16 Secrets the Restaurant Industry Doesn't Want You to Know

[edjr 6,578]

On October 15 of last year, at the very moment a piece of legislation landed on his desk that could have helped protect the state's 37 million residents from obesity, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California was apparently out to lunch.

 

Maybe he was dining at Dunkin' Donuts, or chowing down at Chipotle, or supping at Long John Silver's. We suspect, however, that the former chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports wasn't visiting any of those establishments—because, unlike most Americans, he's pretty well versed in diet and nutrition, and knows how to protect himself from the evils that restaurant chains wreak.

 

The legislation that died on his desk—SB 120—would have required chain restaurants to list nutritional information on their menus, giving millions of us the same sort of nutritional wisdom the governor gained during his decades as a bodybuilder. It seems simple: a law that requires nothing more than having restaurants tell us what we're putting in our mouths. Yet the California Restaurant Association, which represents all of the state's largest chain restaurants, called the bill a "feel-good Band-Aid" and claimed it ignored the "true issues" behind obesity.

 

We disagree. One of the true issues behind obesity is the fact that many chains—which provide one-third of all restaurant meals, according to the New York Department of Health—obfuscate the fat and calorie counts of their menu items, and fight any attempt to shed light on what, exactly, is going on between their buns and inside their taco shells.

 

But it wasn't until we began work on the book version of the popular Men's Health column "Eat This, Not That" that we discovered just how hard the industry works at keeping its dietary secrets. Indeed, the law is on its side: The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 actually absolves restaurants of all nutritional liability to the American public. Under that legislation, no fast-food or chain restaurants are required to provide calorie, fat, or sodium information for any of their menu items unless they describe the items as "low-sodium" or "low-fat." Yet through scientific testing, consultations with nutrition experts, and good old-fashioned snooping, we uncovered some of the secrets these mega-restaurateurs have been keeping.

 

It's no wonder . . .

 

 

1. Outback Steakhouse

 

...doesn't want you to know that the only nutritional information it provides is for its Tangy Tomato Dressing. When we contacted the company, a spokesperson claimed, "Ninety percent of our meals are prepared by hand ... Any analysis would be difficult to measure consistently." Yet no fewer than 45 national chain restaurants do just that. (Hey, in case you were wondering, an order of Outback's Aussie Cheese Fries has 2,900 calories, and its Ayers Rock Strip has 60 grams of fat.)

 

2. Applebee's

 

...doesn't want you to know that many of its "low-fat" items have more than 500 calories. (In fact, its low-fat chicken quesadillas have 742 calories and 90 grams of carbohydrates per order.)

 

3. IHOP

 

...doesn't want you to know that its Omelette Feast has 1,335 calories and 35 grams of saturated fat. (By the time you finish eating this behemoth breakfast, you'll have consumed 150 percent of your daily fat requirement and 300 percent of your suggested cholesterol intake.) Said IHOP's director of communications, "We do not maintain nutritional data on our menu items, so I am unable to assist you."

 

 

 

4 through 16 can be found here.

 

http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/16-Resta...you_to_know.php

[BLS 314]

This is a perfect example of an area government needs to stay the fock out of.

 

If you can't tell you're a fat fock because you eat fast food everyday, you're an idiot.

 

How many people REALLY look at the nutritional information on stuff they eat.

 

I do, when I'm working out and eating healthy, but just making restaurants put it on there doesn't mean it'll get used.

 

If you REALLY want to do something, put diet and nutrition courses in the public schools (from the LOCAL government, NOT Fed).

[edjr 6,578]

This is a perfect example of an area government needs to stay the fock out of.

 

If you can't tell you're a fat fock because you eat fast food everyday, you're an idiot.

 

How many people REALLY look at the nutritional information on stuff they eat.

 

I do, when I'm working out and eating healthy, but just making restaurants put it on there doesn't mean it'll get used.

 

If you REALLY want to do something, put diet and nutrition courses in the public schools (from the LOCAL government, NOT Fed).

 

I agree with you for the most part, but.

 

is it ok for a restaraunt to sell a "low fat" "healthy" salad that is neither?

