Beth Skwarecki – Lifehacker – Today 10:00am

Every creature, no matter how noble, is eaten by microbes in the end. It’s the circle of life! So how do we explain the bits of plants and animals that make up a McDonald’s burger, or a Twinkie? Why don’t they rot? It turns out they’re not as immortal as viral Facebook memes would have you believe.

Let’s be clear: McDonald’s burgers and Twinkies last a long time, but it’s not because these items are “not food” or because they’re full of “toxic chemicals.” The truth is far less scandalous. And yet, those are the claims that get passed around every time somebody’s old Happy Meal goes viral. Here’s the latest: read more here