Is Organic Fast Food a Total Whopper?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

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As the $14 billion organic food industry gathers steam, the concept of healthy fast food is spreading. While Whole Foods is in the vanguard, others are catching up. More and more restaurants are tapping into Americans' desire to eat quickly, and realizing that fast food can involve much healthier stuff than a Whopper and fries.

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Some big chains are scrambling to get a share of this niche. Chipotle, a fast-expanding burrito company that went public earlier this year, boasts that about 20 percent of its beans are organic -- and "next year I imagine that percentage will be higher," says Steve Ells, the chief executive. The pork, too, is sustainably raised and hormone-free. Best of all, customers can watch their food being prepared -- the onions and peppers being chopped up, and the chicken readied on an open grill. In fact, Ells bristles at being lumped in with other, more traditional fast food -- despite the fact that much of his chain's success is due to support from McDonald's. "Just because it's fast doesn't mean it has to be a typical fast-food experience," he argues.

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...organic roast beef, Swiss cheese, rosemary onions, organic lettuce, and tomato on flatbread -- costs twice as much as a Big Mac. But as farms expand their organic capacity and the supply chain gets more reliable, high prices may come down.

Perhaps the definitive word comes from the conventional fast-food chains. McDonald's has not only begun swapping milk and fruit for the soda and fries in its Happy Meals, it also now offers Newman's Own organic coffee to customers in New England and New York. With pressure on the burger chains to cut calories and add healthier options to their menus -- and boost their bottom lines with premium products -- it could be only a matter of time before the other heavy hitters start offering organic dishes of their own.

Kate Galbraith is an Austin-based journalist.

http://alternet.org/module/printversion/43546

[I'm Gone 60]

Yeah I'm sure McDonalds is shaking in their boots. LOL

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Yeah I'm sure McDonalds is shaking in their boots. LOL

Actually, McDonald's owns Chipotle fast food chain - bought it 3 years ago. Have you tried the food there? It's tasty, healthy and cheap.

[I'm Gone 60]

Yeah I'm sure McDonalds is shaking in their boots. LOL

Actually, McDonald's owns Chipotle fast food chain - bought it 3 years ago. Have you tried the food there? It's tasty, healthy and cheap.

Not sure if there is one around here. I like Panara (not sure how it's spelled) and not sure if they are national.

Still double beef Whooper with cheese or a Hardy's Thick Burger is what tastes best to me.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Yeah I'm sure McDonalds is shaking in their boots. LOL

Actually, McDonald's owns Chipotle fast food chain - bought it 3 years ago. Have you tried the food there? It's tasty, healthy and cheap.

Not sure if there is one around here. I like Panara (not sure how it's spelled) and not sure if they are national.

Still double beef Whooper with cheese or a Hardy's Thick Burger is what tastes best to me.

How's your cholesterol count?

[I'm Gone 60]

Yeah I'm sure McDonalds is shaking in their boots. LOL

Actually, McDonald's owns Chipotle fast food chain - bought it 3 years ago. Have you tried the food there? It's tasty, healthy and cheap.

Not sure if there is one around here. I like Panara (not sure how it's spelled) and not sure if they are national.

Still double beef Whooper with cheese or a Hardy's Thick Burger is what tastes best to me.

How's your cholesterol count?

With lipator 195

[Nizzy 1]

Yeah I'm sure McDonalds is shaking in their boots. LOL

Actually, McDonald's owns Chipotle fast food chain - bought it 3 years ago. Have you tried the food there? It's tasty, healthy and cheap.

Not sure if there is one around here. I like Panara (not sure how it's spelled) and not sure if they are national.

Still double beef Whooper with cheese or a Hardy's Thick Burger is what tastes best to me.

There are a bunch of Panera breads here in Chicago. I loveee their broccoli cheddar soup!

Steven: I also loveee Chipotle. The burritos are so huge and look like a new born baby. Yummmyy!

[I'm Gone 60]

Steven: I also loveee Chipotle. The burritos are so huge and look like a new born baby. Yummmyy!

Does Chipotle specialize in one type of food or like an Applebees or TGIF Fridays?

[Nizzy 1]

Steven: I also loveee Chipotle. The burritos are so huge and look like a new born baby. Yummmyy!

Does Chipotle specialize in one type of food or like an Applebees or TGIF Fridays?

I ALWAYS go for the burrito so I don't know about all the food they carry but it isn't much. They have taco salad, tacos and chips and salsa or guacamole.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The burritos are so huge and look like a new born baby. Yummmyy!

mmmmm....baby!

Edited October 28, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Caladan 19]

It's still going to be overprocessed, over-salted, and too fatty. Better than McDonald's, but I'm not exactly impressed by the 20% organic beans claim.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I would love to see healthy 'fast' food. More choice for all!!!

[I'm Gone 60]

I would love to see healthy 'fast' food. More choice for all!!!

The grilled chicken salads Micky Ds have aren't bad.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's still going to be overprocessed, over-salted, and too fatty. Better than McDonald's, but I'm not exactly impressed by the 20% organic beans claim.

As long as the consumer demands less processed fast food, these chains will catch on. In California, we have a chain called, Baja Fresh (Mexican). In bold print repeated on the walls it says, "No microwaves, no can-openers, no msg...etc. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic but fast food doesn't necessarily have to be highly processed.

[Alex+R 0]

I don't know if you can really call Chipotle healthy when one burrito has all your fat and calories for the day... It's yummy, but I'm never filing that in the healthy category, no matter how "organic" the ingredients.

It's still going to be overprocessed, over-salted, and too fatty. Better than McDonald's, but I'm not exactly impressed by the 20% organic beans claim.

As long as the consumer demands less processed fast food, these chains will catch on. In California, we have a chain called, Baja Fresh (Mexican). In bold print repeated on the walls it says, "No microwaves, no can-openers, no msg...etc. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic but fast food doesn't necessarily have to be highly processed.

Yum Baja Fresh. It's national, I believe.