Happy meal does not rot in 6 months

Burger and fries odour and mould free since the day they were bought

Talk about eternal happiness. A New York woman who purchased a McDonalds Happy Meal six months ago says the uneaten burger and fries are in as good shape as they were the day she bought them.
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The claim, backed up by a seemingly indestructible Happy Meal sitting in artist-photographer Sally Davies' Manhattan apartment, has amazed people around the world.

The burger has featured on TV shows and become the subject of intense speculation as people wonder how fast food can apparently show barely a trace of age after six months on a plate and whether Davies is telling the truth.

Betting glory

"It all began with a bet with a friend of mine," she said. "So on April 10 I bought one hamburger and I began photographing and nothing really happened. It smelled for one day, and it stopped."

The burger has shrunken a little, but is mould-free and visually the same as one delivered in one of McDonald's famous boxes.

As Davies says, there is no odour. Her two dogs, a Shih Tzu called Suki and Charlie, the poodle, walked past without showing the slightest interest.

The Happy Meal's endurance has puzzled and worried many, wondering whether food lasting so long can be healthy.

McDonalds declined an interview request, but said in a statement that "menu items are freshly prepared in our restaurants.

"It is not possible to provide a detailed explanation regarding these claims without knowing the conditions in which these food items were kept.
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That said, we strongly caution anyone from jumping to conclusions." The global chain also added, "Bacteria and mould only grow under certain conditions... If food is/or becomes dry enough, it won't grow mould or bacteria."

Some accuse Davies of mounting a stunt, which she denies."I'm getting hate mails from people, 'You are a charlatan, the fried fries are not in the same position,' or 'you are doing it to enhance your career!'" she said.
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"But most of the people react positively, they are afraid and are wondering what they eat. I don't see why I would do a hoax, I wish people would buy one and do the same experiment," she said.u00a0