The not-so-‘Happy Meal’

David Paul Morris
David Paul Morris
This is what a 'Happy Meal' looks like six years on.

No one is under any grand illusions that junk food (of any kind) is good for us. While we indulge every once in a while, one woman decided to show the world what exactly happens, or doesn’t happen, to the junk food we are eating.

Jennifer Lovdahl, a Chiropractor from Alaska, purchased a “Happy Meal” at McDonald’s six years ago, as an experiment to show the patients of her practice just how many chemicals and preservatives are within our favourite junk foods.

Facebook: Jennifer Lovdahl
Facebook: Jennifer Lovdahl

 

The caption reads: “It’s been 6 years since I bought this “Happy Meal” at McDonald’s. it’s been sitting at our office this whole time and has not rotted, moulded, or decomposed at all!!! It smells only of cardboard. We did this experiment to show our patients how unhealthy this “food” is. Especially for our growing children!! There are so many chemicals in this food! Choose real food! Apples, bananas, carrots, celery… those are real fast food.”

Showing a picture of the receipt just to prove how old it actually was, Lovdahl said she was disgusted to think that: “the box will decompose before the food does!”

McDonald’s has responded by blaming the environment in which the burger was kept, as the reason for why it was yet to decompose.

In the right environment, our burgers, like most other foods, could decompose.

But, in order to decompose, you need certain conditions – specifically moisture. Without sufficient moisture – either in the food itself or the environment – bacteria and mold may not grow and therefore, decomposition is unlikely. So if food is or becomes dry enough, it is unlikely to grow mold or bacteria or decompose.  Food prepared at home that is left to dehydrate could see similar results. Look closely, the burgers you are seeing are likely dried out and dehydrated, and by no means “the same as the day they were purchased.”

The reality is that our burgers are made only with 100% USDA inspected beef. There are no preservatives or fillers in our patties and the only thing ever added is a touch of salt and pepper on the grill. 

While this information could be correct, it is still alarming to know that food like this has the ability to sit for so long without even changing colour.

Think before you eat: This is what happens to your body an hour after eating a ‘Big Mac’

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