What was the point of this?

    October 15, 2010 at 10:10 am | Reply
    • Dash

      Dumb reasoning

      October 15, 2010 at 10:53 am | Reply
    • seamoney

      I dunno, I've bought some organic bread at Trader Joes and seen it go moldy within the week. I've inclined to think that preservative might have a little something to do with it.

      October 15, 2010 at 11:54 am | Reply
      • Wzrd1

        Nope, it's moisture content. While I was deployed to the Persian Gulf, ANY fresh foods would mold in record time.
        US bread, bought from the PX would mold within a day or two. Local bread, MUCH drier, would survive for a week at best.
        I tried to make pasta dough, while it was resting for two hours, it got covered with mold! THAT is the environment there.
        But dried food lasted nearly forever, even the infernal stinging micro ants wouldn't touch it.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:39 pm | Reply
      • Bubba

        Wz, in the South bread goes moldy really fast and we have to put rice in our salt shakers to keep them from clogging from humidity. They used to make bread crisp so it would stand up longer, and that's why they called it 'cracker country.'

        October 15, 2010 at 12:44 pm | Reply
      • Wzrd1

        I hear that, Bubba. Humidity can raise merry hell with food.
        My mother taught me the rice in the salt shaker trick ages ago and I still use it, as we use sea salt to avoid iodine due to my wife being allergic go iodine.
        I DID notice that pita bread lasts a long time too, it's quite dry. And Arabs were nuts about crackers too.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:46 pm | Reply
      • Hamburglar

        Its preservatives, not moisture. This was done on Super Size Me, it was McDonalds vs some restaurant burger and fries, the restaurant burger decomposed into a nasty mess and the fries grew a web of mold pretty quickly, the Mcdonalds stuff just shriveled a little and never decomposed.

        October 15, 2010 at 1:25 pm | Reply
      • Kirstyloo

        The size of the fries makes a difference. If the restaurant had thicker fries, they could mold before they dried out. McDonald's fries are thinner and relatively dry to start out with. The thought process does make sense.

        October 15, 2010 at 5:03 pm | Reply
      • Hamburglar

        McDonalds fries simply arent normal. Everyone knows what a MC D's fry tastes like, a naked fry is not supposed to have a specific taste unless its cooked in unique oil, there are varying levels of goodness to potatoes but they dont change flavor as much as a MC D fry. They also taste REALLY bad when they arent fresh, the flavor changes and you get a weird coating on your tongue, Ive never had old fries that are as revolting as old MC D fries. I would imagine the potato slices are soaked in something and then precooked in a weird way before freezing, most fast food places do something nasty to their fries like add a coating to make them crispier with less cooking time.

        October 15, 2010 at 5:19 pm | Reply
      • enness

        If you left it in the bag, you trapped moisture in there. You can see it more clearly if you put the bag in the refrigerator; you get condensation on the bag because when air cools, the air molecules get closer together and there is less room for water molecules. That's what "dew point" refers to in your weather report.

        October 17, 2010 at 2:34 pm | Reply
    • JoeBleaux

      Yummmm...dried out, rock hard burger. It doesn't get any better than that!

      October 15, 2010 at 12:35 pm | Reply
      • Wzrd1

        We used to get dehydrated burgers and pork patties in our MRE's. Didn't like the burgers much, but the port sausage patties rehydrated QUITE nicely.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:47 pm | Reply
    • Burbank

      Does that mean that the picture of Jesus I found on my toast would have lasted forever? I feel guilty for eating Him now...

      October 15, 2010 at 12:36 pm | Reply
  69. RichardHead

    Waiting on the Vegans to chime in on this one.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:01 am | Reply
    • imsorrysir

      Caution!! Troll warning!!

      October 15, 2010 at 10:47 am | Reply
    • Jdizzle McHammerpants

      There's no salad option for a Happy Meal? Jeeze. Thought all kids love salad over chicken nuggets and fries.

      October 15, 2010 at 11:18 am | Reply
  70. Burbank

    I just don't believe the hype that it's from low moisture. Glad I never liked any of thier stuff except the fries every great once in a while. Scary! Very scary when you realize how many children are being raised on this stuff. I wonder what will happen by the time they hit their 40's if they haven't kicked the bucket already?

    October 15, 2010 at 10:01 am | Reply
    • Hellow

      These kids are going to live forever, just like their favorite foods.

      October 15, 2010 at 10:08 am | Reply
      • Burbank

        Sounds like it will put undertakers out of business. People will be so well preserved they won't need embalming, we can just prop our dearly beloveds up on the couch and dust them once in a while.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:34 pm | Reply
  71. Jared

    So If I eat that I will be preserved forever!!!!!

    October 15, 2010 at 10:00 am | Reply
  72. Hellow

    This was already done on Super-size Me. Come up with an original idea next time you loser.

