Nutrition & Our Obese World - The McRib

I don't know about you, but I've had about enough of McDonald's McRib Sandwich commercials - You know the one that shows a young man and a young woman appearing as though they'll be engaging in a lip lock that turns out to be their each biting into this awful sandwich all while hearing Matt White's song "Love". Are you kidding me ?

Having worked for years in the fast food industry while watching rates of obesity soar, when I see the amount of commerical promotion around a product like the McRib, given its ingredients, it makes me sad. Recently a new Harvard study showed that obesity rates will not level off until 2050 and people actually wonder why. Below are the nutritional facts and ingredients for McRib as well as rising obesity rates for the U.S. I didn't even post cancer rates, but I am certain there is some connection between the fumaric acids, fungal protease and ammonium chloride (yes its in there) among other lucious ingredients, in the wonderful McRib. Would so many people "Love" it if they only read the ingredients ?

McRib Nutritional Info: 490 calories, 220 calories from fat, 25 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 75 mg cholesterol, 1040 mb sodium, 44 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 24 g protein, 11 g sugars.

McRib Ingredients McRib Patty: Boneless pork (Pork, water, salt, dextrose, citric acid, BHA, TBHQ).
McRib Bun: Flour (wheat flour bleached and enriched with thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron, folic acid, malted barley flour), water, high fructose corn syrup, yeast, vegetable oil (partially hydrogenated soybean oil, cottonseed oil). Contains 2 percent or less of dextrose, fumaric acid, calcium sulphate, salt, acetic acid, soy flour, monocalcium phosphate, ammonium sulphate, cornstarch, fungal protease, natural culture, ammonium chloride, ascorbic acid, azodicarbomide, mono- and diglycerides, propionic acid, phosphoric acid, corn flour, calcium peroxide, calcium propionate, dicetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides. McRib Sauce: Water, high fructose corn syrup, tomato paste, distilled vinegar, molasses, natural smoke flavor, modified food starch, salt, sugar, soybean oil, spices, onion*, mustard flour, garlic *, xanthan gum, caramel color, sodium benzoate (preservative), natural flavor (vegetable source), corn oil. *Dehydrated Pickle Slices Cucumbers, water, vinegar, salt, calcium chloride, alum, natural flavorings (vegetable source), polysorbate 80, turmeric (color).

What do you think about rates of obesity and our cultural obsession with food that is so bad for you ? Contact me Bryan O'Rourke and let me know your thoughts.