Attack of the Carl's Jr calories

Paris Hilton advertising Carl's Jr Burgers. Photo / Supplied

The burger chain dubbed one of the world's worst opens in New Zealand this week, but is leaving its notorious foot-long burger off the Kiwi menu after the intervention of All Black legend Michael Jones.

Jones is a part owner of the New Zealand branch of Carl's Jr, which operates in 15 countries and is the fourth biggest burger chain in the world, following McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's.

It opens its first New Zealand restaurant in Takinini on Tuesday.

The chain specialises in "char-broiled" burgers with names like The Big Carl and Super Star with Cheese. Sides include deep-fried Chicken Stars and Chili Cheese Fries.

Last year the company controversially added a foot-long cheeseburger to its menu, which sparked protests that it was contributing to the obesity epidemic.

With 850 calories and 20 grams of saturated fat, it had almost twice as many calories as the controversial KFC Double Down, described earlier this year as the "super villain of fast food".

But Jones, who has a 5 per cent share in the New Zealand branch of the business managed by his brother-in-law Barry Forsgren, says the foot-long burger won't be appearing on the Kiwi menu.

Burger choices will, however, include the Portobello Mushroom Burger, which has only one less gram of saturated fat at 19 grams, but 880 calories.

Dietician and MasterChef winner Nadia Lim said this could be almost half a person's daily calorie requirement.

"Add in the chips and fizzy that often goes with the burger and that can be your whole day's calorie intake. Excess calories turn into excess fat," said Lim.

Jones said there would be healthy options available at the outlet, such as low-carb meals.

However, he agreed there was a negative side to fast food chains. "It's always a dilemma, like the All Blacks being sponsored by Heineken or McDonald's. It's a reality of the consumer space we're in."

Bringing the fast food chain here would provide job opportunities, including 40 positions at the first Takinini restaurant.

Company owners have been advertising for Kiwi franchisees to run several branches planned for around the country.

Lim said the high number of fast food restaurants meant people were losing sight of what "occasional" meant when it came to fast food.

"Fast food once a month is okay, but not once a week."

The release of KFC's Double Down burger earlier this year also received the thumbs down from nutritionists.

With 1939 kilojoules, the 212g KFC original recipe burger had 540 calories and 32.3g of fat.

One in four adults and one in 12 children are obese, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

"Unhealthy weight is a concern this Government takes seriously," said Health Minister Tony Ryall. Broadcasters recently extended the restrictions on food advertising to children, he said.

A burger and a bikini

Carl's Jr is well known in the States for its risqué advertising campaigns.

These have included socialite Paris Hilton eating a burger in a bikini while washing a car, and Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi taking mouthfuls of a burger as its juices drip on to her body.

The chain's burgers are also regularly mentioned in fat-loss show The Biggest Loser, where obese contestants often confess to being attracted to junk food because of its convenience and taste.

Who is Carl's Jr

Carl N. Karcher and his wife Margaret founded Carl's Jr in Los Angeles in 1941, after they borrowed $311 on their car, added $15 in savings and bought a hot dog cart.

In less than five years, Carl's Drive-In Barbecue opened with hamburgers on the menu. The brand now has more than 1100 outlets in 15 countries.