Contact 5 spent three months shopping at restaurants, picking up low-fat, low- calorie menu options.
While we were shopping South Florida restaurant chains, reporters at our sister stations in 7 other cities were doing the same thing.
We found, what’s being advertised by some restaurant chains doesn’t always add up.
We started by identifying national restaurant chains that advertise low-fat and/or low-calorie menu options.
Along with our 7 sister stations, we chose: Macaroni Grill, Chili's, Applebee's, Cheesecake Factory and Taco Bell.
Next, we placed each sample in a Ziploc bag, labeled it and packed it on ice in a cooler. Then, we shipped our samples overnight to EPA certified "Analytical Laboratories" in Boise, Idaho.
Once our food arrived at A-L-I, lab technicians unpacked, logged and weighed each sample.
To simulate how our bodies digest food, the lab put each sample in a food processor, and the chemists mathematically determined the amount of fat and calories in each serving.
So what were our results?
Our first stop: Taco Bell in West Palm Beach on Okeechobee Boulevard.
We purchased from the company’s new Fresco menu, which serves up lower fat/calorie options.
According to our lab, the low fat/low cal Fresco bean burrito advertised as 7 grams of fat with 330 calories, actually came in with a whopping 19 grams of fat and 449 calories.
Across the state in Clearwater, Florida our reporter team picked up the Grilled Steak Taco--also from Taco Bell's light menu.
Advertised with 4.5 grams of fat and 160 calories, our lab again found 19 grams of fat and 297 calories.
"It's important to note that the calorie and fat gram results from your tests simply do not reflect the actual calorie and fat counts in our Fresco products,” said Rob Poetsch from Taco Bell.
"Your testing methodology is not scientifically or statistically valid or reliable for use as the basis for a claim regarding average calorie or fat gram counts."
Next stop for Contact 5, Applebee's on Military Trail near Okeechobee Boulevard.
We ordered the "Garlic Herb Chicken". It’s supposed to carry 6 fat grams and 370 calories. Our lab tests counted 18 fat grams with the calorie count practically the same.
But our sister station in Phoenix found the calorie count higher than advertised at their Applebee's.
They picked up the Cajun Lime Tilapia. It’s supposed to be 310 calories. Instead, there were 399. The fat gram count was twice was the company advertised in Phoenix, weighing in with 12 grams of fat.
Applebee's corporate office issued this statement:
"Applebee’s has extremely high quality compliance standards for all our menu items. We regularly test our weight watchers menu items at an independent lab. Our most recent testing confirmed that our menu items are 94 percent compliant. We will continue to regularly test our weight watchers items and, if required, take action."
Back on Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach, we order the chicken platter off of Chili's "Guiltless Grill Menu."
We picked up the "Guiltless Chicken Platter." It's suppose to serve up 9 grams of fat and 580 calories.
Our lab tests found more than three times that amount of fat, 32 grams. The calorie count was higher too, coming in at 627.
It was a similar story at a Chili's outside Tampa.
The Guiltless Black Bean Burger is supposed to pack 12 fat grams and 650 calories, but our testing found 32 grams of fat and 770 calories.
Macaroni Grill was another stop for our team of reporters. In Detroit, our colleagues purchased the Pollo Magro Skinny Chicken dish. It's supposed to serve up 6 grams of fat and 500 calories, but with a huge piece of bread included, our sample came back with 49 grams of fat and more than 1,000 calories.
Chili's and Macaroni Grill are owned by the same company. The corporation sent us this statement saying:
"On occasion, in-restaurant preparation, portion size variations and guest customization of menu items can impact nutritional content. To the extent that any of the items ordered were not prepared to our exacting standards, we apologize to our valued guests. As such, we will be working to reinforce these menu standards and re-train team members on item preparation."
But not all restaurants failed our calorie and fat content test.
At a Cheesecake Factory in Baltimore, Maryland, they advertise "The California Salad" will be served to you with less than 590 calories.
Our lab tests showed the company's claim was correct!
We found just 392 calories in the salad.
