May 19, 2025 03:26 PM IST
Some fast food – like fries from McDonald’s – don’t spoil easily, often due to high processing and preservatives. Here’s what a doctor wants you to know.
A US-based doctor of traditional naturopathy and chiropractic from Georgia, Dr Robert G DeBease, shared a video message for his Instagram followers on May 15: ‘Ditch fake food, heal with real food’. He was speaking about how some of McDonald’s fast food doesn’t rot or show signs of decay. Also read | ₹25″>Is the paneer in your bread pakora real? Doctor reveals truth about viral ‘quality check’ video of street food worth ₹25
‘Food’ that refuses to rot
There’s a common perspective that highly processed foods lack essential nutrients and contain artificial additives, preservatives, or chemicals. Dr DeBease has now tried to demonstrate how junk food can be detrimental to overall health when consumed. In the video he posted, he spoke about his McDonald’s order from more than two months ago, and said: “This ‘food’ refuses to rot… and that should terrify you.”
‘Fast food is full of preservatives’
He shared, “I left a McDonald’s burger and a Papa John’s pizza on my kitchen table for 62 days. I took photos every few days for 3 weeks. Want to know what happened? Nothing. No mould. No decay. Just hard crust and a bun that turned to cardboard. Fast food is full of preservatives like calcium propionate, BHA, and TBHQ — chemicals that extend shelf life but destroy your health.”
Tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, is an additive to preserve processed foods. Butylated Hydroxyanisole or BHA is a synthetic antioxidant, also widely used for the preservation of many foods. Dr DeBease highlighted that these additives have been linked to:
⦿ Hormone disruption
⦿ Gut microbiome damage
⦿ Increased inflammation
⦿ Weight gain and insulin resistance
⦿ Autoimmune flare-ups
Dr DeBease added, “If your food doesn’t decompose…maybe your body doesn’t know how to break it down either. Ditch fake food. Heal with real food.”
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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