Meme Overview

The Fat Man Eating MSG Burger meme depicts an overweight man sitting at a table filled with fast food items, highlighting the alleged unhealthy ingredients in each item. Initially created as a political art piece by David Dees, it has evolved into a widely shared meme format.

Background

The artwork features an overweight man adorned with a 'Bush '04' button, seated at a table laden with a Burger King meal and a bottle of Prozac. Each food item is humorously labeled to reveal its purportedly unhealthy ingredients, including 'MSG Burger,' 'Aspartame Cola,' and 'Genetically Altered Spuds.' Posted on Dees' website as early as November 2006, the piece sparked discussions and articles on the dangers of various food additives throughout the 2010s. In recent years, the image has found new life in memes, allowing for creative reinterpretations with different characters replacing the original man.

How It Began

David Dees first showcased the art piece on November 7, 2006, on his website, DeesIllustration.com, under the 'satire' section. Known for his conspiracy-themed art, Dees' work often serves as commentary on societal issues. The image gained traction on conspiracy forums and articles about unhealthy food ingredients, appearing in various discussions, such as a 2011 New Times article and a 2013 piece by Reporterre. The meme gained further exposure when an anonymous user on 4chan's /pol/ board referenced it in 2015, discussing the high costs of healthy foods.

Meme Evolution

The meme's popularity surged over the years, leading to various adaptations. On July 20, 2018, a Tumblr user humorously depicted the image as a defeated enemy's drops in a video game, attracting significant engagement. In 2023, the image was reimagined with Neco-Arc and a shark fursona, generating thousands of notes on Tumblr. The meme continued to spread across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, with users applying it to various humorous contexts, indicating its enduring relevance in online culture.