Movie popcorn is loaded with saturated fat

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A trip to the movies may not seem complete without popcorn and a soda.

Fifteen years ago, the consumer organization Center for Science in the Public Interest shocked the nation by revealing what was in that popcorn and soda, and they've done it again.

They say the two largest movie chains have gone back to using coconut oil to pop their popcorn.

"Coconut oil is the worst thing that movie theaters could be using to pop in because it is so bad for our hearts. It's 90 percent saturated, lard is 40 percent saturated," said CSPI senior nutritionist Jayne Hurley.

The problem is most Americans have no idea how much fat a typical combo meal contains.

A combo meal with a medium unbuttered popcorn and a medium drink contains 60 grams of saturated fat and 1,600 calories. That's like eating 36 strips of bacon plus eight pats of butter.

How about a rack of ribs and a scoop of Haagen Dazs ice cream to go with your romantic comedy? It's the caloric equivalent of a large AMC popcorn, except that the popcorn has more fat.

Those jumbo-sized candy packs are also health hazards.

A 4.8-ounce package of Junior Mints plus a medium Regal drink means you're taking in 52 teaspoons of sugar.

In case you're wondering about the small popcorn statistics, at AMC a small popcorn has 370 calories and a day's worth -- 20 grams -- of saturated fat.

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movies, food coach, lori corbin

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