If Fast Food Ads Told the Truth, This Is What They'd Look Like

A camera pans over a big, juicy meat patty with gooey cheese melting off. Fresh lettuce peeks out from underneath a steaming, pillowy bun. A drizzle of spicy mayo sauce oozes out. All of a sudden, you've got a mad craving for a Whopper. 

But visit a fast food joint, and you'll probably be sorely disappointed with the appearance (and taste) of your order. Just check out one YouTuber's experience at McDonald's, below: gleaming, meaty burger versus a washed out pile of buns and colorless patties. 

What would it sound like if there were truth in advertising? Cracked offered viewers an alternative commercial that doesn't mince words when it comes to how manipulative fast food ads can be.  

In the video, a seedy-looking, truth-telling salesman exposes the truth behind the burger porn. "We had a team of food stylists and image specialists work for several hours," he says of the too-good-to-be-true photos. 

And he shows no mercy for fast food's addicting qualities. "Thanks to the human body's natural rewards system and the fact that sugar can be more addictive than cocaine, our food is too tasty to resist," he says. The full three-minute video is worth the watch. 

Fast food restaurants spend a lot of money on TV and print commercials. In 2012, the industry spent $4.6 billion on advertising, with much of that money geared toward targeting children and teens, Yale News reported. 

What if all that money went toward making fruits and veggies seem more appetizing? Just some food for thought.