Maybe the real question is, “Why do Fast Food restos all offer multi-patty monster-Burgers? Seems counter-intuitive in the era of concern over the global obesity epidemic and the surging trend toward stuff like Veggie Meat substitutes and healthier Veggie Protein products in general…
The ultimate Multi-Patty overkill: In & Out’s 100×100 burger.
For professional, competitive eaters, only.
I was scanning the headlines on one of my favourite food news feeds this morning and almost missed this shocking item as it rolled by: ‘Jack In The Box Is Offering a Massive 4×4 Chicken Sandwich’.
“Here we go, again.” I grumbled to myself. “Everybody else – at least the big, tier-one chains – are in the middle of a Chicken Sandwich War. It’s generating massive industry media headlines. Popeye’s, in fact, has launched its first-ever Chicken-on-a-Bun menu item and that story alone captured the attention of the Quick Service Resto (QSR) sphere for the better part of a week. As a result, other lesser players, for lack of anything more ‘innovative’ to announce, have started tossing out hastily concocted ‘specials’ to try to maintain their precious slices of the market.”
‘Go big or go down’
The rule seems to be, when in doubt – or desperate – ‘go big or go down’. So, Jack In The Box rushed out its announcement of the ‘4×4’ Chicken Sandwich (see photo at top of page). It can be implemented instantly, since it uses ingredients already in stock at all the resto’s locations, requires no employee training, and doesn’t even need special printed packaging; fancy posters to advertise it. That’s because all it is, really, is a sky-high version of the usual Jack In The Box Chicken Sammy, with Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo-Onion Sauce and plus mayo-onion sauce, four slices of Swiss cheese, and four Patties.
The down side
If you really, really like Chicken Sandwiches, you’ll really like the 4×4. It’s a mouthful, no matter how you look at it, or try to get it into your mouth. But take note: it’s also a monster on the nutritional content scales. How about 1,462 calories (75 percent of your official daily allowance)? A whopping 130 percent of your daily allotment of Fat? More than 50 percent of your daily allowance of Cholesterol? Almost 40 percent of your daily allowance of Carbs? And… More than 150 percent of your daily allowance of Sodium?
“Well,” Jack’s will say, “We had to do something, or fall completely off the public’s radar!” They may even add, “One or two 4x4s over the brief, limited-time period we plan to sell them won’t kill you.” Maybe. But it may set you on the road to a preference for multiple-Patty Sammies, many of which are available year-round on Jack’s competitors ‘secret menus’. And before you know it, you’ll be fat, unhappy and unhealthy.
This could be you – if you catch the Multi-Patty habit…
So, approach the Jack In The Box ‘4×4’ Chicken Sandwich and others like it with extreme caution! It’s not such a great deal, dietarily, as it may be fiscally. The Fast Food chains aren’t necessarily out to serve your best interests; they’re out to preserve or grow their market share, and maximize profits for their shareholders.
~ Maggie J.