FAT, SODIUM | Jack in the Box's junior bacon cheeseburger tops unhealthy list
It may seem like a steal at $1. But Jack in the Box's junior bacon cheeseburger has been ranked the unhealthiest "value menu" item offered by a fast food chain, according to the Cancer Project.
Dieticians from the non-profit food watchdog group examined value menu fare from five fast food chains and found that many of these items are loaded with saturated fat, sodium and other ingredients that can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes. They also contain grilled or processed meats, which have been linked to cancer.
"With the economy right now, everyone is looking to save a penny here or there," said Krista Haynes, a Cancer Project dietician involved in the study. But "these low-cost items can be costly to your health," Haynes said.
The Jack in the Box bacon cheeseburger, for example, has 400 calories, 23 grams of fat and just 1 gram of fiber.
Taco Bell's 89-cent Cheesy Double Beef Burrito, which came in second place, was a little less fattening. Yet, it contains "1,620 milligrams of sodium -- more than two-thirds the recommended daily maximum," the Cancer Project report said.
Other offenders were Burger King's breakfast sausage biscuit, McDonald's McDouble cheeseburger and Wendy's junior bacon cheeseburger.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for Jack in the Box said the junior bacon cheeseburger "is a great value for guests looking for a filling, flavorful meal. . . . But if you're on a tight budget and want something else, there's plenty of great products on our value menu to choose from."
McDonald's, meanwhile, responded that the company "has always been committed to providing a variety of wholesome, balanced menu options for all our customers."
