Chick-fil-A Is NOT Healthy Fast Food

A little while ago, I asked people on my Facebook page what the deal was with Chick-fil-A. I’ve never been there (it came to the DC area after I stopped eating junk food) and I was really having trouble understanding why it’s so popular. It’s fast food, after all. Much to my surprise (and dismay), a slew of people commented saying that they choose (and love) Chick-fil-A because it’s healthier fast food.

One woman commented that she’d pick it up after work because it was a healthy option when she didn’t feel like making dinner. Another women said she frequently took her kids there because it was food she felt good about feeding them (yikes). And then one guy commented “daring” me to go after Chick-fil-A. I thought this was funny, and decided to expose Chick-fil-A for what it really is: junk food. No better than McDonald’s, Burger King or Taco Bell.

GMOs

Genetically modified food has been linked to infertility, cancer, aggression, allergies and even tumor growth. A French Study was conducted involving 200 rats and spanned two years; most studies on GMOs span 90 days. The study involved feeding the rats Roundup Ready corn.

“50 percent-80 percent of the females  had developed large tumors compared to 30 percent in the control group.” As for  males, “Liver congestions and necrosis were 2.5 to 5.5 times higher  than in the control group … [and] there were also 1. –2.3 times more  instances of ‘marked and severe’ kidney disease.” Overall, among the  rats receiving GMO and/or Roundup, “Up to 50 percent of males and 70 percent of  females died prematurely, before deaths could be put down to normal  ageing, compared with only 30 percent and 20 percent in the control group.”  Source

Rancid Vegetable Oils

Canola, corn, soy and cottonseed oils are all rancid vegetable oils. Majority of the oils are extracted using hexane – a neurotoxin. They undergo a tremendous amount of processing including bleaching and deodorizing. This causes the cholesterol to oxidize, which is what leads to heart disease. These oils are also extremely inflammatory because they’re so high in omega-6 fatty acids and so low in omega-3 fatty acids. 

Processed, Bleached, Refined Wheat

Refined grains are never a good idea, but especially wheat. They provide no nutrition but are very hard on the digestive tract, difficult for the body to digest and spike blood sugar. 

Factory Farmed Meat

Factory farmed meat is not only a detriment to society, the economy and the environment – it’s also extremely dangerous to consume. Factory farmed meat are fed GMOs, then pumped full of antibiotics to counteract the effects of feeding them a diet they were never meant to eat. Over 90% of antibiotics in the US are used for livestock – then you eat that! Not to mention factory farmed animals are treated horribly and abused. 

MSG

Monosodium glutamate encourages people to overeat, but is also encourages obesity, liver inflammation and dysplasia. 

We previously reported that injection of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in ICR mice leads to the development of significant inflammation, central obesity, and type 2 diabetes…By 6 and 12 months of age, all MSG-treated mice developed NAFLD and NASH-like histology, respectively. In particular, the murine steatohepatitis at 12 months was virtually undistinguishable from human NASH. Further, dysplastic nodular lesions were detected in some cases within the fibrotic liver parenchyma. Source

Artificial Colors

A study performed at North Shore Hospital-Cornell Medical Center demonstrated that children react favorable when these additives and dyes are removed from the diet,

This study demonstrates a beneficial effect of eliminating reactive foods and artificial colors in children with ADHD. Dietary factors may play a significant role in the etiology of the majority of children with ADHD. Source

The above mentioned ingredients are only a tiny portion of the horrible ingredients found in Chick-fil-A products. Take a look at the massive amount of ingredients found in any given Chick-fil-A food.

chicken (whole breast filet, seasoning [salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spices, paprika], seasoned coater [enriched bleached wheat flour {with malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid}, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, nonfat milk, leavening {baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate}, spice, soybean oil, color {paprika}], milk wash [water, nonfat milk, egg], peanut oil [fully refined peanut oil, with Dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foam agent added]), bun (enriched flour [wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, riboflavin {Vitamin B2}], water, corn syrup, contains 2% or less of each of the following: liquid yeast, salt, wheat gluten, soy flour, dough conditioners [may contain one or more of the following: mono- and diglycerides, calcium and sodium stearoyl lactylates, calcium peroxide], amylase, yeast nutrients [monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate], calcium propionate added to retard spoilage, cornstarch), butter oil [soybean oil, palm kernel oil, soy lecithin, artificial flavor, TBHQ and citric acid added as preservatives, and artificial color]), pickles (cucumbers, water, vinegar, salt, calcium chloride, alum, potassium sorbate [preservative], natural flavors, polysorbate 80, yellow 5, blue 1).

