This Louisiana-Based Fast Food Chain Has the Unhealthiest Chicken Sandwich in America

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) - Do you remember the Chicken Sandwich Wars? It was a time in American history where every fast food chain was trying to up their chicken sandwich game, apparently tired of the domination by Chick-Fil-A.

Every chain was hopping on the fad, creating new chicken sandwiches or revamping old ones (the Burger King Original Chicken, thankfully, remained untouched during this process as it is pretty much perfect).

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The chain largely seen as the one to kick off the new chicken sandwich war was Popeye's, which dropped a regular and spicy version of a heavily breaded chicken breast on bread. That one move changed the fast food market, sparking a fight between all the biggest names.

It's hard to deny that Popeye's came out on top, considering frequent long lines and low inventory because of the new sandwich's popularity. Even now, just a few years later, that one chicken sandwich is still one of the most frequently ordered chicken sandwiches in America.

And while it may rank near the top of the list of favorite chicken sandwiches, the Louisiana-based chain's menu item is at the top of the charts when it comes to how unhealthy it is.

The classic chicken sandwich at Popeye's is, according to PlushCare, the unhealthiest chicken sandwich in the country.

"Sodium is the big offender among fast-food chicken burgers," the health website wrote. "Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease."

What makes Popeye's sandwich so unhealthy is its high sodium and fat content.

If you're hoping to get a healthy meal out of the McChicken from McDonald's, though, think again. It may have the lowest "unhealthiness score" of all these chicken sandwiches, but that doesn't mean it's super healthy.

"While the McChicken is significantly less unhealthy than other fast-food chicken burgers, it is still high in sodium, fat, and calories," PlushCare wrote. "Because it is made of ground chicken patty, the nutrients it does contain are not high-quality."

Because Popeye's likes to go big or go home, they also won with the most unhealthy chicken nuggets, as well.