Extreme Eating Hard To Swallow
A consumer nutrition group that's found health risks in everything from Chinese food to movie theater popcorn now finds restaurant chains tough to swallow.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest says Uno Chicago Grill, for example, offers a pizza skins appetizer with more than 2,000 calories and 48 grams of fat.
The appetizer packs a whole days worth for the average adult, with the same amount of calories of three personal pan pizzas and three pats of butter, CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports.
A chocolate cake from the Cheesecake Factory serves up nearly 1,400 calories, the same as eating two quarter pounders and large fries.
In the CSPI report, executive director Michael Jacobson says table service restaurants "have launched into a whole new era of extreme eating."
"Burgers, pizzas, and quesadillas were never health foods to begin with, but many restaurants are transmogrifying these foods into ever-more harmful new creations, and then keeping you in the dark about what they contain," said Jacobson.
Next up: Ruby Tuesday's Fresh Chicken and Pasta. Sounds healthy? Not so much, Alfonsi reports. It clocks in at 2,060 calories and 128 grams of fat.
Jacobson calls the fresh chicken with pasta dinner at Ruby Tuesday "angioplasta."
A single scone at Starbucks has over a thousand calories.
Right now, you won't find any of those big numbers listed on the menu. That's what consumer advocates want to change. But sometimes, just a name is enough to set off a high-calorie warning. Take the Colossal Burger.
With 141 grams of fat, the burger is the equivalent of five Quarter Pounders.
Americans eat out on average about four meals a week, according to CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan.
"Studies show that women who eat out more than five times a week eat 300 more calories per day on average than women who eat out less often," she said in the report.
Jacobson says these chains aren't being singled out; they represent the entire industry.
As for Ruby Tuesday, the chain's Richard Johnson said: "Nutrient information has been on packaged foods in grocery stores for years and during those years the rate of obesity hasn't gone down..."
CSPI wants federal legislation to require nutrition information on restaurant menus, at least the calories for each item, to help diners make healthy choices.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Center for Science in the Public Interest says Uno Chicago Grill, for example, offers a pizza skins appetizer with more than 2,000 calories and 48 grams of fat.
The appetizer packs a whole days worth for the average adult, with the same amount of calories of three personal pan pizzas and three pats of butter, CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports.
A chocolate cake from the Cheesecake Factory serves up nearly 1,400 calories, the same as eating two quarter pounders and large fries.
In the CSPI report, executive director Michael Jacobson says table service restaurants "have launched into a whole new era of extreme eating."
"Burgers, pizzas, and quesadillas were never health foods to begin with, but many restaurants are transmogrifying these foods into ever-more harmful new creations, and then keeping you in the dark about what they contain," said Jacobson.
"Now we see lasagna with meatballs on top; ice cream with cookies, brownies, and candy mixed in; 'Ranchiladas,' bacon cheeseburger pizzas, buffalo-chicken-stuffed quesadillas, and other hybrid horribles that are seemingly designed to promote obesity, heart disease, and stroke," Jacobson said.
Read the report for more calorie tallies.
Next up: Ruby Tuesday's Fresh Chicken and Pasta. Sounds healthy? Not so much, Alfonsi reports. It clocks in at 2,060 calories and 128 grams of fat.
Jacobson calls the fresh chicken with pasta dinner at Ruby Tuesday "angioplasta."
A single scone at Starbucks has over a thousand calories.
Right now, you won't find any of those big numbers listed on the menu. That's what consumer advocates want to change. But sometimes, just a name is enough to set off a high-calorie warning. Take the Colossal Burger.
With 141 grams of fat, the burger is the equivalent of five Quarter Pounders.
Americans eat out on average about four meals a week, according to CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan.
"Studies show that women who eat out more than five times a week eat 300 more calories per day on average than women who eat out less often," she said in the report.
Jacobson says these chains aren't being singled out; they represent the entire industry.
As for Ruby Tuesday, the chain's Richard Johnson said: "Nutrient information has been on packaged foods in grocery stores for years and during those years the rate of obesity hasn't gone down..."
CSPI wants federal legislation to require nutrition information on restaurant menus, at least the calories for each item, to help diners make healthy choices.
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Many -- most! -- of us who want information do not fall into your pre-set category of same. We want information so we can take our own responsibilities on upon ourselves.
