What has happened to "personal responsibility?"
Posted on 02/12/2005 5:54:15 AM PST by SheLion
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 11 (Reuters) - McDonald's has agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit over artery-clogging trans fats in its cooking oils, the company said on Friday.
McDonald's said it will donate $7 million to the American Heart Association and spend another $1.5 million to inform the public of its trans fat plans.
The settlement is the result of litigation from a San Francisco area activist who has been seeking to raise public awareness of the health dangers from the trans fatty acids (TFAs) in hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils.
Trans fats are used in thousands of processed food products, often giving the crunch to French fries, cookies, and cereals.
They are created in processing vegetable oils and have been found to be as unhealthy as pure cholesterol. The latest official U.S. nutrition recommendations suggest limiting their intake.
"McDonald's has reached an agreement to further notify our customers about the status of our ongoing initiative to reduce TFAs in our cooking oil," the company said in a statement.
Stephen Joseph, a lawyer who founded BanTransFats.com, sued McDonald's over complaints the firm did not properly inform the public that it had encountered delays in plans to lessen the trans fats in its cooking oils.
Joseph said his site would receive $7,500, as would another plaintiff in the case.
"McDonald's has been successful in reducing TFA levels in our Chicken McNuggets, Crispy Chicken Sandwich and McChicken Sandwich," the fast food firm said. "McDonald's continues to work hard on our initiative to reduce TFAs in our cooking oil."
British-born Joseph first gained publicity for his cause by suing Kraft Foods two years ago to highlight the trans fat content of much-beloved Oreo cookies. The company has since moved to remove trans fats from its snack foods.
"While there is a difference of opinion regarding whether McDonald's gave effective notice to its customers that the oil was not changed, McDonald's deserves recognition and credit for having achieved a reduction in the trans fat levels in its chicken products and for working diligently over the last two years to test additional cooking oils," Joseph said in a statement.
Dunkin' Donuts, a unit of Britain's Allied Domecq Plc , and other companies have in recent months introduced new products free of trans fats.
What has happened to "personal responsibility?"
Can anyone say "tort reform?"
Time to go after Big Food and Big Booze. Taking down Big Tobacco showed us the way.
"trans fats in its cooking oils"
They are in hundreds of products in our grocery stores.
Personal responsibility must replace P.C. nonsense!
And who do we complain to because Oreo cookies now taste like poop?
legalized blackmail
McDonald's said it will donate $7 million to the American Heart Association and spend another $1.5 million to inform the public of its trans fat plans.
Hmmm, there were no legal fees? I find that strange. Only money for the Heart Association and public service advertising?
Interesting how these lawsuit reporters never seem to be interested in lawyer fees. You don't think there might be -- gasp -- bias do you?
Isn't this disgraceful? But I am actually glad they are going after some one else. Maybe this will wake the general public up that smoker's aren't the only ones that have been targeted.
Something has to give.
This seems to imply that the case was settled out of court. Maybe they thought the bad publicity they would have received would have cost more than the 8.5 million. If that is the case, then I think it is extremly short sighted to give that much power to activists.
I can't believe this case was even heard.
That's like tossing a quarter into a panhandlers cup. McD sells $8.5 million in fries every 3 hours.
Why is McDonald's being singled out?
Showed 'you' to do what? Sue? You are all for suing anything that walks?
"For all of you anti's that hate smokers and are a little on the 'stout side,' let this be a lesson to you. The government WILL come after you next! And we smoker's will say THANKS for taking the heat off of US!"
Yes, but obesity doesn't foul the air.
(no fart jokes!)
Can you imagine if they TOLD us what the lawyer fees were and the court costs? That would REALLY set off a fire storm!!
Next thing ya know, they're gonna ban eating in bars and restaurants.
Hey! Thanks for pointing this out. I bought a bag of Oreo's over a month ago and I thought it was my taste buds. They tasted HORRIBLE! I haven't had any in several years, and they looked good, so I bought a bag.
Well, I ate a couple and threw the damn things out. So, that's what happened to our Oreo's! :(
What about Burger King and Arby's and KKC??? They all sell greasy curley fries and fries. (Which are delicious but I don't LIVE on them. I buy them as a treat now and then).
But why is this just Mac's?????
Scary in it's implications.
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