The Fast Food Industry's 7 Most Heinous Concoctions

[Triana]

By Brad Reed, AlterNet
Posted on August 27, 2009, Printed on September 2, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/story/142237/

Although the organic movement has certainly started to influence how Americans think about their food, it is still no match for the American fast food industry, which continuously finds creative new ways of piling sugar, salt and fat on a plate and charging customers $4.99 for the privilege of eating it.

In recent years, in fact, some of America's favorite chains have gone above and beyond the call of duty and concocted thoroughly repellent dishes that make the Double Quarter Pounder look like a celery stick. These companies have offered Americans these revolting meals despite the fact that roughly one-third of the country is now obese, a deplorable state of affairs that accounting firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers estimates costs the U.S. health-care system $200 billion a year in wasted spending.

In this article, we'll name and shame the very worst offenders, whether they're 1,400-calorie hamburgers or 550-calorie cups of coffee. So let's get things rolling with …


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[BlooInBloo]

1. mmmm....

Now I'm hungry.

[The Straight Story]

4. I am with you on that, my body, my choice, my burger

:rofl:

[BlooInBloo]

6. Yep. I'm a person - possessed of the free will to choose what food my hand puts into my mouth...

And if there were one of those joints nearby, I'd choose that. Sigh - they even took away our KFC. :cry:

[The Straight Story]

7. Dont worry, the nanny state nuns will eventually keep us all free from sinning

And we can live our one lives here in bliss and safety, like in prison :rofl:

[Horse with no Name]

29. Throw another pound or so of bacon on that puppy

THEN we can talk!

[guitar man]

22. damn, that does look good

now I'm hungry...I think I'll go grab one of those :P

[Fla_Democrat]

43. Oh, the Monster Burger should

be number 1 on the list, it's darn sure number one on mine. :evilgrin:

Monster burger, no mayo, add ketchup.... mmmmmmm

[Dreamer Tatum]

2. Low-hanging fruit

Sure, that stuff is awful, but the fat and salt from eating an entire bag of chips is just as awful. Unfortunately, there is a long, long way to go toward making a dent in the poor eating habits of Americans.

[HopeHoops]

3. It ALL sucks!

:puke:

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. Great, so I'm sure that these companies will all be out of business shortly, as no one will want to

eat their horrible food.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Nah some of the patterns will change

with the end of cheapo food. That is coming..

[HopeHoops]

27. Oh, there are more than enough people who like that crap to keep them in business.

Why do you think we have an obesity problem?

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. But, but, but it is up to you... and your willpower....

excuse me while I reach for the popcorn...

--------> for fat, sugar and salty toppings to make it even more sensuous...

:popcorn:

Yep, I fully expect them.

Oh and the sound of an Oreo pizza turns my stomach... but hey there is a variation in a NYC restaurant that is made with chocolate, and other sweet treats... at least it sounds better tasting... but just as disgusting.

Oh and yes, all this is to get an already addicted population crave even more of the crap...

[Javaman]

9. I'm waiting for the deep fried pizzed dipped in chocolate.

now that's good...eating...I think?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I am sure somebody will try

funny thing, after months, or is it years, of eating healthy at home I didn't have vegies for my salad for dinner

So I decided to go out for dinner to a restaurant I liked... either their recipe changed or my taste buds did.

Don't know... but it wasn't that good... I could taste the grease.

Too bad, local place... I like to support locals, not going back though.

Oy better get lunch started... just noticed the time...

[Javaman]

25. I know exactly what you mean.

I stopped eating fast food years ago and I really can't stomach fried anything (heartburn, etc) so haven't eaten that in years as well.

Well I recently went some place that had jalapeno poppers, these deep fried things with cheese inside.

I liked them years ago, but probably hadn't eaten one in about 10 years.

I took one bite and spit it out. It tasted like rancid grease.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. This was a local chinese place

Their beef was very good...

Well first it was missing the scallions...

Second it was just big and gross.

Tonight we are having salad... I know the conure will like her tomato too.

[Horse with no Name]

31. I was thinking that Oreo pizza sounded mighty good

:hide:

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. Small restaurant in NYC does it the following way

pizza dough, marshmallows, chocolate and peanuts... as well as reeses pieces

Just as bad for the heart, but sounds much better.

Of course I have that... I will be going next to the ER.

:-)

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Actually, that donut sundae looks pretty good.

And that oreo cookie pizza? Back in my stoner days, that would be a wet dream.

Sorry, food police. Don't like it, don't eat it.

[juno jones]

10. They make Fettucine Alfredo

look like a walk in the park. At least the way it should be made: Cream, Butter, salt, white pepper, lots of garlic and noodles.

