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| KFC is currently testing the Double Down. Photo: KFC |
"It's such a meaty chicken sandwich, there's no room for a bun," Rick Maynard, a KFC spokesman told Slashfood.
But the sandwich -- currently being tested in Omaha, Neb., and Providence, R.I. -- has some wondering if the Colonel has gone too far.
Newspapers like the Hartford Courant called the appearance of the Double Down a "complete 180" for the chain, and the Vancouver Sun estimated that the sandwich -- two chicken fillets sandwiching Swiss and pepper jack cheeses, bacon and "the Colonel's sauce" -- weighs in at 1,228 calories.
Maynard told Slashfood that KFC estimates the sandwich's caloric count at "just under 600," though the final nutritional data is not in.
Earlier this year, the chain unveiled a healthier dining option -- Kentucky Grilled Chicken -- under the Unthink ad campaign. But KFC uses the same Unthink logo in a Double Down TV advertisement, where a man exclaims "there should be more chicken in a chicken sandwich!"
The price of the sandwich varies but in Omaha, one foodie found it selling for $4.99, with combos -- including fries and soda pop -- going for $6.99.
What do you think of this new fried chicken-bacon-cheese combo? Take the poll, and let us know in the comments below.
[Via Huffington Post]
8-25-2009 @8:45PM Colleen said... I don't know why so many people are freaking out about an all meat bun! It's about time, if you ask me!! This looks AMAZING, can't wait to try it. Bread really is a useless filler. If more people were to avoid things like bread, pasta and sugar in their diets, they'd lose weight or not gain in the first place. Well I know what I'll be having for lunch tomorrow. Hopefully it tastes as good as it looks.
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8-26-2009 @12:24AM meeno01 said... Havent eaten kfc in a while, will continue to do so even moreso now that this culinary travesty is being created. I know KFC is not a cutting edge dining option, but there has to be at least one person in that food lab that questions this sandwich. It looks like the question that mused this sandwich was "where can we put more meat?"
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8-26-2009 @6:21AM MELBA ANN WILLIAMS said... It shocks me when we are currently in a major healthcare crisis in our country that a major fast food chain would present such an offering with so many calories loaded with fat. Mgr at Chik fil-a told me even the grilled chicken has 30 fat grams. If you call ahead they will steam you a filet not so calorie or fat laden. Some Grilled Chicken sandwiches and salads are not such a beautiful choice. With the new healthcare plan the fatties and smokers will be at end of line so we best get in shape. There is no way I would eat this -thing-/
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8-26-2009 @5:52PM jahari said... I for one am can’t wait for the KFC “Double Down.” In this rough economy where new jobs are right up there with Sasquatch sightings KFC is doing their part to stimulate the economy. It will almost be worth it when I sue for medical expenses resulting from that coronary bypass, or the emotional damages from gaining 20 pounds and not being able to fit into my clothes.
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8-26-2009 @7:25AM gayle said... Vomit starter!!!
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8-26-2009 @7:47AM Linda Gannon said... The suppliers of Kentucky Fried Chicken are notoriously known for their inhumane, filthy conditions. Chickens are fed growth hormones to increase the amount of breast meat on each chicken which eventually produces a deformed bird that cannot walk due to the excessive weight.
If you do not care about the chickens you choose to eat, you may be concerned about the hormones, and antibiotics fed to combat the diseases from the filthy conditions in which the birds are forced to live. No extra charge for that!
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8-26-2009 @7:59AM Cindy said... I'm with you Linda. Haven't touched chicken in well over 20 years. I now eat only locally grown beef and eggs. Started my first garden this year and learning to can. I changed my whole diet this year, lost 11 lbs. Fast food is never going to healthy.
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8-26-2009 @8:09AM dave c said... I see members of PETA voted yuck . If you were starving and there was one of these sandwiches brought around you would probably kill someone to get it before they would, I'm bettin.
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8-26-2009 @8:15AM Pott54 said... Those who don't want to eat meat--LEAVE THOSE ALONE WHO DO EAT IT!
But that sandwhich does not look good...and I eat meat.
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8-26-2009 @8:27AM Tacae said... I voted YUCK and I'm not PETA. Just doesn't look good to me. I prefer less meat and some lettuce and tomatoe on my chicken sandwich, but that's me and I don't bash people who feel different than I do. To each his own. Right? Would I eat it if that is all the food left in the world? Yes, but I would separate the meat and eat them separately.
