Mcdonalds lunch disappointment

[aristocatz]

My DH decided to splurge and have Mcdonalds for lunch at work today. He just sent me this side by side comparison of the advertisement vs what he actually got-what a letdown! He says he is sticking to Wendys next time he wants a treat for lunch.

Advertisement:

His actual lunch:

 

[Kogo Shuko]

If you search mediocrefilms on Youtube, somewhere among his videos, he has one where he stops at the majority of the fastfood joints in town and when he orders, he goes back and asks for them to make it look LIKE THE AD. And the majority of them actually make an effort and try their best.

But apparently you have to complain and ask. =/

 

[soccerdad72]

Please tell me he's not surprised in the difference

 

[mamamary]

Looks like he sat on his lunch - lol.

 

[aristocatz]

He actually was surprised! Though he found it quite funny. He wasn't expecting it to look a ton like the ad, but he was expecting something that at least somewhat resembles it!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We used to have a law in our state where the ad had to contain the actual ingredients of the food. So they'd hire someone to spend 3 hours dressing that thing up. They'd mash the patty in the middle and make it thicker around the rim and stack all the condiments on the rim. Then they'd spray the thing with all kinds of stuff to make it look juicy and pretty because they couldn't actually use moist patties and soggy the bread. I think they were allowed to use fake ice cream. That's about it.

 

[sonnyjane]

Please tell me he's not surprised in the difference

Lol seriously. I read the title of this thread as thought "Yes, McDonald's for lunch will lead to disappointment. And?"

 

[aristocatz]

We used to have a law in our state where the ad had to contain the actual ingredients of the food. So they'd hire someone to spend 3 hours dressing that thing up. They'd mash the patty in the middle and make it thicker around the rim and stack all the condiments on the rim. Then they'd spray the thing with all kinds of stuff to make it look juicy and pretty because they couldn't actually use moist patties and soggy the bread. I think they were allowed to use fake ice cream. That's about it.

Wow, that's pretty funny! What state is this?

 

[ChristmasElf]

When "food styling" is done for advertising, most foods can't last under the lighting that's needed to make the ad.

Strawberries and most fruits have a shellac added to make them appear shinier. Something similar is done with bread products as well.

There are all kinds of tricks used to make the products look more appealing.

 

[aristocatz]

When "food styling" is done for advertising, most foods can't last under the lighting that's needed to make the ad.

Strawberries and most fruits have a shellac added to make them appear shinier. Something similar is done with bread products as well.

There are all kinds of tricks used to make the products look more appealing.

I think I read somewhere that they used to use a glue-type mixture for milk in cereal ad photos.

The silly thing is, I've actually had burgers (non-fast food) that resemble that Mcdonalds ad in quality. I guess that must be hard to keep up with in the fast-paced world of fast food though.

 

[gwynne]

The burger might have been picture perfect before it was smooshed to death in that evil paper wrapper.

 

[bcla]

We used to have a law in our state where the ad had to contain the actual ingredients of the food. So they'd hire someone to spend 3 hours dressing that thing up. They'd mash the patty in the middle and make it thicker around the rim and stack all the condiments on the rim. Then they'd spray the thing with all kinds of stuff to make it look juicy and pretty because they couldn't actually use moist patties and soggy the bread. I think they were allowed to use fake ice cream. That's about it.

There used to be all sorts of things done to pretty up a burger in an ad, and one was to brush oil on the patty to make it glisten. Not legal now.

http://apps.americanbar.org/buslaw/blt/2009-05-06/ernst.shtml

Visual Depiction of Food
Advertisers of food products wish to present their products in the most appealing light: they want hamburgers to appear fat and juicy, vegetables to appear crisp and green, and soups to appear robust and chunky. So-called food stylists are commonly employed during commercial filming or photo shoots to ensure that food products look their best for the photographers. However, the law requires that photographs, pictures, or models used in an advertisement accurately reflect the product being represented. Colors should not be enhanced, product consistency should not be modified, and quantity or concentration of ingredients should not be adjusted so as to make the product appear more attractive in the advertisement. So, while it is appropriate to use care and effort to ensure that a product presents its best face to cameras, the product should not be manipulated to misrepresent its actual appearance. One major food manufacturer got into trouble by placing clear marbles in the bottom of a bowl of soup used in an advertisement in order to make the soup appear more chunky. In addition to the legal problems this created, the advertiser suffered a lot of bad publicity.

