Can a burger give you nightmares? That’s what the Burger King brand set out to prove with an unusual research study on its latest Halloween burger, the Nightmare King. This spooky sandwich features a quarter pound of savory flame-grilled beef, a 100 percent white meat crispy chicken fillet, melted American cheese, thick cut bacon, creamy mayonnaise, and onions all assembled on a glazed green sesame seed bun.
In partnership with the Paramount Trials and Florida Sleep & Neuro Diagnostic Services, Inc. and Goldforest Inc., the Burger King brand conducted a scientific study over 10 nights with 100 participants (or should we say victims?) who ate the Nightmare King before they went to bed. By tracking various signals from the sleeping subjects including their heart rate, brain activity and breath, a group of doctors and scientists identified whether the individuals had vivid dreams.
“Someone… transformed into the figure of a snake,” reported one of the study’s subjects when asked about her dream. Another recalled “aliens attacking” the boat he was on.
“According to previous studies, four percent of the population experiences nightmares in any given night” said Dr. Jose Gabriel Medina, a specialized somnologist and the study’s lead doctor. “But, after eating the Nightmare King, the data obtained from the study indicated that the incidence of nightmares increased by three and a half times.”
Dr. Medina points out that the unique combination of proteins and cheese in the Nightmare King led to “an interruption of the subjects’ REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycles, during which we experience the majority of our dreams.”
The Nightmare King will be available in participating Burger King restaurants for a limited time beginning October 22 at a recommended price of $6.39. Postmates will offer the Nightmare King from October 22 through October 25 with free delivery when using promo code ‘SCARYGOOD.’
Some Burger King sandwiches are the burgers of their dreams. The Nightmare King is the burger of their nightmares. If you’re brave enough, or just enjoy a good scare, visit your nearest participating Burger King restaurant and try the haunting new sandwich. Happy Halloween.
