Regarding The Burger “Experiments” ... by Steven Novella

[HuckleB]

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=2405#more-2405

"We have been getting a great deal of e-mail asking about the various “experiments” on YouTube (inspired by events on Fast Food Nation) in which a McDonald’s hamburger and fries are left out for weeks or months. To the surprise of some, the food does not rot away to nothing but instead shrivels a little and becomes hard and shiny, but does not get moldy or rotten. The implication is that there is something wrong and unnatural about food that doesn’t rot when left out.

Unfortunately this is what passes for “science” on the interwebs. But it does provide a teaching moment – with lessons about scientific methodology and how the logic of interpreting evidence.

...


If this question were taking seriously, it is probably true that a complex picture will emerge. Perhaps environment is the key factor, along with thickness and juiciness of the burger. But more subtle variables may emerge, such as the leanness of the beef, or the amount of salt added. Genuine controversies may emerge over conflicting or ambiguous evidence, making for some lively scientific meetings.

But in the end I believe the evidence will speak and a consensus of scientific opinion will emerge. Sure, there will be deniers – perhaps some genuine scientific dissenters, but also those with an anti-fast food ideological agenda, for example. They may even form a community of deniers, creating their own websites, and doing their own dubious experiments that science bloggers will then have to spend time criticizing and pointing out all the flaws. The political parties will likely come down on opposite sides of the question, each accusing the other of “junk science.” The news media will always cover the story as a genuine scientific controversy, long after a solid consensus has emerged, and will interview the same few cranks on the denier side for “balance”.

..."


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In the end, he sort of explains the reality of science, science journalism, pseudo-science on the Internet, etc... using this goofy story as a base.

:hi:

[MountainLaurel]

1. Love his work on skeptical science n/t

[HuckleB]

2. He does a really good job. -eom-

[Yeahyeah]

3. Mummyburgers are yummy burgers.

[HuckleB]

4. Well, there is beef jerky. I love me some beef jerky. -eom-

[uppityperson]

6. k&r with thanks

[HuckleB]

5. Kick.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Hmm - they may not be rigorous, and not scientific, but they are experiments

Definition of EXPERIMENT
1
a : test, trial <make another experiment of his suspicion — Shakespeare>
b : a tentative procedure or policy
c : an operation or procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experiment

It's not limited to just (c).

And some did compare 2 or more burgers - Sperlock, and Snack Girl:

Before:
http://www.snack-girl.com.nyud.net:8080/m/i/twohamburgersb.jpg

After 11 days:
http://www.snack-girl.com.nyud.net:8080/m/i/twohamburgers2b.jpg

http://www.snack-girl.com/snack/cheeseburger-take-2-day-1/
http://www.snack-girl.com/snack/cheeseburger-take-2-day-11/

No, it's not rigorous - the Sperlock burgers in glass jars seem to indicate a very random time before McDonald's buns start to go mouldy. That may, therefore, be due to handling, or the cleanliness of the jar, or other environmental considerations (the everlasting fries in the jar may just show they were cooked properly, transferred into a sterile container, and never touched by anything else - and so a short bit of exposure to the air, as they cool down, may have been the only chance for spores to get to them, and they find a completely cooked, and thus dry, outer surface); and we don't know if there's been lots of instances of the buns going mouldy as normal bread does, and people have just thrown the thing away without thinking.

But there are enough non-mouldy McDonald's buns being shown to make me think they may put something strange in their dough. McDonald's buns are, anyway, very unappetising bits of bread. I suspect they are designed to resist the grease of a burger, or the ketchup, rather than to taste good or have the best texture without a burger on them.