Whether you're eating it out of convenience or because a late night craving hit, fast-food is downright delicious. Of course, that doesn't make it good for you.
A new analysis has uncovered the unhealthiest menu items from the five most popular fast-food restaurants in the country: McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Taco Bell and KFC.
To compile the list, experts at Pricelisto.com identified analyzed the nutritional value of more than 1,000 menu items from the five restaurants. Each fast-food item was scored out of 100 based on the number of calories, grams of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates and sugars as a percentage of the recommended daily intake for an adult male, as per US Dietary Guidelines.
While some items on the list may seem like a no-brainers, others may surprise you with their calorie counts.
In first place is the Big Breakfast with Hotcakes (Large Biscuit) from McDonald's, which scored by far the highest of any menu item on the list, at 70.08 out of 100. This item contained 58% of your recommended calorie intake (1,150 calories), 100% of your saturated fat intake (20 g), 192% of your cholesterol intake (575 mg), and 98% of your recommended sodium intake (2.26 g).
Similarly, McDonald's Big Breakfast with Hotcakes (Regular size biscuit), secured second place scoring 66.43.
The Cheddar Bacon King from Burger King took the third spot on the list, scoring 65.96. This burger was found to contain the highest amount of total fats (84 g) and saturated fats (33 g) of any menu item in the top 10 -- equivalent to a staggering 108% and 165% of your recommended daily intake, respectively.
Items from Burger King also took the next three spots on the list, with the Bacon King Sandwich in fourth place, scoring 64.57; the Triple Whopper Sandwich with Cheese from Burger King in fifth place, scoring 64.26; and the Double Stacker King in sixth place, scoring 57.25.
In seventh place is Dave's Triple from Wendy's, scoring 57.15. This burger provides 55% of the recommended daily calories (1,090 calories), 92% of total fats (72 g), a concerning 150% of saturated fats (30 g), 87% of cholesterol (360 mg), and 72% of sodium (1.65 g).
Burger King is back for the next two spots, with the Triple Whopper Sandwich in eighth place, scoring 55.4, and the BK Ultimate Breakfast Platter from Burger King in ninth place, scoring 53.81.
Rounding out the list in tenth place is the Two Sausage Biscuits from Wendy's. Despite being a relatively small menu item, it still scores 53.39 out of 100. This menu item includes 48% of the recommended daily calories (960 calories), 83% of total fats (65 g), 155% of saturated fats (31 g), 32% of cholesterol (95 mg), and 88% of sodium (2.02 g). It also contains 25% of the daily carbohydrates (70 g) and 20% of the daily sugar intake (10 g).
Interestingly, Burger King dominates the top ten, featuring six items, with McDonald’s and Wendy’s each featuring two items.
Both Taco Bell and KFC failed to break into the top ten. Taco Bell's first entry in the list came in at 28th, with its 12 Pack of Cinnabon Delights scoring 35.76 -- notably containing 118% of the recommended daily sugar intake (59 g).
KFC's first item on the list is in 11th place, with its Family Size Potato Salad scoring 49.84 out of 100. While it is intended for sharing, if you were to eat this alone, you would be consuming 126% of your recommended daily total fats (98 g).
The top 50 unhealthiest fast-food items and their index score out of 100:
1. McDonald's Big Breakfast with Hotcakes (Large Biscuit) -- 70.08
2. McDonald's Big Breakfast with Hotcakes (Regular Biscuit) -- 66.43
3. Burger King Cheddar Bacon King Sandwich -- 65.96
4. Burger King Bacon King Sandwich -- 64.57
5. Burger King Triple Whopper Sandwich with Cheese -- 64.26
6. Burger King Double Stacker King -- 57.25
7. Wendy's Dave's Triple -- 57.15
8. Burger King Triple Whopper Sandwich -- 55.46
9. Burger King Ultimate Breakfast Platter -- 53.81
10. Wendy's Two Sausage Biscuits -- 53.39
11. KFC Potato Salad (Family) -- 49.84
12. Burger King Spicy Chicken Nuggets (20 pc) -- 49.73
13. Burger King NY Ultimate Platter (Regional menu item) -- 48.74
14. McDonald's Big Breakfast (Large Size Biscuit) -- 48.66
15. McDonald's Chocolate Triple Thick Shake (32oz) -- 48.06
16. Burger King Double Whopper Sandwich with Cheese -- 47.95
17. Wendy's Baconator -- 47.22
18. Burger King Double Quarter Pound King Sandwich -- 47.06
19. McDonald's Strawberry Triple Thick Shake (32oz) --46.55
20. McDonald's Vanilla Triple Thick Shake (32oz) -- 46.52
21. McDonald's Big Breakfast (Regular Size Biscuit) -- 45.14
22. Burger King EGG-NORMOUS BURRITO -- 41.90
23. Burger King Double Whopper Sandwich -- 39.68
24. McDonald's Angus Chipotle BBQ Bacon -- 39.15
25. McDonald's Angus Bacon & Cheese -- 38.06
26. Burger King Bacon & Cheese Whopper Sandwich -- 36.13
27. Wendy's Dave's Double -- 35.98
28. Taco Bell Cinnabon Delights (12 Pk) -- 35.76
29. McDonald's Chocolate McCafe Shake (22oz) -- 35.33
30. McDonald's Strawberry McCafe Shake (22oz) -- 34.69
31. Burger King Bacon & Cheese Crispy Chicken Sandwich -- 33.94
32. McDonald's Angus Deluxe -- 33.07
33. KFC Secret Recipe Fries (Family) -- 33.07
34. KFC Strawberry Lemonade (1/2 Gallon) -- 33.01
35. McDonald's Vanilla McCafe Shake (22oz) -- 32.86
36. McDonald's Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese -- 32.43
37. Burger King BBQ Bacon Crispy Chicken Sandwich -- 32.33
38. KFC BBQ Baked Beans (Family) -- 31.79
39. Burger King Whopper Sandwich with Cheese -- 31.79
40. Burger King Chicken Nuggets (20pc) -- 31.33
41. Burger King Chocolate Oreo Shake -- 30.27
42. McDonald's Angus Mushroom & Swiss -- 30.25
43. KFC Classic Lemonade (1/2 Gallon) -- 29.70
44. KFC Chicken Breast -- 29.41
45. McDonald's Chocolate Triple Thick Shake (21oz) -- 27.96
46. KFC Famous Bowl -- 27.27
47. McDonald's Strawberry Triple Thick Shake (21oz) -- 27.00
48. McDonald's Vanilla Triple Thick Shake (21oz) -- 26.92
49. Taco Bell Nachos BellGrande Specialties -- 19.36
50. Taco Bell Nachos BellGrande Beef -- 19.36
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