Hi everyone,
So, I was wandering around online the other day and discovered the link that I have posted below about McDonald's. You remember that little piece of trivia that Coca-Cola can remove rust from a vehicle? This is up there in that disturbing arena; the McDonald's signature burger takes years to decompose (if, in theory, it ever decomposes).
Now, I'll warn you, there are a lot of discrepancies. Some readers bought right in to this woman's story and photo series, but others believe that she took pictures of different burgers over time and that there is no way that food would be sold that's potentially so harmful.
Also, McDonald's stated that they do not use preservatives (which, of course they're going to say that! What else are they going to say? "Yes, we are damaging your liver"?). However, there is a book floating around out there in library/cyberspace somewhere that's dedicated to just how McDonald's food is made (how all the fries are all the same size and color, pretty consistently, etc), which doesn't prove McDonald's as preservative-free at all. . .
I haven't actually read that book yet, and I'll get back to you on the name of the book once I've found it (it was recommended to me a few years ago now), but something I did in place of that was go to Google and type in how "McDonald's cheeseburgers are made" (and then you can factor in french fries or what have you). Again, there are a lot of discrepancies, but that doesn't mean it isn't interesting to think about. . .
Finally, here's the link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101012/bs_yblog_upshot/mcdonalds-happy-meal-resists-decomposition-for-six-months
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ReplyDeleteI feel like I am beating a dead horse with bringing up Michael Pollan again, but in "the Botany of Desire", he takes on what he calls the "monoculture of the plate" becoming the "monoculture of the fields". In order to get these fries so consistent, McDonald's relies on a huge worldwide crop of Russet Burbank potatoes. Because so many are grown in so many places and they are all genetic clones, they are considered a monoculture. Russet Burbanks are the perfect size and shape to make McDonald's fries, therefore the monoculture of the plate leads to the mass planting of the species. This is dangerous because one strain of fungi, pests, or other organisms could wipe out an entire worldwide crop. Frankly, it is just a matter of time before this happens again, much like the Irish potato famine of the 1840's when a fungus rocked their "lumper" potatoes. Pollan suggests that we form a polyculture with the 5,000 original potato species grown in the Peruvian Andes (or at least the variants not containing poisonous solanine). The potatoes that McDonald's used (at least in the 90's) were genetically modified organisms (GMOs), that had a gene implanted in them that created a protein that killed the Colorado Potato Beetle. Most crops today are GMOs and secrete their own pesticides. Therefore, the rate of decomposition in the food is lower because micro-organisms, pests, and fungi can not live off of it. But, can we?
I wish you'd get your biology class to dissect a McRib--I read somewhere that since its made of completely pulverized meat product, they create a simulated rib bone in each one.
ReplyDeleteThis post has intrigued me. Back story, When I was in high school my friend lived close to a McDonald's and nothing else. Since I practically lived at his house I ate McDonald's on a daily basis. After a few months of living off of this companies hamburger looking substance I noticed that I wasn't feeling normal. Since I was a naive high school student I continued eating their products because I was hungry and that was all there was. Well on a Friday night I decided that I was going to get two double cheese burgers and apple pies. Immediately after eating the food I threw up; thinking this was a fluke the following day I ate McDonald's again with the same out come. Since this happened I have not eaten McDonald's; it has been 6 years since I have eaten a meal at McDonald's that wasn't breakfast and even then it is years between that. So long story short, I believe this lady and urge everyone to eat Burger King instead.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so this is the first time I have heard of this that I can remember, and it does come to be kind of a shock to me, but then again not. I mean, yes it is surprising to read this and learn that McDonald’s burgers do not decompose, but I am sure other restaurants aren’t much better. Everyone picks on McDonalds because they are well-liked, and are still racking in the dollars. But, if it is really so bad, then why are they still in business? At all three meals of the day they always have a wrap-around, and not many people hesitate about going there. I grew up on McDonald’s, and I still love their food. Even after reading this, I will still go there, because it really doesn’t bother me that much. We all have our likes and dislikes, and the one’s who hate it will find negative things to say, and the one’s who love it will find positive things to say. So no matter how true this is, McDonald’s will still be number one in my world, and in many others.
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