CSPI Releases List of the Unhealthiest Meals in America

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer focused non-profit group that promotes healthy living, unveiled its annual list of some of the unhealthiest dishes in America earlier this week. Among the top of the list was Cheesecake Factory’s bistro shrimp pasta. The dish contains 3,120 calories and 89 grams of saturated fat, more than a day and a half’s worth. “To put these numbers into context, a typical adult should consume about 2,000 calories and no more than 20 grams of saturated fat and 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming no more than six teaspoons of added sugars for women and nine teaspoons for men,” explains Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of CSPI. The Cheesecake Factory isn't the only one with such a high count, according to the study. Also on the list is Chili’s full rack of baby back ribs with Shiner Bock BBQ sauce which has 2,330 calories on a single plate. "I hope the Obama administration promptly finalizes overdue calorie labeling rules for chain restaurants. Perhaps when calories become mandatory on menus, chains will begin innovating in a healthier direction, instead of competing with each other to make Americans heavier and sicker," says Jacobson.