On social media, viewers expressed concerns and fascination after watching a viral video showcasing how long it takes for a McDonald's paper cup to break down.
The video quickly went viral and garnered significant attention, raising questions about the durability of fast-food packaging and its environmental impact.
A viral time-lapse video showed how long McDonald's paper cups can hold liquid.
The original video, created in 2020, went viral again after a user shared it on Reddit, gaining attention from viewers.
In 2020, during the global lockdown, the YouTube channel Photo Owl Time Lapse conducted an experiment to see how long a McDonald's paper cup could hold liquid.
The video aimed to observe the breakdown process of the cup over time using different beverages. Despite the seemingly mundane premise, the results were both surprising and disturbing.
The video creator captured over 124,000 photos, using a frequent interval to track the cup's deterioration.
The experiment involved capturing over 124,000 photos to create a comprehensive time-lapse video.
The channel used three types of liquids: orange juice, Pepsi, and water.
The water cup was removed early on as it evaporated without any significant changes. Similarly, the Pepsi cup was removed to focus on the more dramatic transformation of the orange juice cup.
The result of the experiment.
- Day 5: The orange juice cup began showing signs of mold, while the Pepsi and water cups remained largely unchanged.
- Day 7: The orange juice cup was covered in black mold, and small mold specs appeared in the Pepsi cup.
- Day 50: The orange juice cup started to disintegrate and leak.
- Day 90: The focus was solely on the orange juice cup, which continued to mold and deteriorate.
- Day 200: The cup began losing its shape and tipping over.
- Day 231: The cup had completely tipped over and became significantly flimsy.
The video quickly went viral and sparked debate on social media
One person said: Can we PLEASE get this channel to a multi-million subscriber status? Because it's AMAZING!!!!!! The dedication
A second wrote: It actually really surprised me how quickly the mold started forming. I know that room mustve been ripe af
While a third commented: The true message that I'm getting from this is that multiple generations of Flies had a pretty happy life because of this generous person that let a cup of orange juice just mold in his house for almost a year.
Another added: The fact that that cup eventually started becoming more full, not less, horrifies me.
Someone else said: Funfact: It depends on the humidity and temperature of the room as well. If it's cold the cup can last much longer than when it's hot and steamy.
I think it's safe to say the mold had far more of an effect on the cup than the liquid itself. Another user said.
The experiment elicited a wide range of reactions on social media, with many users expressing both disgust and fascination.
However, the experiment also underscores the importance of sustainable packaging choices.
McDonald's environmental efforts deserve recognition, even as we witness the gradual breakdown of their paper cups.
Watching the video:
