Hardee's introduces monster burger with 1,420 calories and 109 grams of heart-pounding fat

• The "Monster Thickburger" --- two 1/3-pound slabs of Angus beef, four strips of bacon, three slices of cheese and mayonnaise on a buttered sesame seed bun --- sells alone for $5.49, $7.09 with fries and a soda.
• As many fast-food chains introduce healthier fare amid fears of being sued, Hardee's is bucking the trend, serving up a megaburger with 1,420 calories and 107 grams of fat.
• Monday rolled out its Monster Thickburger --- two one-third-pound slabs of Angus beef, four strips of bacon, three slices of cheese and mayonnaise on a buttered sesame seed bun.
• The sandwich alone sells for $5.49 or $7.09 with a medium fries (520 calories) and soda (about 400 calories).
• McDonald's Corp., Wendy's International Inc. and other fast-food giants have broadened their offerings of salad and other lower-calorie fare amid concerns the industry could be held legally liable for America's obesity epidemic.
• Hardee's offers no such concessions, although the chain is not completely oblivious to dietary trends, offering at least three "low-carb" items including a low-carb Thickburger.
• In an interview on CNBC, Hardee's chief executive Andrew Puzder was unapologetic, saying the company's latest sandwich is "not a burger for tree-huggers."
• "This is a burger for young hungry guys who want a really big, delicious, juicy, decadent burger," he said.
• "I hope our competitors keep promoting those healthy products, and we will keep promoting our big, juicy delicious burgers."
• I would say this is beyond the pale," said Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
• "If Hardee's persists in marketing this junk, it should at least list calories right up on the menu board," Jacobson said.