[wiffleball 4,789]

Look, the single biggest load of crap that's being sold today (even more than GW) boils down to this: "People are fat because they don't KNOW any better."

 

BULLSHIIT.

 

 

If you order "Outback's Aussie Cheese Fries" (has 2,900 calories), you're KNOW full focking well that you're disregarding every GD health rule in the book. "Monterey Jack, cheddar, bacon, spicy ranch dressing." The idea that somehow if people had the "nutritional information" printed right next to them people would suddenly leap to their feet and say "MY GOD! I DID NOT KNOW THIS 4LB MESS OF POTATOES AND GREASE WAS BAD FOR ME!" - Is just plain stupid.

 

 

Same goes for "healthy" salads. While I think it's crap for restaurants to sell it that way, every tub of goo I've ever met has learned by now that ranch dressing, bacon bits and cheese make a "healthy" salad "unhealthy".

 

I'll admit, there's a few things (Baskin Robbins and Panera) in that article that I think are valid. The rest of it? Geesus, Just look at the listing of restaurants. Does anybody THINK those places are "healthy"??

 

 

Usually I don't whine about the "nanny state", but these bullshiit lawmakers and CSPI folks need to STFUP. People are fat for many reasons.

 

- Ignorance ain't one of them.

[TD Ryan2 316]

is it ok for a restaraunt to sell a "low fat" "healthy" salad that is neither?

 

is it OK for a car dealer to sell a "certified" car that's a piece of crap?

is it OK for a mortgage broker to approve a $500k loan to a guy that's making $40 grand/year?

 

 

sorry ed, but that's the world we live in.

People will always try to screw you out of something and if you are not smart enough to see it and avoid it, shame on you.

"Ignorance" is never an acceptable excuse.

Even in our own legal system, ignorance of the law does not give you the right to break the law.

 

If you are too dumb to take a home loan that you can afford, it's your fault.

If you are too dumb to buy a decent car, it's your fault.

AND

If you are too dumb to know that what you're eating is bad for you, it's your fault.

 

 

The sooner we all take some responsibility for ourselves, the better this whole country will be.

[DankNuggs 305]

bigger issue is allergies, my newphew is 5 and was recently diagnosed with tree nut allergies... its very scary to think about given he could have a reaction to being around a pb&j sandwich. Poor little guy.

 

nutrional info in restaurants is overboard and unnessessary. Given the epic rise of allergies due to societies trend toward sterile environments, this type of information with become more important that La-Tisha's upcoming civil lawsuit against outback for making her 300lbs, lazy and stupid.

[GettnHuge 2]

Most of these are ridiculously picky.

 

Some of them I'm gonna have to order now.

[BLS 314]

I agree with you for the most part, but.

 

is it ok for a restaraunt to sell a "low fat" "healthy" salad that is neither?

 

 

No, it's wrong...but legislation is never the answer. It really all boils down to free market economics.

Places that sell fatty "low fat" meals will sooner or later get caught, and once it's spread around, their business will suffer as people will go to other restaurants. The problem is that right now..just about every place sells sh1t for food.

 

I mean, you can't even get some pimple-faced 16yo to make a decent sandwich at subway anymore, and then they have the gall to charge you $8 for chips and a soda to go with it. It's freakin ridiculous, but it never changes because it's just as bad everywhere else.

 

I just don't believe in making laws for issues that aren't legal of nature. Shady, immoral, socially unacceptable....probably. But not a legal issue IMO.

[tikigods 76]

I agree with you for the most part, but.

 

is it ok for a restaraunt to sell a "low fat" "healthy" salad that is neither?

 

It's all in the marketing. Technically it's low fat (when compared to the 3,000 calorie cheesy fries). Technically it's healthier (when compared to the cardiac attack grease burger).

[Greedo 13]

The sooner we all take some responsibility for ourselves, the better this whole country will be.

 

[Blitzen 0]

I guess my question then would be why have warning labels on pharmaceuticals? I mean people should be able to look up the secondary effects themselves right?

