What Taco Bell and McDonald's meals look like after 2 years of sitting out
Dr. Jaqueline Vaughn purchased the meals in early 2013 and put them on display in her office, Vaughn Chiropractic, in Waterford, Michigan.
The meals have remained there ever since, sitting uncovered next to the patient sign-in sheet.
None of the food has grown mold or started to smell, according to Jessica Freed, a chiropractic assistant who works in the office.
She said the office displays the food to remind patients that fast food is unhealthy.
"Fast food is just terrible for you," she said. "We are showing our patients that it won't mold and even the bugs won't touch it."
Here's a closeup of the taco:
Jessica FreedStories about McDonald's hamburgers that last years before rotting are frequently cited as evidence that fast food is loaded with preservatives.
McDonald's USA offers another explanation.Dr. Keith Warriner, the program director at the University of Guelph's Department of Food Science and Quality Assurance, gives a lengthier explanation that you can read here.