I was told once everything in those food photos in the United States had to be edible. You could substitute sour cream, but not glue, for whipped cream. I wonder if that was true.
I remember reading a book in the '80s where one of the characters was a food photographer and mentioned that some kind of plastic had to be used for the cheese in hamburgers or it wouldn't be realistic.
But also many post 2000 claims that it was all actually real food because of various "truth in advertising" regulations around the world.
The linked Canadian McDonald's video would be one example.
I remember reading a book in the '80s where one of the characters was a food photographer and mentioned that some kind of plastic had to be used for the cheese in hamburgers or it wouldn't be realistic.
But also many post 2000 claims that it was all actually real food because of various "truth in advertising" regulations around the world.
The linked Canadian McDonald's video would be one example.