New Burger’s Toppings Can Tip the Scale

Next week Jack in the Box Inc. is rolling out its new turkey burger as a lower fat alternative to regular hamburgers.

Nutritionists say this is just window dressing.

There’s virtually no difference in calories between the new Turkey Jack sandwich, the first turkey burger marketed by a major burger chain, and the company’s Jumbo Jack hamburger.

There are 700 calories and 32 grams of fat in a Turkey Jack sandwich, compared with 690 calories and 38 grams of fat in a Jumbo Jack with cheese, according to Jack in the Box’s nutritional fact sheet.

“The turkey patty is lower in fat and calories than the quarter-pound beef patty. But we’ve built the Turkey Jack to appeal to guests looking for a lot of flavor,” said Brian Luscomb, spokesman for the San Diego-based 1,900-store chain. The $3.29 turkey sandwich, “has three slices of Swiss cheese and mayo and onion sauce.”

Unhealthier foods are typically higher in sugar and fat. “Most people inherently like the unhealthier options because.... they taste better,” said Kelly Brownell, director of the Yale University Center for Eating and Weight Disorders. “A turkey burger is better than nothing,” but given the obesity epidemic, “the bigger picture is still disastrous.”

With obesity on the rise nationwide, consumers say they want healthier choices.

And nearly all major fast food players have launched salads within the last year, starting with Dublin, Ohio-based Wendy’s International Inc.

But even these salads may not qualify as a healthy choice.

Wendy’s Taco Supremo Salad without dressing has 360 calories and 17 grams of fat, and that’s before adding taco chips, sour cream and salsa, which tack on another 310 calories and 17 grams of fat. Adding blue cheese dressing to the salad packs on another 260 calories and 27 grams of fat.