For Immediate
Release:
November 20, 2001

For more information:
202/332-9110

     One serving of nachos that deliver more than 1,300 calories and more than a day’s worth of fat, saturated fat, and sodium? In recognition of that nutritional train wreck, the Center Science in the Public Interest’s (CSPI) Nutrition Action Healthletter has named Taco Bell’s Mucho Grande Nachos its Food Porn of the Month for December.

     The Mucho Grande Nachos get their overload of fat and calories from the ground beef and melted cheese that smother deep-fried nacho chips. Nutrition Action says that the Mucho Grande Nachos “is the perfect food if you don’t mind ending up with mucho grande doctor bills ... and a mucho grande posterior.”

     “You’d have to salsa dance all night to burn off this nacho dish. Each ingredient on its own raises red flags — put them all together and you’ve got a world-class Food Porn,” said CSPI senior nutritionist Jayne Hurley. “Eating one order of Mucho Grande Nachos is like eating five Beef Tacos — plus an order of regular nachos. I don’t recommend eating either meal.”

     Hurley says the most healthful choices at Taco Bell are the Chicken or Steak Soft Taco (190 calories) or the Chicken Fiesta, Steak Fiesta, or Bean Burrito (370 calories).

     And she warns people not to be deceived by the word “salad” in Taco Bell’s Taco Salad with Salsa. “That ’salad’ has 850 calories and at least 70 percent of a day’s worth of fat and saturated fat.”