Whitecaps' Fifth Third Burger to Appear on Jan. 22 Episode of Food Network's Unwrapped

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps' world-famous giant hamburger, the Fifth Third Burger, will be featured on the January 22 episode of Food Network's popular "Unwrapped" show with host Marc Summers. The show airs at 9 p.m. Eastern time. The episode is entitled "Game Day Goodies."

The segment was taped at the ballpark last fall during the Muskegon vs. Rockford high school football game. The "Unwrapped" crew taped behind-the-scenes footage on the making of the Fifth Third Burger as well as the Burger Challenge action during the game.

The Fifth Third Burger gained worldwide attention when it made its debut at the ballpark in April 2009. National networks such as NBC, CBS, ABC, CNBC, Fox and ESPN all showed the burger on air, and news reports of the burger came from as far away as Australia, England, France, South Korea, South Africa and Colombia. The monstrous sandwich consists of five one-third pound beef patties (five thirds of a pound, named after Fifth Third Ballpark), nacho cheese, chili, salsa, crunched tortilla chips, tomato and lettuce served on a special 8-inch sesame seed bun. The entire burger weighs in at more than 4 pounds and consists of 4,889 calories and 299.5 grams of fat. It is served in a pizza box and sliced pizza-style for families or friends to share.

In two baseball seasons, the Whitecaps have served 3,253 Fifth Third Burgers to fans, and 761 have attempted the Fifth Third Burger Challenge to eat the entire burger by themselves within the time frame of the baseball game. A total of 483 people have won the challenge, earning a commemorative "I Did It!" t-shirt and their photo on the Wall of Champs at the ballpark. Burger Challenge competitors have come from 17 states and seven countries (Chile, Philippines, South Africa, Pakistan, France, Canada and the U.S.) on five continents to conquer the burger, so it's no wonder that it has grabbed the attention of national food-related TV shows such as Man v. Food and now Unwrapped.

Food Network's Unwrapped reveals the origins of foods, from where the tiny marshmallows in your breakfast cereal come from to behind-the-scenes details on the making of bubble gum. Host Marc Summers explores the test kitchens and the secrets behind such foods as lunch box treats, soda pop, and now the Fifth Third Burger. Unwrapped first aired in 2001.

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