Sources of calcium, vitamin D, fiber, and potassium in American fast food

<p>Calcium, vitamin D, fiber, and potassium are widely underconsumed in the U.S. This study analyzes nutrition information from quick service restaurants to determine the fast-food industry⁰́₉s contribution of these nutrients to the American diet. The menu offerings of top-grossing quick-service restaurants in each of seven categories, McDonald's℗ʼ (burger), Subway℗ʼ (sandwich), Taco Bell℗ʼ (Mexican), Pizza Hut℗ʼ (pizza), Chick-fil-A℗ʼ (chicken), Panda Express℗ʼ (Asian), and Long John Silver's℗ʼ (seafood), were analyzed for calcium, vitamin D, fiber, potassium, and calories. The highest mean values of key nutrients were found at Pizza Hut (256.4 mg calcium), McDonald⁰́₉s (0.509 mcg vitamin D), Taco Bell (4.4 g fiber, foods only), and Chick-fil-A (375.5 mg potassium). Significant differences among restaurants were found for all nutrients at a p-value of < 0.01 for calcium, fiber and potassium, and < 0.05 for vitamin D. McDonald⁰́₉s and Subway provided the most nutrient-dense menu items with 303 and 238 items, respectively.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Pearson, Meghan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Judi Brooks, Ph.D., R.D., Chair
• Alice Jo Rainville, Ph.D., R.D., C.H.E., S.N.S., F.A.N.D.

• convenience foods
• trace elements in nutrition
• nutrition
• restaurants

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/619

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1998