 

If you're thinking that the reason why we need labels on pharmaceuticals is because using them the wrong way can kill you - something most people would know anyway - then why not want labels on food that can absolutely damage your health? A large Macdonalds shake has something like a full cup of sugar in it. That certainly has deleterious effects on your health. If a pharmaceutical caused the same effect on your body, I guarantee ya there would be a label for it.

[heavy-set 39]

OMG

 

prepared food that is served in HUGE portions has lots of calories?

 

NO WAY

[heavy-set 39]

Look, the single biggest load of crap that's being sold today (even more than GW) boils down to this: "People are fat because they don't KNOW any better."

 

BULLSHIIT.

If you order "Outback's Aussie Cheese Fries" (has 2,900 calories), you're KNOW full focking well that you're disregarding every GD health rule in the book. "Monterey Jack, cheddar, bacon, spicy ranch dressing." The idea that somehow if people had the "nutritional information" printed right next to them people would suddenly leap to their feet and say "MY GOD! I DID NOT KNOW THIS 4LB MESS OF POTATOES AND GREASE WAS BAD FOR ME!" - Is just plain stupid.

Same goes for "healthy" salads. While I think it's crap for restaurants to sell it that way, every tub of goo I've ever met has learned by now that ranch dressing, bacon bits and cheese make a "healthy" salad "unhealthy".

 

I'll admit, there's a few things (Baskin Robbins and Panera) in that article that I think are valid. The rest of it? Geesus, Just look at the listing of restaurants. Does anybody THINK those places are "healthy"??

Usually I don't whine about the "nanny state", but these bullshiit lawmakers and CSPI folks need to STFUP. People are fat for many reasons.

 

- Ignorance ain't one of them.

 

heck, subway is only "healthy" without cheese, mayo, oil or any other dressings. and thats only if you stick with the leaner cuts of meat.

[MisanthropicAnthropoid 0]

heck, subway is only "healthy" without cheese, mayo, oil or any other dressings. and thats only if you stick with the leaner cuts of meat.

 

You mean my footlong prime rib with pepper jack and southwest sauce has calories in it?

[Savage Beast 1]

How many people REALLY look at the nutritional information on stuff they eat.

 

Gay men and anorexic women?

[Me_2006 14]

You mean my footlong prime rib with pepper jack and southwest sauce has calories in it?

add banana peppers and i'm right there with you.

[MisanthropicAnthropoid 0]

add banana peppers and i'm right there with you.

 

I sometimes do jalepenos, if my stomach isn't feeling dicey. Only reason to go to Subway, IMO.

[Quickolas1 80]

i love when i go out with friends (like in the example with red robin - burger & onion rings was over 2,000 calories...what should be the average diet for most)...

 

....and if i don't scarf it down in 4 minutes like they do, they wonder why i'm a 'slow eater'

 

i'm thin and it takes me about 7 minutes

[Cdub100 3,863]

9. Papa John's

 

...doesn't want you to know that unlike rival chains such as Domino's, it has made little effort to introduce healthier options. A Papa John's representative admitted, "At this time, we have no additional regular menu items that are targeted toward eating lighter."

[MisanthropicAnthropoid 0]

9. Papa John's

 

...doesn't want you to know that unlike rival chains such as Domino's, it has made little effort to introduce healthier options. A Papa John's representative admitted, "At this time, we have no additional regular menu items that are targeted toward eating lighter."

 

So if you're ordering pizza in the first place, why the heck do you care about eating lighter?

[gocolts 300]

heck, subway is only "healthy" without cheese, mayo, oil or any other dressings. and thats only if you stick with the leaner cuts of meat.

Speaking of Subway, I have taken advantage of the 5 dollar subs for weeks now. I get 4 of them with triple dressing, lettuce and tomato is good for you though.

[cgod 0]

If you are too dumb to take a home loan that you can afford, it's your fault.

 

The sooner we all take some responsibility for ourselves, the better this whole country will be.

and yet here we have serious talk of bail-outs for these people....as for the second part I quoted

[heavy-set 39]

Speaking of Subway, I have taken advantage of the 5 dollar subs for weeks now. I get 4 of them with triple dressing, lettuce and tomato is good for you though.

whats the cost full price? its $8.19 in my neck of the woods.

 

 

i cant even afford to be fat

[nospk 230]

5 dollar....

5 dollar...

 

5 dollar fooooot looonggg...

[pt_mck 7]

This is a perfect example of an area government needs to stay the fock out of.

 

If you can't tell you're a fat fock because you eat fast food everyday, you're an idiot.

 

How many people REALLY look at the nutritional information on stuff they eat.

 

I do, when I'm working out and eating healthy, but just making restaurants put it on there doesn't mean it'll get used.

 

If you REALLY want to do something, put diet and nutrition courses in the public schools (from the LOCAL government, NOT Fed).

 

 

I have hypertension and am on a low-sodium diet.

 

These are things I need to know!

[RicemanX 20]

5 dollar....

5 dollar...

 

5 dollar fooooot looonggg...

i was stoked about that. been getting a turkey footlong everyday at lunch

[GettnHuge 2]

5 dollar....

5 dollar...

 

5 dollar fooooot looonggg...

 

The Subway nearest my house always has a 3-footlong deal for 14.99.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So they've had to raise their price 1 cent.

[edjr 6,578]

i was stoked about that. been getting a footlong everyday at lunch

 

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

While people need to take responsibility for their own eating habits, what is in the food that you eat should be disclosed. There are issues with food allergies and other health concerns that go well beyond purely understanding how many calories are in a particular meal.

[BLS 314]

I have hypertension and am on a low-sodium diet.

 

These are things I need to know!

 

 

That's because you're a fat fock.

also, itisatip that low sodium means no eatie outtie.

[surferskin 30]

Outback cheese fries are bad for you? I thought they were low carb/high protein. No wonder holiday the weight hasn't been coming off as easily this year.

[BLS 314]

Gay men and anorexic women?

 

 

SUX, can you confirm this for us?

[gocolts 300]

whats the cost full price? its $8.19 in my neck of the woods.

i cant even afford to be fat

$6.29 for the Subway melt, which is the one I usually get.

[wiffleball 4,789]

I have hypertension and am on a low-sodium diet.

 

These are things I need to know!

 

That's a good point. I should be too. But even then, I think restaurants should do this voluntarily. It's pretty simple: People like us will go to places where that information is made available. It doesn't have to be on the menu, it can be a seperate hand-out or whatever. Places that don't provide that information will be at a disadvantage.

 

Whether it's sodium, fat, calories, allergies - I think any responsible restaurant should voluntarily provide a hand-out to anyone that asks. But that % is probably 1% of their base. We have enough BS 'laws' catering to the fringe without adding one more to the books.

[Blitzen 0]

$6.29 for the Subway melt, which is the one I usually get.

 

You make $15K per year and you usually drop $6 for a sammich? Do you go to Starbucks afterwards for a $5 cup of java and a $3 cookie?

[edjr 6,578]

You make $15K per year and you usually drop $6 for a sammich? Do you go to Starbucks afterwards for a $5 cup of java and a $3 cookie?

 

What he's not telling you is that sub feeds him and his kids for an entire day

[surferskin 30]

That article is pretty focking hilarious when you think about it. The #1 secret of the restaurant bidness is that cheese fries have a ton of calories and that a hooge steak has lots of fat. Seriously, this is the most shocking story I've heard since Time magazine told us that men and women were different.

[gocolts 300]

You make $15K per year and you usually drop $6 for a sammich? Do you go to Starbucks afterwards for a $5 cup of java and a $3 cookie?

Nope. They are only 5 bucks right now, which is how I can afford them.

 

I rarely if ever buy them at regular price. Maybe once or twice a month at regular price. I have hit Subway several times since the 5 buck deal happened.

[Blitzen 0]

Nope. They are only 5 bucks right now, which is how I can afford them.

 

I rarely if ever buy them at regular price. Maybe once or twice a month at regular price. I have hit Subway several times since the 5 buck deal happened.

 

Methinks on $15K per year, you would want to make your own sammiches. But hey that's just me.

[heavy-set 39]

What he's not telling you is that sub feeds him and his kids for an entire day

hahahahha