As a combination prank and experiment, food snobs in the Netherlands were asked to taste natural organic alternatives to typical fast food – which of course, is something they would never eat. The refined palates danced with delight as they feasted on what they believed to be pure, organic, fresh foods.
In truth, they were eating McDonald’s burgers, fried chicken tenders and other fare from the ordinary menu, gussied up, cut prettily and served on trays. The power of suggestion is strong. Besides being told they were eating organic foods, you’ll note the veggies surrounding the displays as decorations are fresh.. Undoubtedly they served to subconsciously enforce the idea of fresh wholesome food. Some delighted tasters couched their descriptions in terms often used to describe superior wine. One connoisseur raved,”Rolls around the tongue nicely, if it were wine I’d say it’s fine.”
It’s enough to make you take every food and wine review you read with a grain of salt (and ketchup) – with your fries. What did Marvin Gaye sing? “Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear.” We are a suggestible people. ; )