    Every-time I clean my car out I get to eat another meal because of all the fries I find under my seat, and of course they taste just as good as the day I bought them, now thats a damn good return for my 99 cents.

    October 15, 2010 at 10:00 am | Reply
    • Jdizzle McHammerpants

      I'm loving the pessimism in your life.

      October 15, 2010 at 10:34 am | Reply
      • WTFindy

        I'm loveing your screen name lmao

        October 15, 2010 at 11:37 am | Reply
      • jonquar jackson

        i hurrr dat, bby. micky-d's is sellin' out laik mad, lawd jesus-ahhhh wuld neva wunt dis 4 us' yahur?

        October 15, 2010 at 11:46 am | Reply
      • Hellow

        I'd drink the glass, and then it would be fully empty. FTW!

        October 15, 2010 at 11:58 am | Reply
      • Simon Wagstaff

        Kilgore, proper attribution is so important.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:41 pm | Reply
    • KDUBS

      LMAO! I laughed so hard when I read that first statement.

      October 15, 2010 at 10:43 am | Reply
    • Lea

      You think the Supersize Me guy came up with it? He didn't.

      October 15, 2010 at 10:49 am | Reply
      • Kilgore Trout

        He didn't say anything about it being Morgan Spurlock's idea, nor is there an implication in what he wrote, jeeze.

        October 15, 2010 at 11:05 am | Reply
      • Bob Inalong

        I don't think they did this in "Super Size Me" actually.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:48 pm | Reply
    • Burbank

      LOL!!!

      October 15, 2010 at 12:32 pm | Reply
  73. publius enigma

    Soylent Green is people!

    October 15, 2010 at 9:58 am | Reply
    • MrThou

      No wai!

      October 15, 2010 at 10:21 am | Reply
    • Kilgore Trout

      ROTFLMBO That was my first thought!!

      October 15, 2010 at 11:02 am | Reply
    • arb

      OMG-you took the words out of my head!

      October 15, 2010 at 11:49 am | Reply
  74. Truth

    Thanks, but I had an apple on the train...

    October 15, 2010 at 9:49 am | Reply
  75. RichardHead

    Twinkees will outlast this Happy Meal by 50 yrs.

    October 15, 2010 at 9:28 am | Reply
    • Jdizzle McHammerpants

      The Nurse girlfriend found a twinkee in a fat roll on some woman few years ago. Nice and fuzzy green. Stench to high hell. Reduses to eat twinkies to this day based on that. Th woman actually asked her, "Did you find my twinkie?"

      October 15, 2010 at 10:18 am | Reply
      • RichardHead

        Now you know which snacks you can leave around the house for you and the kids!

        October 15, 2010 at 10:25 am | Reply
      • ermpydermpydoo

        Makes me wonder what else could've been in there. And then I'm immediately sorry for wondering what else could've been in there. The horror. The horror.

        October 15, 2010 at 10:58 am | Reply
      • Marcia

        What a wonderfully disgusting story

        October 15, 2010 at 11:19 am | Reply
      • Marie

        That's the best story I've heard all day

        October 15, 2010 at 11:32 am | Reply
      • hurpledurple

        wooooooooooo, tha same thang happend to mah friend shanquita hurrr nastay ex bf has those rollz laik krazyy, shed hav 2 dig all dem frid chickuhns out

        October 15, 2010 at 11:47 am | Reply
      • ohsnap!

        I would have lost everything I had ever eaten, right then!

        October 15, 2010 at 12:28 pm | Reply
      • Bubba

        I question your use of the word "actually," as I suspect your story is fantasy (especially the part about having a girlfriend).

        October 15, 2010 at 12:38 pm | Reply
      • Bob Inalong

        Ewwwww! That's disgustingly hilarious! I love it and want to hurl at the same time.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:42 pm | Reply
      • Jdizzle McHammerpants

        Yep, took Colbert's road and married my right hand.

        October 15, 2010 at 2:37 pm | Reply
      • Me

        While I'm not certain your story is true, I wouldn't dismiss it immediately. I know a doctor. He has a regular obese patient who comes in to get antibiotic cream prescriptions for rashes she gets between her fat rolls from poor hygiene. She came in one time complaining that she was using the cream, but it wasn't going away this time and it was really becoming painful.

        So he had to go digging through the roll and low and behold, he found a bunch of biscuit chunks and crumbs that worked their way all the way to the very back of the fat roll, which was apparently too far in for her to reach and clean. Apparently her and her husband use a variety of food during love making, and the crumbs worked their way through her rolls and caused an infection.

        October 15, 2010 at 4:04 pm | Reply
      • Jdizzle McHammerpants

        The story is true, and I just gagged on the last post here. Seinfeld George and Sandwiches, anyone?