That processed glurp is full of not just fats, but all sorts of processed ingredients such as HFCS and partially hydrogenated oils. If you were allowed to read the labels of the cartons it was all supplied in, you'd probably walk away.

I'll stick with lard in my piecrusts when I want a decadent thrill, thanks.

[Creena]

12. In-N-Out Animal Fries

Oh, nom, nom, nom! French fries, topped with: fried onions, cheese, and spread (a bit like 1000 Island)

[The Straight Story]

13. Such pleasures should be banned! It is sinful and may offend 'god' or someone anyway

:)

[Myrina]

20. That looks like someone already ate it and vomited it up ...

:puke:

[Creena]

23. Different strokes, different folks.

I find it a delicious, albeit very occasional, treat.

[Javaman]

36. That's what makes it' sooooooooooooooo gooooooooooood. nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

24. Just gimme the Double-Double with grilled onions and I'm good to go.

Okay, I'll take the fries too, salt only.

Oh and don't forget that vanilla shake.

I have to drive all the way down the mountain for a Double-Double. :cry:

[Javaman]

26. OH, MY. GOD

You had to go and mention In-n-out, didn't you!!

cruel, cruel person.

I miss In-n-out so much. Just the thought of them makes my mouth water.

They aren't around where I live. :cry:

[Creena]

32. I'm so very sorry to put you through that torture.

I was afraid somebody lacking a close In-N-Out might happen upon the image. My deepest, most sincerest of apologies. It's a tragic loss to be without such a wonderful institution. :hug:

[Javaman]

35. I dream of a double double with fries and a shake.

I have found imitators. They try, but they just don't have the full on In-n-out experience.

God, I have to find a way to get some...now!

[Initech]

15. It's shit! Don't eat it!!!

[Warpy]

16. None of that stuff looks even remotely appetizing to me

and I'm surprised the fast food joints in the south, the indie joints in every small town, didn't get mentions for their fried turducken with a deep fried pickle on the side followed by deep fried Twinkies for dessert.

It is notable that only the Starbucks artery clogger and the appalling cheeseburger fries were produced by companies outside Dixie. With five of the seven being originated by southern corporations, are we starting to see a pattern?

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Yeah but they only mentioned large corps

There are a couple things my local places make that are .... shall we say, non heart friendly.

But also if you look at obesity figures for the country you will see the same pattern...

Ok, perhaps Hawa'i is up there, but that is kind of the exception not the rule... and given that some of the local specialties (loco moco anyone) are just as bad... I had it ONCE... to say I did try it. Even the parrot had the good sense to just go for the rice... and skipped the rest.

Oh and here is the data

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html

Enjoy the pattern

[kestrel91316]

19. I spent all weekend eating an entire large bag of Baked Cheetos,

so I am in no position to point any fingers.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. You know it is funny

I buy a bag of corn chips a week

I make Chilaquiles about once a week. It last two adults and three birds about a week. Yes the birds like it too.

The chips, I made sure, are only corn, oil and salt... and it is literally our pigging out food.

[Contrary1]

28. There was chocolate covered bacon at the state fair this year...

I tried to find some just to look at it, but couldn't. So, I humbly offer this picture instead:

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. locally they had fried snickers

my tummy hurt just from thinking about it.

We did manage to find "healthy" food though, after much looking... Greek food... (I should clarify, healthier)

[Blue_In_AK]

41. They always have deep-fried Twinkies at our State Fair. n/t

[flvegan]

34. Yeah, it's all crap. Big shock.

[Buns_of_Fire]

37. Me: "So, doctor, if I stop drinking, smoking, eating Oreo pizzas...

and associating with women of questionable virtue, will I live forever?"

Doctor: "No, son, but it'll seem like it."

[Boojatta]

38. "charging customers $4.99 for the privilege of eating it."

I think that they would charge $4.99 even if you decided that, instead of eating it, you would resell it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

40. Oh, who cares - I don't blame the fast food places, I blame the fat fucking pigs who eat it.

The only blame I will place on a fast food place is if they are dishonest about what they are selling - lying about calories or fat grams; using fake cheese if they say they use real cheese; and so on.

Anyone with a brain - even one as small as a freeper's - has to know that shit is unhealthy as hell, especially to eat every day or even every other day. But as a treat once in a while - why not? Not gonna kill ya.

The fast food industry isn't killing the nation - American's lazy-ass attitude toward food and lazy-ass attitude toward exercise is what's killing the nation.

[LostInAnomie]

42. The Monster Burger is fucking delicious!

That is a fucking fact.

[DefenseLawyer]

44. If you've never seen Patton Oswalt's bit on the KFC Famous Bowl

It's funny.

[Doremus]

45. Burger King Mocha Joe.

Diabolically good.

I have to fight with myself everyday as I drive past.