WINNIPEG — A fast-food restaurant in Manitoba has turned a joke into a burger fit for Fred Flintstone.
A Wendy’s outlet in Brandon is offering customers a T. Rex burger consisting of nine quarter-pound patties held together by nine pieces of processed cheese and a flimsy bun. All for $21.99 — $24.99 if you add fries and a drink.
The burger started out as a joke ad in Sports Illustrated nine years ago, but customers came in asking for the real thing. The restaurant obliged and now sells two to three such beef beasts a day.
Wendy’s had a picture of the meat monster hanging in the dining room, but the photo has since been taken down and the burger isn’t listed on the menu. That hasn’t stopped word of mouth from spreading across Canada and south of the border, where pictures of the mammoth burger have been making the rounds.
KFC’s infamous “double down” sandwich — bacon, cheese and “special sauce” between two pieces of battered chicken — has nothing on this burger.
Weighing in at around a whopping 3,000 calories, the T. Rex burger has more calories than many people consume in a day. To the dismay of dieticians, it also contains roughly 200 grams of fat — triple the daily allowance — and an eye-watering 6,000 grams of sodium, enough to last the average adult four days.
The restaurant has been fielding calls from across North America about its greasy offering, but referred all comment to corporate headquarters. A spokesperson there did not respond to a request for comment.
Carla Taylor, a professor in human nutritional science at the University of Manitoba, said the T. Rex sends the wrong message.
“Food is something I don’t think we can treat in this way,” she said. “We need to get appreciating good food ... of appropriate portion size.”
While many fast-food chains have made concerted efforts in the last few years to offer healthier choices — such as salads, fruit and low-fat muffins — there are still menu items that unabashedly embrace unhealthy indulgence. And it appears the United States out-greases Canada at the cooking line: nutritional nightmares seem to originate south of the border.
KFC’s “double down” originated in the U.S. before making its way to Canada. Dunkin’ Donuts is offering American connoisseurs an unusual breakfast sandwich — bacon and egg between two glazed doughnuts.
Consuming that combination of fat, sodium and calories in one sitting might appeal to some, but Taylor said it should be a once-in-a-lifetime indulgence.
“Maybe somebody wants to try it once for the challenge,” she said. “But I think the better challenge is to look at how to eat healthy every day and think long term about how the foods you’re putting in your mouth are impacting on your health.”