Nutritionist: McDonald's cheeseburger remains the same year later

Windsor - A nutritionist in southern Ontario purchased a plain cheeseburger from McDonald's one year ago. What happened a year later? Absolutely nothing. The cheeseburger remained unchanged for 365-plus days.

There have been numerous stories over the years about burgers from various fast food chains. Digital Journal has reported in the past of an artist who photographed a McDonald’s Happy Meal for six months. Surprisingly, the meal did not decay or decompose after half a year. Don’t forget about the different items found in meals, such as bandages, condoms and bone fragments. A nutritionist at the Lifetime Wellness Center in Windsor, Ontario, Melanie Hesketh, told the Windsor Star that she purchased a plain cheeseburger without ketchup or mustard from the local McDonald’s on Dec. 29, 2010. As part of her experiment, Hesketh left the burger unwrapped unrefrigerated on her counter. One year later, the burger remained unchanged and “still smells slightly like a burger.” The only thing that has slightly changed is the burger bun turning stale. Other than that, there has been no trace of bacteria, maggots or mold. “Obviously it makes me wonder why we choose to eat food like this when even bacteria won’t eat it,” said Hesketh. She plans to keep it forever because “it’s a good conversation piece.” Hesketh explained that a lot of the clinic’s patients are individuals who suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes and high levels of cholesterol. She said that majority of the time it has to do with what they consume. “All of it can be attributed to what they are eating.” According to the McDonald’s website, a cheeseburger consists of 300 calories, 750 mg of sodium, six grams of saturated fat and 35 mg of cholesterol. The regular bun itself, which is made up of 15 ingredients, contains half of the calories and 250 mg of sodium. Danya Proud, director of media relations at McDonald's, told Digital Journal in an email that they were unaware of the issue. What are some of your odd experiences at your local fast food restaurant?