KFC's Double Down Sandwich - The New Health Food?

KFC's new Double Down sandwich has been getting tons of press since its ingredients were revealed. Some blogs are calling the sandwich "disgusting", while others gleefully talk about their eating experience.

The Double Down is essentially a sandwich with two chicken fillets taking the place of bread slices. In between are two pieces of bacon, melted slices of Monterey Jack and Pepper Jack cheeses, and a "zesty" sauce (you know, things your cardiologist is secretly happy you're putting into your system).

How Bad For You is Eating Something Like This?

While it certainly doesn't qualify as health food ... it also doesn't have bread.  Further, according to KFC, it weighs in at a reasonable 540 calories, 32 grams of fat, and (a less reasonable) 1,380 milligrams of sodium,  Other sources argue that the calorie count is much higher.

Regardless, there are lots of fast foods worse for you than this sandwich (click here to see the rankings).  Some even claim the Double Down is healthier for you than a salad (see why).

It Might Not Be Great Food, But the Marketing Is Working.

The marketing has been pretty effective driving demand and generating buzz in the media.  Here is one of their commercials.

After seeing it, my teenage son begged me to get him one. Okay, it didn't take much persuading.

Nonetheless, I've been counting calories, recently, and logging what I eat in an attempt to eat healthier and lose weight. Like my wife, my skinny pants (still patiently waiting in an under-used corner of the closet) hoped I would put up more of a fight than I did.

In advertising, attention is good (even if some of it is controversial). It looks like the folks at this Pepsi spin-off, Yum Brands, have a hit. Not only are people who wouldn't normally eat at a KFC, now eating at KFC ... There's a bunch of folks fighting about whether this is a good or bad thing.

When Wendy's came out with the Clara Peller commercials, with the tag-line: "Where's the beef?" ... it changed their business. Kentucky Fried Chicken needs a tag-line (or brand promise) that will capture more than the disgust of the American public, if they want this to last.

Now that KFC is getting buzz, the bigger questing is whether it will have a lasting impact on their sales?

Other Links.

• ZeitGeist: KFC's shocking new sandwich (YouTube)
• KFC's Double Down: A cheesy, sodium-filled sandwich -- will you be buying? (LATimes)
• Here is KFC's Press Release about the sandwich. (KFC)

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• Kentucky Fried Chicken Double Down Sandwich (bacontoday.com)
• Dr. Susan Albers: Warning: The KFC Double Down Could Be Hazardous to Your Health (huffingtonpost.com)
• Confirmed: KFC Has A MONSTER Hit On Its Hands With The Double Down (YUM) (businessinsider.com)