It’s conventional to wait until the end of the year to decide which new food product deserves the award for worst of the year. But once in a while, a product comes along that's such an obvious choice there’s no need to hold off giving the award until all the entries are in. Next week, KFC is introducing just such a product: their new Double Down sandwich. It’s not entirely clear how this product actually qualifies as a “sandwich,” since there’s no bread involved. It’s two pieces of bacon and two pieces of cheese served between two pieces of fried chicken. There’s nothing even remotely resembling a vegetable—not even ketchup. Given all the public concern lately about eating balanced meals and reducing the health risks associated with a high-fat, low fiber diet, you have to wonder: What was KFC thinking? And the answer to that question might just be more disturbing than the Double Down itself. According to this article, KFC has designed this product (and the advertising campaign that goes with it) to appeal to one of our worst human foibles: our tendency to sabotage our own best interests by doing something that’s clearly not good for us, just out of spite. We’re all familiar with this situation. You know what you should eat for good health and weight management (and if you don’t, there’s no shortage of people who will be happy to tell you). But sometimes you just get tired of all the “shoulds” and decide to eat something guaranteed to make the food police very unhappy with you. There’s nothing abnormal about this—most of us like to thumb our noses at authority and convention at least once in a while, and no one really likes being told they shouldn’t eat certain things they want, especially when those things are particularly tasty and you see them everywhere. This is one of the main reasons why many diet and nutrition experts recommend against having extremely strict diet rules and “forbidden food” lists, and support an “everything in moderation” approach. But it’s one thing to say there’s room on the menu for items that won’t make it onto anyone’s list of healthy foods. It’s something else altogether, I think, to deliberately design and market a nutritional nightmare just because it’s likely to evoke this nose-thumbing, anti-conventional wisdom attitude and appeal to people on that basis. What do you think? Has KFC gone too far with this new menu item, or is this just business as usual, and nothing to be upset about?  You will earn 5 SparkPoints
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Well, if it's any indication based on how many sites picked up this article and posted it as true then, it's the media we need to worry about!
Whew, and we wonder why we have such a problem with eating?! Report
That being said, There's worse out there. I'm not saying it's healthy. If it were to make the top 10 list of worst foods (or even top 5), I would tip my hat to the judgment.
But no. It's two pieces of fried chicken with 2 pieces of "cheese", bacon and some ambiguous sauce that gives it some kick.
I will probably not eat one again anytime soon. Report
This story is a reminder that our fast food industry is heading in the opposite way of where our society should be going. Every time I pass a BK the Whoppers have gotten bigger (I believe there is actually a triple Whopper now). Being someone that is obese and an object of these types of convenient foods, I'm often offended. You wanna make money from me, show me something good for you, convenient, and doesn't require a defibrilator to digest Report
While that might be somewhat true, we have to remember that there is a bigger issue at hand here. MOST of the people who eat at fast food restaurants are not educated in proper nutrition. They may not have the $$ to eat fresh and healthy. Fast food is cheap and if you grew up eating that way, then you are likely to continue.
It's the fast food chains and others that have a responsibility to help make some of these major changes in our communities towards healthier eating. They have the power to make changes that will trickle down to the consumers. That power is much stronger than the consumers ability to have the knowledge to affect change.
Yes, improving one's health is something that each person has to want. But, it's very difficult to hear that little voice inside of you telling you to eat some veggies when you have commercial campaigns all around you pushing foods like this new KFC "sandwich". Report
Truth is, in a pinch, I'd eat this (the grilled version) over a lot of other fast food options. At least with this, all the food is identifiable. Chicken, cheese, bacon. I have to believe there was some ultra-processed, sugar-infused, get-your-kids-addicted treat that is far worse than this that came out this year. Report
I know that it is not up to the restaurant industry to save America from its bad eating habits, but COME ON!! I would love to see the Fast Food Industry own up to its shameless greed for profits at the expense of the health of our nation and CHANGE. There's no need for triple cheeseburgers and giant french fries. I went to Arby's the other day and ordered a "medium" tea. It was 32 ounces!!!! Since when is that a medium????!!
It's disgusting and doesn't help our problems. Way to go, KFC. I guess if you can't be part of the solution, you can just be another part of the problem. Report
KFC Original Recipe® Double Down calories: 540 fat grams: 32 sodium: 1380
KFC Grilled Double Down calories: 460 fat grams: 23 sodium: 1430
I was thinking that this "sandwich" could make a low calorie meal for 2 people.
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Shame on KFC. What were they thinking?? Report
So - business as usual.
If someone actually WANTS to eat food like that , it is up to them and KFC is just giving them what they want. Report
http://scientificilliteracy.blogspo
t.com/2010/05/double-me-down.html Report