Hungry Jack's Ultimate Double Whopper the worst fast food in Australia, says Choice

HEALTH watchdog rates Hungry Jack's Ultimate Double Whopper the unhealthiest but how does rest of the fast food menu fare?

Doulbe Whopper

THE bite has been put on the best and worst fast foods.

Consumer watchdog Choice rated Hungry Jack's Ultimate Double Whopper the most unhealthy option in a sample of major outlets.

With 80g of fat, 2386mg of sodium and 5085 kilojoules, the burger accounts for almost 60 per cent of an adult's recommended daily kilojoule intake.

Red Rooster's Free Range Garden salad had the lowest count at 479Kj, the investigation found.

Official ABS figures reveal Victorians scoffed $318 million worth of takeaway food in April, up more than 3 per cent on the previous month.

Choice is campaigning for all key fast-food outlets across Australia to be forced to declare kilojoules on their menus to fight obesity. NSW will introduce the move next February.

"Let's face it, not many of us go to a fast-food outlet for a salad," spokeswoman Ingrid Just said.

"When you add chips and a soft drink to something like the Ultimate Double Whopper, you're consuming a day's worth of kilojoules in one meal.

"It's a safe bet not many of us would realise that."

Hungry Jack's said it already gave detailed nutritional information in stores and online, and supported the mandatory rollout of kilojoule content menu boards.

A minority of customers opted for larger meal offers such as the Ultimate Double Whopper, and it was one of 90 items available.

Choice calculates it takes four hours of constant house cleaning to burn off a McDonald's Double Quarter Pounder, a 1 1/2-hour jog for an Ultimate Double Whopper, and an hour of cycling or lawn mowing for KFC's Wicked Wings Snack Box.

Student Nick Fielden, 22, of Ashwood, indulges in takeaway twice a week.

He said nutritional information should be simplified.

"I'll sometimes try to choose a sandwich bar or Subway over McDonald's and Hungry Jack's," he said.

"There is the option of getting a chicken baguette or a chicken salad if I feel like a more healthy choice."

Choice sampled heavyweights Hungry Jack's, McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Subway, Red Rooster and Oporto.

Suggested total daily intake for an average adult is 8700Kj, 70g fat and 2300mg of sodium. Needs vary depending on gender, size and activity level.

For more on consumer watchdog Choice's rating of the best and worst fast foods go to the Herald Sun.