KFC: the Double-Down

After weeks of buzz about KFC’s newest introduction to the menu, the double-down is finally available at your nearest KFC, much to the horror of nutritionists everywhere.

Consisting of two fried chicken patties sandwiching two slices of bacon and two slices of pepper jack and monterey jack cheeses, the double down is, for lack of better words, a meatwich.

If you’d like to know the nutritional facts, read on. If you’d rather not, just stop here.

The double-down is 540 calories, 32 grams of fat and a whopping 1,380 milligrams of sodium. And somehow, the grilled version has even more sodium, weighing in at 460 calories, 23 grams of fat and 1,430 milligrams of sodium. Both are $5.49 each, so pick your poison. On the flipside, if you’re watching your carbs, you’ll be pleased to know that the grilled version has only 3 grams of carbs, while the fried has 11.

In a time where restaurants are under obligation to disclose nutritional information, many fast-food joints are changing their menus to offer healthier options for their customers. In doing the exact opposite, KFC has probably garnered more attention in a week than your diet-friendly Mickey D’s menu. And this is coming from the joint that introduced its grilled chicken options only last year. But in retrospect, the nutritional facts in a double-down don’t fall far from those seen in a McDonald’s Big Mac or a Wendy’s Double Baconator. The real attraction may be in that of a sandwich without bread.

Unhealthy fast-food options are not a new development. If you’re looking for a healthy diet, fast food would not be at the top of the list- KFC is just continuing the trend. The real question that needs to be answered is if fast food companies are shirking their duty to the public by offering such items on their menus. But then again, its all about personal lifestyle choices, right?