Fast food lovers know by now that this mayonnaise, ketchup, and pickle relish-based salad dressing has long been the “secret sauce” used in most burger restaurants across the country.
While the origin story behind Thousand Island Dressing is up for debate, its cool, creamy flavor has been a favorite with diners and retailers alike for decades.
But eaters are only now beginning to notice that this peach-colored sauce, which sometimes also contains mustard, vinegar, cream, chili sauce, olive oil and Tabasco sauce, has existed under various names for decades.
Thousand Island Dressing is heavily inspired by a Russian dressing that has been a staple of the corned beef Reuben sandwich for years.
While the origin story of Thousand Island Dressing is up for debate, its cool, creamy flavor has been a favorite with diners and retailers alike for decades
Unlike Thousand Island sauce, horseradish is not an ingredient, making it the perfect sauce for burgers and fries.
In 1968, McDonald’s introduced its Big Mac sandwich: a double-decker sandwich with two beef patties, shredded lettuce, cheese, pickles and finely chopped onions.
At the time, the owners advertised the dressing as the “secret sauce” that dripped down the large burger.
The Big Mac originally sold for 45 cents and was advertised with the slogan “a meal disguised as a sandwich.” Today, the Big Mac is McDonald’s most popular menu item and has become a part of American culture.
Originally sold for 45 cents and advertised with the slogan “a meal disguised as a sandwich,” the Big Mac has become McDonald’s most popular menu item and has become an integral part of American culture.
But recently, health experts have said that Thousand Island is one of the unhealthiest dressings ever created
Other chains such as In-N-Out, Shake Shack and Big Boy also quickly decided to create their own “secret sauces” and released their own version of the dressing.
While eateries like In-N-Out added a little sugar to the dressing for their “animal-style” burgers and fries, others, like Big Boy, decided to make their own version by adding lemon juice and garlic powder.
As the sauce’s popularity grew, it quickly became a staple in the American household.
But recently, health experts have declared Thousand Island to be one of the unhealthiest dressings ever created.
While eateries like In-N-Out added a little sugar to the dressing to use on their “animal” burgers and fries, others like Big Boy (pictured) decided to make their own version by adding lemon juice and garlic powder
As the sauce’s popularity grew over time, it quickly became an American household staple
Elizabeth Keller, a nutritionist at Well Choices, told She thinks that the unique combination of the dressing may taste delicious, but it also has a high sugar content.
Thousand Island dressing is typically a combination of ketchup, mayonnaise, and sweet relish, all of which contribute to its high sugar content.
“The mix of sugars from these ingredients can lead to blood sugar spikes. Over time, those blood sugar spikes can lead to a range of problems, including heart and kidney problems, weight gain and more,” she told the blog.
Jamie Allers, a dietitian at the Digestive Health Institute at Hartford HealthCare, supports Keller’s theory.
This salad dressing is also a terrible option for people trying to lose weight because of its sugar, sodium, and saturated fat content
“It’s important to watch for added sugars in any dressing. And when it comes to hidden sugars, be extra careful with low-fat dressings. These usually make up for the lost fat by adding extra sugar for flavor.”
About two tablespoons of the dressing contains 4.6 grams of sugar and zero percent vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B6, calcium and magnesium.
This salad dressing is also not a good choice for people trying to lose weight, due to its high sugar, sodium, and saturated fat content.
Charlotte Martin, a registered dietitian, explained: ‘Thousand Island is a dressing you probably want to avoid. It is notorious for being high in sodium and added sugar, and sugar is often listed at the top of the ingredients list.
‘Added sugars in salad dressings increase the calorie content and make it difficult to lose weight.’