An American who kept a McDonald’s hamburger and fries for 24 years has revealed the fast-food items still look as good as new after being stored in her closet for more than two decades.
TikTok user @aly.sherb went viral after sharing a video of her grandmother showing off the McDonald’s food she kept in a shoebox for two and a half decades.
In the clip, Aly’s grandma proudly displays the science experiment, pointing out the 1996 Nascar packaging, the lack of mold and the fact that the burger is still “completely intact” after all this time.
Aly’s grandmother didn’t explain what prompted her to put away the food before Aly was even born, but she did say that “it lives in a box in my closet.”
In a viral video with nearly four million views, she opens the shoe box to reveal a brown McDonald’s paper bag inside.
She points to the NASCAR race ad, dated 1996, which she kept with the food.
“The fries look like they fell under your seat maybe a month or so ago that have never rotted or rotted,” she says, holding up the small packet of fries.
McMillion years old! An American woman has stuck with a McDonald’s hamburger and fries for 25 years — and they still look as good as new
“The hamburger itself – the bread has never gone moldy, the meat has never rotted, and it has never broken. It’s completely intact,” she says, opening the package and revealing the burger inside.
It probably helped that the burger was completely plain, with no ketchup, mustard, or pickles that are often found on a McDonald’s burger.
McDonald’s food is notorious for showing no signs of decay, and several customers have gone viral over the years for holding on to very old meals.
McDonald’s has responded to what it calls a “myth” that its burgers don’t fall apart.
“In the right environment, our burgers, like most other foods, could decompose,” the statement said.
“The fries look like they fell under your seat maybe a month or so ago that have never rotted or rotted,” she says, holding up the small packet of fries
“But in order to decompose, you need certain conditions – especially moisture. Without adequate moisture – either in the food itself or in the environment – bacteria and mold cannot grow and are therefore unlikely to decompose.
“So if food is, or becomes, dry enough, mold or bacteria are unlikely to grow or decompose. Foods prepared and dried at home could achieve similar results.
“Look closely, the burgers you see are likely dried out and dehydrated and not at all ‘like the day they were bought.
“The reality is that our burgers are made with only 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.”