        October 15, 2010 at 4:12 pm | Reply
      • Cari

        Yuck!! People need to bathe more. But really wouldn't she have noticed that she dropped a twinkie and it somehow magically disapeared? I mean it would take a while to turn green, wouldn't it?

        October 17, 2010 at 5:09 pm | Reply
    • SoulCatcher

      You know it's bad when bugs won't even eat it. I've found a half eaten Cheeseburger from a happy meal under a couch at least a month old, no mold, hard as a rock. Ants right next to it eating an almond.

      October 15, 2010 at 11:08 am | Reply
      • cathelyngregoire

        LMAO!

        October 15, 2010 at 11:30 am | Reply
      • Shauna

        my question is.... what was a half eaten cheeseburger doing under your sofa?

        October 15, 2010 at 12:10 pm | Reply
      • Clete

        Sure glad I don't live in your house.

        October 15, 2010 at 12:11 pm | Reply
      • sayit

        ants are healthy creatures. they dont wanna grow fat!, have to lug their weights around house themselves, there aint no wheelchair :)

        October 15, 2010 at 12:13 pm | Reply
      • Bruce

        He said "A" couch...not his couch.

        October 15, 2010 at 2:50 pm | Reply
      • Jdizzle McHammerpants

        Slacking here.

        I canz haz cheezburger?

        October 16, 2010 at 10:15 am | Reply
      • Cari

        People should learn from these ants. Really, it's like ants are smarter than people. Of course, how much of a brain do you need to know that chemicals are NOT good to eat.
        By the way, why was there a cheeseburger under A couch, and why were you looking under it? Is it even your couch?

        October 17, 2010 at 5:13 pm | Reply
    • hurpledurple

      dayuuuuuum, gurrrrl das nastay. me nd mah homegurl carita wuz watchin dis ndddd we nearly threw up our koooool aid, yahur?

      October 15, 2010 at 11:41 am | Reply
      • shonquaqua

        mmmmmmmhmmmmmmmm! i say amen 2 dat!!!!!!

        October 15, 2010 at 11:42 am | Reply
      • ar377

        Oh my god, seriously? Did you seriously just post that illiterate b.s. on the internet?

        October 15, 2010 at 11:59 am | Reply
      • LaQuanda

        Fer reelz? Whur da collard greenz be?

        October 15, 2010 at 12:19 pm | Reply
      • Tommy

        Are you serious???? Do you have a brain in your head that is actually functional? What grade in elementary school did you drop out? Just curious because you should be embarrassed for writing like that and posting it on the internet. Go back to grade school, moron.

        October 15, 2010 at 4:01 pm | Reply
      • Jdizzle McHammerpants

        @ Tommy:

        Posts/responses like yours is what actually makes our posts above MORE funny. Enjoy.

        October 15, 2010 at 6:35 pm | Reply
      • isa

        What r u saying? How is it that you write? Just go back to middle school and learn how to write, will ya? I don't get all the zzz at the end of the words....I do get the text style of writing, but THAT? is just bad bad bad

        October 18, 2010 at 9:49 am | Reply
      • Paul

        The funny thing is, you morons don't realize this is some idiots approximation of "Ebonics". So, instead of telling them to go back to school, try some thinking exercises... yahur? hehe ;-)

        November 5, 2010 at 3:14 am | Reply
    • Twink

      Wrong. Twinkies have an average shelf life comparable to wheat based breads.

      October 15, 2010 at 12:45 pm | Reply
    • Hamburglar

      I dont know why people think that, Twinkies get stale really quickly and are probably the most temperamental snack cakes when it comes to age, their shelf life is almost as bad as donuts. They are very greasy compared to other cakes and grease wreaks havoc on food. You would think the joke would apply to something else because Twinkies lasting forever just doesnt make sense.

      October 15, 2010 at 1:17 pm | Reply
      • moe smith

        people say that about twinkies because there is not one single natural ingredient found in them.

        October 15, 2010 at 1:51 pm | Reply
      • Hamburglar

        According to the laboratory of moe smith or according to the back of the box that lists lists all the natural ingredients you would expect that goes into making a cake?

        October 15, 2010 at 1:56 pm | Reply
    • Jerret S

      ohhhhhh people do the math. Take ANY piece of bread and leave it on your counter.... take ANY cooked ground beef patty with lots of SALT (curing agent) and leave it on your counter. They SAME THING WILL HAPPEN.

      Once the moisture leaves the bread and the cooked cured beef (high salt content) dries out (Beef jerky anyone???!!) Similar effect....

      Decay has to do more with moisture and heat than anything else.

      I hate scare mongers on both sides. I wouldn't eat the stuff but for other reasons, not this one.

      October 17, 2010 at 5:03 pm | Reply

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