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8-26-2009 @8:54AM Bob said... YA KNOW, THE WHOLE IDEA IS CHICKEN IS HEALTHIER THAN MOST OTHER OPTIONS YOU FIND AT FAST FOOD JOINTS. THE THERE ARE THOSE PASTY WHITE BUNS, SO LETS GET RID OF THEM TOO. WELL, THEN YOU END UP WITH SOME DRY CHICKEN. SO LET'S BATTER IT UP AND DEEP FRY IT AND IT WILL BE JUICY AGAIN. BUT THEN YOU JUST PUT BACK THE FAT THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO ELIMINATE FROM SWITCHING FROM BEEF TO CHICKEN AND THE PASTY WHITE FLOUR YOU TOOK AWAY WITH ELIMINATING THE BUN IS NOW JUST DEEP FRIED CRUST MADE FROM THE SAME THINGS AS THE BUN EXCEPT NOW IT IS SOAKED IN DEEP FRY GREESE. SO YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH BACK WHERE YOU STARTED FROM. BUT WAIT, NO LET'S AD SOME BACON (PIG FAT) AND CHEESE (COW FAT) TO IT. YUM YUM. NOW BOY DOESN'T THAT SOUND LIKE A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO A GRILLED BURGER WITH LETTUCE AND TOMATOE, MAYBE SOME PICLE AND ONION. OKAY SO PUT IT ON A WHOLE GRAIN BUN AND DO IT UP LIKE THE BK WAY AND FLAME BROIL IT TO LET THE FAT DRIP OFF AND I'M THINKING THIS VERSION MIGHT BE A FEW LESS CALORIES AND A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT LESS FAT.
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8-26-2009 @9:09AM Carl said... This is ridiculous, and for some reason it still surprises me when someone says that this would be healthier than many other options, like pasta. I don't see how multiple layers of cheese, fatty bacon, and deep fried food is better for you than grain products. Carbs are necessary and absolutely healthy when you actually use them instead of being planted on your ass all day long and expect to suddenly drop weight by eating only meat. But what would I know, I'm only a personal trainer with a major in exercise sciences.
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8-26-2009 @9:22AM west7259 said... I might go for it if it were 2 grilled chicken breasts with lettuce, tomato, onion, swiss or mozarella cheese, and your choice of sauce or none.
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8-26-2009 @9:27AM lakelady29 said... Linda, Try getting your facts straight before you spout bs. Chickens have such an efficient metabolism that adding growth hormones to chickens would actually slow their growth. And, do you REALLY think these chicken companies could stay in business if they had been mistreating the animals all these years? Quit believing all the propaganda you see flash by on the screen and do some real research. Yes, I am a vegetarian also but I also think people should make their own decisions as to what to put in their bodies. I certainly don't want PETA deciding my menu options.
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8-26-2009 @9:33AM steve said... Two chicken filets in place of buns. Sounds greasy to me. They should offer a bun as an option. Who wants to put their hands on chicken longer than they have to?
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8-26-2009 @9:35AM Earl said... Albert your an ignorant bigot for that comment...it's 2009! How about you wake up in this century and leave the 1800s behind...Loser
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8-26-2009 @9:50AM Michele said... Sounds like something Paula Dean would make. A ham and cheese sandwich between 2 more pieces of ham and deep fried. lol. Now make it grilled chicken and it might be good for low carb watchers like myself.
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8-26-2009 @9:45AM Carmine said... I've been eating the KFC UnGrilled 2 Peice chicken Filler box,,,I ask for 2 hot, juicy peices, and I've lost 2 pounds in two days. This UNGrilled is delicious, tasty and healthy. The new doubledown looks like too many calories.
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8-26-2009 @10:01AM Nakhash said... This is like any other thing people kvetch about. If YOU think it's bad and don't want to eat it - then DON'T. But puh-leez stop telling other people what they can and cannot do...for "they're own good." If I wanted that kind of advice, I'd ask my Mommy.
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8-26-2009 @10:13AM Foody said... This is not a low carb option, first and foremost. The breading has as many carb (and as little fiber) as a white bread roll and 20 times the fat.
The fact that this could even be tested on the American market is an indictment the (nutritional) intellect of our society. We, as a nation, have unlearned (through scientifically enhanced factory food) what thousands of years of culinary tradition passed down to us. Exactly the people that would eat this would not eat whole grain pasta or a stew made with wild game or aged cheese.
KFC has every right to offer this to the market, particularly given current legislation requiring full nutritional disclosure. I just have to question who would want to buy and consume such a thing and how this became ‘normal’ food and traditional food became ‘weird’.
This is just another example of American needing to reexamine what they eat and why!
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