August, 27 2009, 01:38pm EDT
Domino's Fat-on-Carb-on-Carb Food Porn: BreadBowl Pastas
WASHINGTON
Most people wouldn't consider eating an entire medium hand-tossed
cheese pizza from Domino's in one sitting. And these days, most folks
are carb-concious enough not to order pizza as a side order to pasta,
or vice-versa. So why is Domino's trying to turn back the nutritional
clock with its 1,300- to 1,500-calorie BreadBowl Pastas-white-flour
penne, sauce, cheese, and other toppings entombed in Frisbee-sized
white-bread crusts? Domino's BreadBowl Pastas are the most recent Food Porn exposed in Nutrition Action Healthletter, the popular publication of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
"White-flour
pasta with cream-cheese sauce can be a nutritional nightmare on its
own," said CSPI senior nutritionist Jayne Hurley. "The last thing it
needs is an 800-calorie white-bread pizza-crust bowl."
Savvy eaters will remember that more than a decade ago CSPI
famously called fettuccine Alfredo a "heart attack on a plate."
Domino's executives seem to have forgotten since the infamous cream
sauce tops three out of the five BreadBowl Pastas-the Chicken Alfredo,
the Chicken Carbonara and even the innocently named Pasta Primavera.
There is also an Italian Sausage Marinara (with Provolone cheese) and
Three Cheese Mac-N-Cheese. The items range from 1,340 to 1,480 calories
and more than a day's worth of saturated fat (22 to 28 grams) and
sodium (1,820 to 2,840 milligrams).
"Topping a pizza crust with an order of macaroni and cheese
is probably the most discouraging mac-and-cheese innovation since The
Cheesecake Factory decided to ball it up and toss it in the
deep-fryer," Hurley said. "What's next, wrapping it in a giant blueberry pancake?"
Nutrition Action Healthletter
spotlights a Food Porn in each issue alongside a Right Stuff,
recommendation. Past Food Porns include Starbucks' Salted Caramel Hot
Chocolate, Cold Stone Creamery's Oh Fudge! shake, and Hardee's Thickburger. Introductory subscriptions to Nutrition Action are $10 per year.
Since 1971, the Center for Science in the Public Interest has been a strong advocate for nutrition and health, food safety, alcohol policy, and sound science.
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