And if we eat garbage (not personally my choice) it is upon our heads. But at least we have the information. And for certain foods -- I'm not talking about the fries -- there is uncertanity until we know more about the specific suppliers and distributors.
Informed responsibility allows us to say NO approrpiately to our own children (those of us who have children), and guide them to responsible food choices.
I'm not clear as to what you want, at least via your post, jairod: Informed irresponsibility, or uninformed mayhem?
We have become such apermisive society that to say no to a child is tantamount to child abuse. We no longer have the guts to be resposible parents so we better get used to the idea that we are killing the future generationn with kindness.
You want to bring up responsible adults from the begining. Teach the kids to take a no as meaning no. Teach them that doing without for the moment is not the end of the world. Teach them to be quiet, not in the "shut-up" sense, but in the internal peace sense. Let the kids know that as we care for them they need to care for themselves. But, if we let them do as they wish, including eating what ever, when ever, they will learn to ignore what is best for themselves and in the end suffer and early heart attack, or worse.
In short, as parents we Americans have shown little regard for our childrens future in the health department.
My question is - when people continue to eat double fat burgers from Hardies will the next step be to tax, hinder and imped peoples choices? My guess is the lawyers will then be the weapon of choice for the "I know whats best for you" crowd. Multiple attempts have been made to sue fast food chains but to date juries won't buy the "they were dupped into believing it was healthy - or they didn't know it was bad" line.
But many states have juries who look at lawsuits not a cases of justice but a lottery for those suing. They will offer huge sums of money to the "victums" not because the case has merit but because the big bad company can afford it.
Mark my words - somewhere in the next 3 years a case will be won by some law firm agains a fast food resturant - and we will have have our choices eliminated by those who "know whats best for us."
Regards blame: It's not about blame. It's about informed responsibility. Responsibility of both management and customer. I don't think the labels should be "warning" labels, just informative ones like at the supermarket. And I'd prefer to see it voluntary; I'm sure better class restaraunts would be more likely to post this info given customer interest than the fast food places. (And we can already assume that just about nothing at a fast food place is healthy, including often the salads. This of course doesn't justify suing them for "making" one fat!)
Yes, home cooked meals are the best, and I LOVE to cook, but for people on the road that's really not often an option.
However, consumers need and have a right to know what they chose to ingurgitate or else they're being manipulated. Detailed nutritional information is a must. Warnings should be put on crappy food and packages of cigs alike, and only then can you argue that 'it's a matter of choice'.
Remember when word got out that McD's was going to do away with their SuperSize to satisfy all you health nuts? Everybody for it said that fast food should offer more nutrional value. Let me tell you that I don't eat fast food for nutritional value - I EAT IT BECAUSE IT TASTES GOOD!! If you want to SuperSize anything - SUPERSIZE MY LIPITOR!!!!
I don't work for McD's (too lame), but it amazes me how even with information right in front of your eyes, you still ask dumb questions. Example, I was in an Arby's (my fav fast food) recently and I heard a customer ask what the difference was between the pic of the Arby's melt and the Beef 'N Cheddar. INSANE!! They look nothing alike. If you dumb American's can't even read pictures, what the h*ll kind of future does this country have?
Wake up people - more political wrangling is UNNECESSARY!!!! If you are worried about your d*mn health - EAT AT YOUR HOUSE!!!! And as for this organization who is adding to the fear and confusion being perpetrated by the government run media, do something beneficial for this country like work for better schooling so that these morons who write this sh*t know what they are talking about.
I'd like a LARGE Roast Beef combo with a LARGE order of curly fries and a LARGE Pepsi!! Arby's - HERE I COME!! I can die happy now!!
As for "your lack of knowledge that has always been there. The choice should've been made prior to arrival. If unsure call and ask."
Like you'll always get a straight answer. (And not necessarily out of malicious purposes either. WHY are you misrepresenting my desire for accessible information as being "blame"? There's no such intent in my comment.) And I've already stated that some foods are pretty obvious as to their "stay away!" factor.
jimmyc: I agree, we shouldn't allow government to tell us we cannot eat such and such a food, whether bad or good for us. I just think the info should be available so that those of us who don't want trans fat don't have to eat it... but those who love it can make that choice too.