This article explains the existence of a food stylist and what their job is.

But You Won't

Have you ever seen a commercial and wondered how they got their food to look so visually appealing? It's not the director or a chef who makes the food look so wonderful, it's a job specifically reserved for the Food Stylist.

Have you ever wondered how they got those burgers to look so flavorsome and delicious? A PBS web site called Don't Buy It! has all the answers and once you read about the paintbrush, the super glue and the waterproof spray you may never look at a food commercial the same way ever
again.

The next time you look at a burger commercial take a look at how perfect every sesame seed on the buns look, as if they were glued on - because they probably were. Some of the methods a Food Stylist uses involves using heavy cream in lieu of milk to keep the cereal from looking less crispy sooner. Other tools that you would never dream of using on food - food that you fully intend on eating - include tape, glue, and motor oil. The motor oil has a thicker consistency to it than actual real maple syrup. There are even times when the food in the commercials are stuffed with paper towels. Why? Because paper towels are cheap and stand up much better under the conditions of filming than real food would.

The job of a Food Stylist is very important among the advertising industry. It is their job to sell you the product. Often times Food Stylists do have a culinary background. Don't think of them as the people in the back room who do unspeakable things to food. At the end of the day it is up to the Food Stylist to make the food as good-looking as they can make it. And as the consumer it is up to us to do our own research and to know a good ad when we see one.

Advertising Tricks - http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/advertisingtricks/foodadtricks.html