Always fatter and saltier. According to a study, French tacos, these new snacks that teenagers love, are three times more caloric than a classic hamburger, revealed this Thursday the National Association for the Defense of Consumers and Users of the CLCV.
French tacos are, like their Mexican cousin, a kind of sandwich with meat and sauce. With the difference that the corn tortilla is replaced by a wheat tortilla and above all the filling is much more important than for a classic taco, since fries, cheese sauce and sometimes even bits of bacon are added.
Unknown only a few years ago, they are now a huge hit with high school students and are sold in many kebabs. Chains are also entirely dedicated to them, such as O’Tacos, which currently has about 300 stores throughout France.
1600 calories on average
As no nutritional information on these sandwiches was indicated in the store, the CLCV decided to carry out an investigation. He had French tacos tested from 5 different brands: O’Tacos, Chamas Tacos, Tacos Avenue, Le Tacos de Lyon, and Nawab Kebab.
The results are clear, a medium taco contains an amount of calories that represents more than half of the daily needs of an adult, which is enormous for a simple sandwich.
“It’s a calorie bomb,” laments RTL Lisa Faulet, the association’s scientific and food manager.
Compared to a hamburger, 100 g of tacos contain as many calories as an American sandwich. When eating a taco, we absorb a total of three times more calories compared to a hamburger, or an average of 1,600 calories.
And the figure can still go up since most kebabs offer tacos of different sizes. If you fall for an XL, then you have to count 2300 calories, that is, 90% of the recommended daily intake. Some weigh up to 1 kg.
The association calls for more transparency
In question, first fat. A size M cue thus covers 68% of our daily needs, while an XL cue reaches 138%, that is, a third more than what is recommended in one day. Another problem: salt. A few simple size M tacos already cover the entire recommended daily amount of salt.
The CLCV is sounding the alarm. He advises those who love French tacos to limit excesses by avoiding XL sandwiches and advises teenagers to consume this type of snack only occasionally.
The association also asks kebab shops to reduce both fat and salt in their sandwiches, not to offer models that are too large and to multiply the amount of sauces. It also asks brands to be transparent with consumers and to post nutritional information on their snacks.
Source: BFM TV
