[net.general] Big Mac vs. The Whopper

ewp (11/02/82)

Has anyone noticed that in these hotly debated Whopper vs. Big Mac
commercials that Burger King is running, the ad says that


           The Big Mac weighs 20% less than the Whopper, before cooking.
           (Difference less after cooking.)


Since 20% is a ratio of the weights, Burger King burgers must shrink by
a greater percent of their weight than McDonalds' burgers.  In other
words, Burger King burgers are bigger because they have more fat in them!

                                      Have it your way,
                                      Ed Pawlak   BTL - IW

lbo (11/02/82)

Ed Pawlak quoted the following from the current Burger King ads:

           The Big Mac weighs 20% less than the Whopper, before cooking.
           (Difference less after cooking.)

>From the "Difference less ..." he concluded:

	1. Whoppers shrink more than Big Macs.
	2. Therefore Whoppers contain more fat than Big Macs.

Conclusion 1. is clearly valid.  However, I am not so sure about conclusion
2.  Perhaps Whoppers are cooked in such a way that much of their fat is
removed, while Big Macs retain their fat in cooking.  Another Burger King
advertising claim is that their burgers (including Whoppers) are
flame broiled, while MacDonald's are fried.  That seems consistent with
the idea that Big Macs retain more fat in cooking as an explanation of
the change in weight ratios.

				Lew Oberlander
				Bell Labs, Naperville Illinois
				IH 6B-324, x5221, ihnss!lbo