WASHINGTON — If you are thinking of hitting up Long John Silver’s for lunch, think again.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest named the restaurant’s “Big Catch” with onion rings and hushpuppies as the worst restaurant meal in America via Twitter Tuesday.
The center, which advocates for sound nutrition and environmental policies based on scientific research, commissioned a set of laboratory tests to determine the amount of trans fat, sodium and calories in the value meal. The tests discovered the meal is 16 times the daily amount of trans fat recommended by the American Heart Association and more than 1,300 calories.
Due to the poor nutritional value of the meal, center Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson called it “a heart attack on a hook.”
The center said other fast-food chains offer meals with more calories, but the potential for clogging arteries is highest in the Long John Silver’s meal.
The “Big Catch” meal was announced by the Kentucky-based restaurant and made available May 27 through July or for as long as supplies last.
Long John Silver’s describes the wild-caught haddock as three times the size of the restaurant’s signature whitefish. However, the study found that the seven to eight ounces of fish advertised by the restaurant chain is actually 60 percent fish and 40 percent batter and grease.
“Long John Silver’s offers a variety of meal choices, including baked fish and shrimp that can satisfy almost every diner’s dietary choices. We stand by our published food data and will review any requests from CSPI that raise questions about our data,” restaurant officials said in a Tuesday statement.
The center took issue with the restaurant’s use of partially hydrogenated oil used to fry the fish. Many fast food restaurants have discontinued the use of this type of oil that adds hydrogen to increase shelf life and texture stability, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
“Trans fat from partially hydrogenated oil is especially bad for health,” said Walter C. Willett of the Harvard School of Public Health in an article on the school’s website. “Eating just a small amount of trans fat on a regular basis raises the risk of heart disease.”
The American Heart Association recommends limiting yourself to two grams of trans fat per day.
“Long John Silver’s Big Catch meal deserves to be buried 20,000 leagues under the sea,” Jacobson said in a statement
While Long John Silver has the nutritional information listed for regular items, featured value meals do not offer that information.
“People are buying it. They love it,” said Stephen Ike, manager of the Capitol Heights, Md., location.
Long John Silver’s “Big Catch” meal has higher trans fat levels than Burger King.
Sodium levels found in the “Big Catch” meal also trend higher than other fast food items.