Fast food is a big part of the American diet. People in the United States spend millions of dollars a year eating and drinking at fast food establishments. The biggest chain, in terms of sales, is McDonald’s, which reported a revenue of over $21 billion in 2018. More than a third of Americans eat fast food on any given day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
We live in an era of more for less, and more food for less money is very common in fast food restaurants. But some burgers, sandwiches, desserts, and even drinks that can be bought for as little as $3 are basically caloric monstrosities.
Some of these high-calorie foods are rich in other ingredients no doctor will say you should consume in abundance, like sugar, sodium, and fat. Many of the least healthy items on fast food menus contain nearly the entire daily recommended intake of calories, sodium, and sugar. The estimated daily calorie need for moderately active adult men is 2,600 and for women it is 2,000.
The recommended daily limit for salt is 2,300 mg (ideally 1,500 mg), according to the American Heart Association. And for sugar, the recommended limit is 25 grams (6 teaspoons) for women and 38 grams (9 teaspoons) for men per day.
The amount of these ingredients in fast food items is often off the charts, and people are probably better off looking at them rather than eating them. Find out the unhealthiest item in every fast-food chain in America.
To identify the fast food items with the most calories, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the nutritional content of every food item on the menus of about 20 fast food restaurant chains in the United States. Only food items intended for single individuals were considered. McDonald’s 40-piece Chicken McNuggets, for example, was excluded. Of food items that are the same but come in different sizes, we only considered the one with the highest amount of calories.
29. Arby’s: Jamocha Handcrafted Shake-Large
> Calories: 950
> Serving: 758 ml
> Fat content (trans fat): 0.5 grams
> Sodium: 700 mg
> Sugar: 141.0 g
28. Arby’s: Ultimate Chocolate Shake (Large)
> Calories: 820
> Serving: 680 ml
> Fat content (trans fat): 0.5 grams
> Sodium: 660 mg
> Sugar: 129.0 g
27. Del Taco: Macho Combo Burrito
> Calories: 950
> Serving: 538 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 0.5 grams
> Sodium: 1,840 mg
> Sugar: 6.0 g
26. Sonic: Chili Cheese Tots Large
> Calories: 960
> Serving: 417 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 1.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,690 mg
> Sugar: 3.0 g
25. Burger King: Rodeo Crispy Chicken Sandwich
> Calories: 960
> Serving: 270 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 1.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,230 mg
> Sugar: 14.0 g
24. Arby’s: Sausage Gravy Biscuit-Double
> Calories: 970
> Serving: 522 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 0.0 grams
> Sodium: 3,540 mg
> Sugar: 5.0 g
23. Whataburger: Green Chile Double
> Calories: 980
> Serving: 353 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 2.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,330 mg
> Sugar: 11.0 g
22. Burger King: Double Whopper Sandwich With Cheese
> Calories: 980
> Serving: 377 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 3.0 grams
> Sodium: 1,410 mg
> Sugar: 11.0 g
21. Del Taco: Churro Dipper Shake (Large)
> Calories: 1,010
> Serving: 675 ml
> Fat content (trans fat): 0.0 grams
> Sodium: 680 mg
> Sugar: 149.0 g
20. Krystal: Oreo Shake
> Calories: 1,010
> Serving: Large
> Fat content (trans fat): 0.0 grams
> Sodium: 730 mg
> Sugar: 127.0 g
19. Sonic: Supersonic Bacon Double Cheeseburger With Mayo
> Calories: 1,030
> Serving: N/A
> Fat content (trans fat): 2.0 grams
> Sodium: 1,880 mg
> Sugar: 12.0 g
18. Del Taco: Epic Steak & Potato Burrito
> Calories: 1,040
> Serving: 400 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 0.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,280 mg
> Sugar: 4.0 g
17. Del Taco: Large Queso Loaded Nachos (Beef)
> Calories: 1,060
> Serving: 581 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 1.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,060 mg
> Sugar: 8.0 g
16. Whataburger: Chop House Cheddar Burger
> Calories: 1,080
> Serving: 366 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 2.0 grams
> Sodium: 1,590 mg
> Sugar: 11.0 g
15. Whataburger: Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger
> Calories: 1,080
> Serving: 392 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 2.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,310 mg
> Sugar: 18.0 g
14. Whataburger: Triple Meat Whataburger
> Calories: 1,080
> Serving: 484 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 3.0 grams
> Sodium: 1,720 mg
> Sugar: 12.0 g
13. Krystal: Boneless Wings (12) W/BBQ Sauce
> Calories: 1,080
> Serving: 12 pieces
> Fat content (trans fat): 3.0 grams
> Sodium: 4,040 mg
> Sugar: 32.0 g
12. Whataburger: Monterey Melt
> Calories: 1,110
> Serving: 403 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 2.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,510 mg
> Sugar: 12.0 g
11. Del Taco: Epic Scrambler (Huevos Rancheros)
> Calories: 1,120
> Serving: 516 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 0.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,100 mg
> Sugar: 7.0 g
10. Burger King: Bacon King Sandwich
> Calories: 1,150
> Serving: 356 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 3.5 grams
> Sodium: 2,150 mg
> Sugar: 10.0 g
9. Krystal: Boneless Wings (12) W/Buffalo Sauce
> Calories: 1,170
> Serving: 12 pieces
> Fat content (trans fat): 3.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,940 mg
> Sugar: 12.0 g
8. Popeye’s: Chicken Livers
> Calories: 1,190
> Serving: 10 pieces
> Fat content (trans fat): 5.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,070 mg
> Sugar: 3.0 g
7. Burger King: Triple Whopper Sandwich With Cheese
> Calories: 1,220
> Serving: 461 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 5.0 grams
> Sodium: 1,470 mg
> Sugar: 11.0 g
6. Hardees: 2/3 Lb Monster Thickburger
> Calories: 1,300
> Serving: 383 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 4.0 grams
> Sodium: 3,140 mg
> Sugar: 13.0 g
5. Hardees: 2/3 Lb Cheeseburger
> Calories: 1,300
> Serving: 383 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 3.5 grams
> Sodium: 3,140 mg
> Sugar: 13.0 g
4. Burger King: RodeoKing Burger
> Calories: 1,480
> Serving: 385 g
> Fat content (trans fat): 5.0 grams
> Sodium: 2,340 mg
> Sugar: 14.0 g
3. Sonic: Peanut Butter Shake
> Calories: 1,490
> Serving: Large
> Fat content (trans fat): 2.0 grams
> Sodium: 770 mg
> Sugar: 91.0 g
2. Sonic: Sonic Blast With M&M’S Minis Chocolate Candies (Large)
> Calories: 1,540
> Serving: 830 ml
> Fat content (trans fat): 2.0 grams
> Sodium: 680 mg
> Sugar: 138.0 g
1. Sonic: Asian Sweet Chili Boneless Wings 24 Piece
> Calories: 1,860
> Serving: 24 pieces
> Fat content (trans fat): 2.0 grams
> Sodium: 5,820 mg
> Sugar: 56.0 g