Abstract
<p>Deep-fat frying is a common food preparation method for potatoes in the foodservice industry. Deep-fried potatoes (French fries) are top-sellers at fast food establishments such as Burger King® and McDonald’s™. Intake of calorie-dense foods without increasing physical activity can lead to unhealthy weight gain. Burger King® currently offers a healthier deep-fried potato option (Satisfries™) claiming 40% less fat and 30% less calories than McDonald’s™ French fries. The fat content of McDonald’s™ and Burger King® regular deep-fried potatoes and Satisfries™ were compared in this study to evaluate the accuracy of the health claim. Results indicated the Burger King® Satisfries™ averaged 36% less fat than McDonald’s™ and 22% less fat than regular Burger King® French fries. These results fall within 4% of the health claim advertised by Burger King®.</p>
Highlights
Foods consumed away from home account for over half of American’s food dollars (US Department of Agriculture [USDA], 2013)
The aim of this study is to evaluate the fat content of McDonald’sTM and Burger King® (BK) regular deep-fried potatoes and SatisfriesTM to determine the difference in fat content and whether the restaurant chain accurately reflects the health claims of the fries
The mean weight of the samples procured for the current study ranged from 50 to 70 g for McDonald’sTM; 61to 66 g for regular BK; and 66 to 76 g for SatisfriesTM
Summary
Foods eaten away from home, such as deep-fried potatoes, tend to be higher in energy and fat (Bezerra, Curioni, & Sichieri, 2012). Deep-fried potatoes (i.e. French fries) are a commonly consumed food product when eating away from home and are one of the most popular potato products in the world (Kita & Lisinska, 2005; Mehta & Swinburn, 2001). Increased consumption of calorie-dense foods, such as those that are coated and deep-fried, without an equal increase in physical activity, leads to undesirable weight gain. National data indicates more than one-third (35.7%) of American adults and approximately 17.0% of children and adolescents are obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2011a, 2011b). Obesity contributes to the leading causes of preventable death including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and certain forms of cancer (CDC, 2011b). The World Health Organization recommends a limit to total fat intake to help prevent obesity (WHO, 2013)
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