List of America's most unhealthy fast food items is out, and you might want to ditch that cheeseburger and fries
fast food
chain. But, on a scale of 1 to 50, how unhealthy do you think that juicy (and greasy) burger is? No, it's not 8, and certainly not 49, it's beyond that. As US President Donald Trump and the HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are working on 'Making America Healthy Again', the list of 'The most unhealthy menu items at America's fast-food chains' is out, and it's shocking, to say the least.
A new study conducted by online healthcare platform PlushCare in 2024 has made the list of the most unhealthy fast food items in America, based on Department of Health's nutrient profiling method, comparing the calories (kj), sugar (g), saturated fat (g), and sodium (mg) values of products at 24 leading US fast-food chains.
And guess what's in the top one position as the most unhealthy food? It's not what you expect.
Cheeseburger! Yeah, that's right. This might finally be the right time to quit eating cheeseburgers from fast food chains.
Five Guys cheeseburger
tops the list by being the unhealthiest cheeseburger, with a 50-point unhealthiness score. The least healthy on the chain's menu is fries, which are too at 28 points. 'According to our calculations, the Five Guys cheeseburger is the most unhealthy in its class, primarily because it has 73% more saturated fat than any other fast-food cheeseburger,' the study said.
(Pic courtesy: PlushCare)
Many Americans believe that burgers are healthy. It can be, if cooked traditionally, with slow-cooked lean meat, and a healthy bun. It can provide protein, iron, and vitamin B12. However, that's not what you get from fast food chains. The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that red meat and ultra-processed foods are carcinogenic, which is basically what you're getting with a fast-food cheeseburger.
Interestingly, Burger King and McDonald's
cheeseburgers
are tied on relatively low unhealthiness scores (18 points). Compared to Five Guys, they each have less than a quarter of the saturated fat and less than half that of a Wendy's cheeseburger. Saturated fats are linked with increased risk of heart disease and obesity.
Well, that doesn't mean Burger King or McDonald's are any better. McDonald's McChicken is still on the list, but is the least unhealthy fast-food chicken
burger
. "While the McChicken is significantly less unhealthy than other fast-food chicken burgers, it is still high in sodium, fat, and calories. Because it is made of ground chicken patty, the nutrients it does contain are not high-quality," the study said.
Popeye's chicken nuggets are at the top of the least healthy (30 points) chicken nuggets.
(Pic courtesy: PlushCare)
When it comes to fries, Five Guys Regular Five Guys style fries are in the top spot, being the unhelathiest fries with a score of 28. KFC's secret recipe fries have 17 points on the unhealthiest score. Burger King and McDonald's fries are also on the list.
(Pic courtesy: PlushCare)
Next in the list is for most unhealthy Vanilla Shakes. Fatburger's vanilla shake is the least healthy, with 63 points and 890 calories. Five Guys, DQ, Steak 'n Shake, Burger King, Smash Burger, and McDonald's are on the list.
(Pic courtesy: PlushCare)
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