Hot Topics: Fast Food Gone Right and Wrong

I want to give a shout out to the fast food marketing departments this week.  You caught a dietitian’s attention!  So much so that I found myself imagining the fast food company’s board rooms.   I pictured CEOs, the advertising reps, fast-food chefs, and several other suits gathered all together to brainstorm new products that will draw in  new consumers and increase frequency among the regular customers.  Random product ideas would be written down in the meeting minutes and in future meeting many of the products would be shot down or left on a back burner.  I wish I could glance at the list of vetoed product-ideas.   My guess is that there would be some food items that I might endorse, but I’d really like to see the foods that could make me cringe.  Well this week two new products, one from Dairy Queen and the other from KFC, went through the board meetings, focus groups, and have made it onto their respective establishment’s menus.

      I’ll start with Dairy Queen, who in August will be offering a Mini-Blizzard.  Immediately I thought, great idea, I always thought that their “small” was quite large.  I also complimented the fact that they did not name the portion as kid size, but instead a 'Mini'-Blizzard.  The title makes that smaller portion seem more accessible to the adult population. The Mini-Blizzard is half the size of an regular small and will be priced at about $1.99.  The Mini-Blizzard will give another option for the consumers who would like to enjoy the traditional summertime treat with out spending or consuming too much.  I endorse and will most likely participate in June.

      The other product introduced this week, that somehow managed to make it through, is the KFC Double Down sandwich.  The sandwich consists of two fried chicken breasts (as if they were the bread of a sandwich), two bacon strips, two pieces of Monterey jack cheese, two slices of pepper jack cheese and the Colonel’s sauce.  It's slogan is “This product is so meaty, there’s no room for a bun!”   On 1010 AM radio, it was reported that KFC created the Double Down for their heavy KFC users and young men between the ages of 18-24.  Check out the creation at http://www.kfc.com/doubledown/.  You might experience a bit of nutrition heartbreak, and if you eat too many - literal heartbreak.  As a dietitian, I am concerned that similar to the foods found at www.thisiswhyyourefat.com (mentioned in an earlier post), the Double Down will be looked at as a culinary challenge.  Many will consume the food as a feat, just to see if they can psychologically and digestively handle it.   I’m hoping that this item has a lifespan like McDonald’s McRib - legendary but currently unavailable.