What happens to food displays after they're photographed?

Question

On every package of food is a tantalizing picture of a sample dish, emphasizing the food's color and potential flavor. On packages of ramen we see added vegetables and meat.

On food menus at the restaurant, we see samples of what is offered. Even on fliers advertising local grocery stores there are photographs of prepared food.

I've always wondered though, what happens to the food after pictures have been taken? Is it thrown away? Or do the photographers get to eat it?

Answer 1

Most food is painted with oil for gloss, cereals are placed in glue instead of milk, chicken is raw but brushed with coloring and cooked with torches, some is just plain fake. Very rarely is it edible, although I once photographed a raw steak for a book that was later consumed by my husband!

Answer 2

i think its just up for grabs

Answer 3

it is thrown away because the food in the pictures is mostly plastic or glue. Some pictures may have real food but that is rare.

Answer 4

When I worked in food service we had to create a couple of tantalizing meals that would be photographed.  They put some sort of gel over the food to preserve it in order to keep it looking fresh, so the food was thrown out afterward.