Is the Big Fish Sandwich Healthy?

Arby's wild-caught Alaskan Pollock sandwich is described as fried crispy to golden perfection. So you know that anything that is breaded and fried is going to be a problem. This sandwich is a test because it contains more than 900 milligrams of sodium. According to Organic Facts, pollock offers a significant amount of omega-3 fats, which are great for the heart.

These, in addition to a variety of other nutrients (such as vitamin B12, calcium and selenium, among others), support skin and hair health, reduce cancer risk, and lower cholesterol levels. Other benefits include increased cognitive health and metabolic processes that could support reproductive health. Of course, these benefits continue to depend on the overall quality of the diet. Another important benefit to consider is the level of mercury found in pollock.

This and other toxins are often a concern when it comes to fish consumption, however, Alaska pollock has low levels of mercury. If you just consider calories, McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich, with 390 calories, seems like a pretty healthy offer. Compare that to a double quarter-pound with cheese, with 740 calories, and it seems like an even better option. Pollock, the fish of choice in everyday frozen fish products such as fish sticks and sticks, has an impressive nutrient profile. However, more worrying than the calories in the breaded mix around the hamburger or bun is the high sodium content found in the sandwich as a whole.

But fast-food fish sandwiches get customers talking and their popularity increases during the 40 days of Lent. Fish in a big fish sandwich comes with some warnings from Burger King employees, who would strongly recommend that you avoid it. By August 1988, Burger King had reduced its supply of Icelandic fish by 20%, but according to Tim Hermeling, spokesman for the Pillsbury Company, the reason was confidential. Maybe there's a lot you can do before a fish sandwich loses its signature simplicity that most customers love. Other offerings include the H-Loumi King, made with a halloumi burger, and the Sweet Potato Burger, which is a French fry sandwich with pickles, lettuce, mayonnaise and ketchup.

With previous changes that included reformulating the whaling chicken sandwich and giving the Cajun whaler a spicy fish burger, the whaler became the Ocean Catch and came with a different bun. According to nutritional information on the Burger King website, a Big Fish sandwich contains 1275 milligrams of sodium. Burger King and McDonald's seem to have two of the healthiest options in fish sandwiches, but you always have to consider size. It's probably safe to assume that no one goes to fast-food restaurants looking for a healthy meal, but a CNN Health nutritionist still pointed to the Big Fish sandwich as a great Burger King menu item to enjoy on a road trip without the tartar sauce and about half the bun. It's also known as a long fish sandwich, premium Alaskan fish sandwich, and its current nickname, Big Fish.

Unlike Filet-O-Fish, which has remained basically the same both in composition and name since it was introduced in the 1960s (apart from a disastrous attempt to make Filet-O-Fish nuggets), the Burger King fish sandwich has undergone many identity changes over the decades. As you may have noticed, most of these fast food fish sandwiches are pretty much the same - breaded and fried fish topped with tartar sauce, pickles, lettuce and cheese. So is it healthy? Well it depends on your definition of healthy. If you're looking for something low in calories then yes - it can be considered healthy. But if you're looking for something low in sodium then no - it's not healthy at all. The high sodium content makes this sandwich an unhealthy choice for those watching their salt intake. The omega-3 fats found in pollock are beneficial for heart health but they can't make up for all of its unhealthy components.

The best way to enjoy this sandwich is by limiting your portion size or skipping out on some of its unhealthy toppings like tartar sauce or cheese. At the end of the day it's important to remember that moderation is key when it comes to fast food - even if it's something as seemingly harmless as a big fish sandwich.