Grilled chicken (water, apple cider vinegar, soybean oil, yeast extract, salt, modified corn starch, palm oil, dehydrated garlic, dehydrated onion, corn maltodextrin, sea salt, flavor, sugar, chicken stock, cane molasses, chicken fat, spice, natural flavor [including smoke], dextrose, lemon peel, citric acid, red bell pepper, orange juice concentrate, grape juice concentrate, natural flavor, paprika, vinegar, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid, and spices), multigrain bun (enriched unbleached wheat flour, [wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid], water, white whole wheat flour, sugar, wheat gluten, honey, refinery syrup, molasses, yeast, contains 2% or less of the following: salt, white rye flour, rolled oats, wheat bran, triticale flakes, flax seed meal, flaked barley, calcium propionate [preservative], whole spelt flour, degerminated yellow corn grits, flax seeds, whole wheat flour, wheat nuggets, toasted corn germ, parboiled brown rice flour, hulled millet, degerminated yellow corn meal, whole oat flour, rye nuggets, rolled wheat, buckwheat flour, rolled rye, parboiled brown rice, whole sorghum four, yellow corn meal, whole wheat, soybean oil, yeast nutrients [monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate], wheat flour), tomatoes, green leaf lettuce.

Potatoes (vegetable oil [canola oil, palm oil], disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate [to promote color retention], dextrose), fully refined high oleic canola oil (TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness and Dimethylopolysiloxane added as an anti-foaming agent).

Grilled chicken (water, apple cider vinegar, soybean oil, yeast extract, salt, modified corn starch, palm oil, dehydrated garlic, dehydrated onion, corn maltodextrin, sea salt, flavor, sugar, chicken stock, cane molasses, chicken fat, spice, natural flavor [including smoke], dextrose, lemon peel, citric acid, red bell pepper, orange juice concentrate, grape juice concentrate, natural flavor, paprika, vinegar, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid, and spices).

Think the salads are healthier? Joke’s on you.

Chick-fil-A® Nuggets, pressure-cooked, sliced and served hot on a fresh bed of chopped Romaine lettuce and baby greens, topped with shredded red cabbage and carrots, roasted corn kernels, a blend of shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, crumbled bacon, diced eggs and grape tomatoes. Made fresh daily. Served with Charred Tomato Crispy Red Bell Peppers and Avocado Lime Ranch dressing (or guest?s choice of dressing).

Avocado Lime Ranch Salad Dressing

Soybean oil, buttermilk, water, distilled vinegar, avocado, egg yolk, salt, sugar, spice, garlic*, onion*, corn starch, lactic acid, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate added as preservatives, xanthan gum, lime juice concentrate, natural flavor, propylene glycol alginate, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium alginate, ascorbic acid, citric acid, calcium disodium EDTA added to protect flavor, soy lecithin, oleoresin turmeric, blue #1. * dehydrated.

Chick-fil-A Nuggets

ggets (whole chicken breast, seasoning [salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spices, paprika], seasoned coater [enriched bleached wheat flour {with malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid}, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, nonfat milk, leavening {baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate}, spice, soybean oil, color {paprika}], milk wash [water, nonfat milk, egg], peanut oil [fully refined peanut oil, with Dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foam agent added]).

That’s well over 75 ingredients. In ONE salad. Easily, this is one of the most unhealthy salads I’ve ever seen. I don’t care how many calories it has. It’s garbage.

Flatbread (water, flax flour, oat fiber, wheat gluten, corn starch, enriched wheat flour [wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid], soy protein isolate, contains less than 2% of: whole wheat flour, defatted soy flour, canola oil, soybean oil, monoglycerides, yeast, sea salt, cultured wheat starch, raw sugar, fumaric acid, enzymes, vitamin D3), grilled chicken (water, apple cider vinegar, soybean oil, yeast extract, salt, modified corn starch, palm oil, dehydrated garlic, dehydrated onion, corn maltodextrin, sea salt, flavor, sugar, chicken stock, cane molasses, chicken fat, spice, natural flavor [including smoke], chicken meat, dextrose, lemon peel, citric acid, red bell pepper, orange juice concentrate, grape juice concentrate, natural flavor, paprika, vinegar, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid, and spices), Monterey/Jack cheddar cheese blend (cheddar cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, annatto {color}], Monterey Jack cheese [milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes], potato starch and powdered cellulose added to prevent caking, natamycin [a natural mold inhibitor]), green leaf lettuce, red cabbage, carrots