You’ve seen the commercials- a McDonald’s ad showcasing a new menu addition, with a deliciously grilled patty atop a fresh piece of American cheese, and pieces of fresh lettuce and red ripe tomato also decorating the inside. While this version may look absolutely amazing and delicious, the real version you get is a far cry from what you saw on TV. Instead of the delicious burger, you saw on TV, its real-life counterpart is a small piece of thawed beef sandwiched between soggy lettuce and little if any, tomatoes. 

So, obviously, you’ve fallen for a marketing ploy. To put it simply, this kind of over-exaggeration is quite common, especially in food or product commercials. Once you have it in your hands at the drive-thru, it becomes less appetizing. But how did it look so convincing on TV? Simple; great special effects. You probably wouldn’t want to get your hands on any of these so-called delicious dishes though; their ingredients are more than a little unappetizing.

The Beef Patty

First of all, those burgers you see on TV are definitely not all that. In reality, those patties are seriously undercooked, to retain their juiciness, and then swabbed with shoe polish to give it that extra shine. Those grill marks on the patty are also fake; they are either sketched on with a good eyebrow pencil or otherwise applied with heated metal skewers. Polished burger, anyone? Also, on the topic of burgers–they have layers of cardboard in between and are held up by toothpicks.

The Condiments

Not even your favorite honey mustard is safe. To make sure that the condiments will stay looking untouched and not separated, photo shoots will typically have wax mixed in with the sauce, to make sure it stays looking fresh for the hours it stays on set. It also provides a nice pop of color and makes it look more vibrant.

Alka-Seltzer and the Soda

The soft drinks onset should be just fine to consume–if you don’t mind an Alka-Seltzer or two, of course. To keep that nice fizz going at the top, antacids are usually dropped in for a nice effect. 

The Dessert

Last, yet in no way the least, is the dessert. That ice cream is not in fact ice cream–rather, it is an imitation made out of mashed potatoes. If not from potatoes, it is made from vegetable shortening and confectioner’s sugar. The whipped cream is probably also shaving cream; no need to worry about it staying fresh, and it will hold up for longer. No melting on set!