One exception to this general rule is when a product is modified for purposes unrelated to product appearance or performance. For example, mashed potatoes could be substituted for ice cream in a television advertisement showing the joys of eating ice cream (real ice cream would melt under the hot camera lights). On the other hand, mashed potatoes could not be used in an advertisement emphasizing the creamy texture of a particular brand of ice cream.

Now the one thing I have heard of is the use of cigarette smoke in place of steam. It shows up better than trying to use real steam.

 

[POOHsie]

I think DH's bun looks too big. Lately around here, McDonald's buns leave a smell on my hand that is so annoying that I have to wash it off. A yeasty, bready smell. I'm taking a break from McDonald's just for that alone.

And don't get me started on KFC. Their half gallon Ice Tea is translucent brown water. And every single one of their sides was horrible for our last 2 orders. How can food like potato wedges, cole slaw, and corn become such an inedible embarrassment? And underdone brick-skits, not biscuits, fake gravy and fake mashed potatoes. There's not a thing at KFC that I would feed my family.

 

[aristocatz]

The burger might have been picture perfect before it was smooshed to death in that evil paper wrapper.

LOL-you think thats the excuse they are using?

Honestly, I don't mind McDonalds burgers (prefer them to Burger King, though I'm a Wendy's girl at heart if I'm going to splurge with fast food)....as long as the cheese is melted. I guess I just never pay attention to the commercials & ads to see what they are marketing it to actually look like!

 

[bcla]

Wow, that's pretty funny! What state is this?

I don't think state laws are the issue, since FTC regulations would probably override any state laws.

As for the OP, since when has lunch at McDonald's been "splurging"? Unless you're talking about calories when someone is otherwise on a strict diet. I'll go to McDonald's because I'm cheap.

 

[aristocatz]

I think DH's bun looks too big. Lately around here, McDonald's buns leave a smell on my hand that is so annoying that I have to wash it off. A yeasty, bready smell. I'm taking a break from McDonald's just for that alone.

And don't get me started on KFC. Their half gallon Ice Tea is translucent brown water. And every single one of their sides was horrible for our last 2 orders. How can food like potato wedges, cole slaw, and corn become such an inedible embarrassment? And underdone brick-skits, not biscuits, fake gravy and fake mashed potatoes. There's not a thing at KFC that I would feed my family.

Well, there is always KFC's Double Down, if you are looking to switch your family to a low carb choice lol

 

[mjkacmom]

It costs $2 - practically free! Wish I liked fast food...

 

[aristocatz]

As for the OP, since when has lunch at McDonald's been "splurging"? Unless you're talking about calories when someone is otherwise on a strict diet. I'll go to McDonald's because I'm cheap.

I was referring to the health factor. DH usually eats pretty healthy, but likes to splurge on fast food every once in a while.

 

[sam_gordon]

Since when does anyone care what their fast food looks like? I don't go eat fast food because of the presentation.

 

[tvguy]

I haven't had McDonalds in ages. Now I'm craving a burger.
Growing up in the 1960's, McDonalds, was a treat.
And for my kids, every Sunday lunch was McDonalds picked up on the way to visit their grandmother (my MIL). Fond memories.
No worse than Friday after school when we went to the other grandmother's house to visit ( my mom). Home made cookies and cake, and fudge, and potato salad made with real mayo. Kind of makes McDonalds look like the health option.