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Popeyes' new craven sandwich may take people clucking about its taste, simply its nutritional value is for the birds. Getty Images
  • Fast-food chain Popeyes released a new craven sandwich in Baronial that chop-chop sold out due to overwhelming popularity.
  • The new carte particular is a straight shot at competitor Chick-fil-A and has ignited a playful "chicken sandwich state of war" between the 2 companies.
  • While neither sandwich should be considered salubrious, Popeyes' appears to be the bigger nutrition bomb, clocking in at 690 calories versus Chick-fil-A'south 440 calories.
  • KFC also released a new detail that speedily sold out: a plant-based chicken from Beyond Meat. While some may think this is a healthier alternative to regular fried chicken, experts warn the plant-based chicken alternative is still a heavily candy nutrient and should exist treated no differently than its meatier counterparts.

The country has been embroiled in a contentious battle in contempo weeks. No, it has zero to do with politics.

Information technology'south a war over chicken — chicken sandwiches, to exist precise.

Fast-nutrient concatenation Popeyes released a fried chicken sandwich in August, a direct shot at competitor Chick-fil-A, which has held a firm grip on the craven sandwich market for quite some time.

Indeed, their motto — We didn't invent the chicken, just the chicken sandwich — tells you how firmly they plant their flag in their signature item.

Only as other restaurants have been coming for their claim with not so cleverly disguised carte items like "Southern Chicken Sandwich" (Chick-fil-A is headquartered in Georgia), the Popeyes offering seemed the most threatening.

And it has been a huge success.

The sandwich, which Popeyes said in a press release was "a delicious buttermilk dilapidated and hand breaded white meat chicken filet, served on a buttery, toasted brioche bun with two butt cured pickles and guests' choice of classic mayo or spicy Cajun spread" has sold out. Restaurants were inundated, with lines of cars and people wrapping around buildings and blocks.

While we can't vouch for the flavor of either — and wouldn't dare if nosotros wanted to as opinions and feelings are quite strong on both sides — we can venture to look at these options from a health and nutrition standpoint.

Popeyes doesn't currently list the chicken sandwich on their website, but the company did confirm to Healthline several nutritional facts. Each sandwich contains:

  • 690 calories
  • 42g Fat
  • 14g Saturated Fat
  • 1443mg Sodium
  • 28g Protein

Chick-fil-A has their sandwich information listed in their nutrition guide. The numbers in a nutshell:

  • 440 calories
  • 19 grams of fat
  • four grams of saturated fat
  • one,350 milligrams of sodium
  • 2 grams of fiber
  • 28 grams of protein

"1 thing is for certain, the fried chicken sandwich wars have zippo to exercise with diet," Allison Knott, MS, RDN, CSSD, a registered dietitian based in New York City, told Healthline.

Indeed, every dietitian Healthline spoke with made it clear there's nothing salubrious about either of the sandwiches.

"Fifty-fifty though we don't have the confirmed diet facts for the new Popeyes Craven Sandwich, it is safe to say that information technology is similar to the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, which is over 200 calories lower than the Popeyes version," Knott said.

"It volition exist interesting to see which one of the sandwiches is lower in sodium and saturated fat, but either way, neither is recommended as an option on a regular basis."

Simply if we're declaring the overall nutrition winner, that title goes to the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich. Information technology has lower sodium and less saturated fat, said Christina Crowder, MS, RDN/LD, CNSC, CDE, a registered dietitian and certified specialist in nutrition back up.

"Information technology appears that the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich packs a heavier caloric punch, which can be attributed to what looks like thicker breading, than the Chick-fil-A sandwich. More staff of life equals more oil absorption during frying," Crowder said.

"The brioche bun also tends to have more calories, carbs, and fatty than a traditional hamburger bun. You could e'er ditch half the bun if you wanted to lower the calorie and carb count."

What'due south more, the chicken sandwich from Popeyes likely exceeds the daily sodium recommendation, since Chick-fil-A's, at more than 1,500 milligrams (the Deluxe version), is very almost the maximum.

"Fried chicken isn't the greatest choice compared to grilled, but if you love a good ol' fried chicken sandwich every at present and again — which isn't wrong — you lot may become to Chick-fil-A to go along your diet in cheque," Crowder said.

Just every bit Popeyes and Chick-fil-A were going head-to-head in the drive-thru and on Twitter, another craven company was staking merits to a new chicken trend: establish-based chicken.

KFC released plant-based chicken from Beyond Meat at a single restaurant in Atlanta, selling out in hours.

But this vegan chicken may not be healthy plenty to eat regularly.

In fact, Rachel Fine, MS, RD, a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and founder of To The Pointe Diet, said these foods are heavily processed and should be treated just similar their meatier counterparts.

"These options are questionable from a nutrition standpoint given the high sodium levels. My biggest concern, however, is the 'health halo' that surrounds these options, which tin result in people overeating these plant-based alternatives but because they 'think they're healthier.' When in fact, the nutritional comparisons do not necessarily brand them lighter alternatives," Fine said.

"The improver of vegan meat to fast-food menus has not been met without controversy," Knott added.

"2 things are fueling the debate. One is the fact that most of the vegan meat alternatives are cooked on or in the aforementioned equipment as meat (making it not vegan), and two, the vegan meat alternatives are often dislocated as a healthier culling."

Knott explained farther, "Information technology'south important to realize that many of the vegan meat alternatives, like the KFC Beyond Fried Chicken, aren't automatically a healthier alternative but because they're meat-free. The nutrition facts should still exist considered, and each version needs to be treated individually."

Across Meat confirmed to Healthline that each chicken piece has 60 calories, 3 grams of fat, 1.five grams of saturated fatty, 145 milligrams of sodium, 2 grams of carbohydrates, and 5 grams of protein. KFC doesn't currently have the food listed on their website.

"Information technology is withal a fried protein that is high in saturated fat and sodium," Knott said.

"It's probable that five to 10 nuggets will be served (depending on the lodge size), putting the KFC Across Fried Chicken nuggets at 7.5 yard to 15 g saturated fatty and 725 mg to 1450 mg sodium per social club. This is significantly different from the Beyond Chicken Strips previously sold in stores with 0 grams saturated fat and 330 milligrams sodium per 3 ounces."

If you're splurging, you lot tin certainly brand room for either of the chicken sandwiches or KFC's Beyond Fried Chicken (assuming these newer items render to the menu at some point).

Only for everyday dining, it'due south amend to look elsewhere on the menu, nutritionists told Healthline.

At Chick-fil-A, the eating place's Grilled Chicken Sandwich offers 330 calories, 6 grams of fat, 4 grams of cobweb, and 29 grams of poly peptide. Enquire for information technology without the Beloved Roasted BBQ Sauce (or for the sauce on the side then you can command how much is used) and cutting back on carbohydrate and sodium.

Popeyes has a menu full of fried chicken, but you can sort out some good picks, like v-Slice Blackened Handcrafted Tenders, which have 283 calories, 3 grams of fat, 917 milligrams of sodium, and 43 grams of poly peptide. Bask with a side of green beans.

Fried chicken is still fried chicken, and that means calories, fatty, and sodium. Whether you decide to try the chicken so y'all can accept a side in the Twitter wars or only plan to leave the bird battles to others, one thing is clear: There are healthier alternatives on the bill of fare.