Posted on 05/22/2005 4:20:10 PM PDT by Libloather
McDonald’s pays $10m damages
Silicon Valley (PTI): Fast food giant McDonald’s will pay $10 million to 24 groups, including the International American Gita Society, as part of a settlement of lawsuits.
McDonald’s has been charged with misleading Hindus and vegetarian consumers by “wrongly describing” its French fries, containing beef additive for flavouring, as vegetarian.
McDonald’s recently informed the Gita society that it is among the groups receiving the settlement money, the US-based non-profit organisation’s spokesperson, Ramananda Prasad, said.
“We are such a small organisation, and nobody supports us, the temples are busy with their own activities,” Prasad, who founded the society in 1984, said.
The society will get $50,000 from McDonald’s. The money will be used for developing a website on the Gita, especially a “Gita for children”, Prasad said.
A US court approved the 24 groups after a Seattle lawyer, Harish Bharti, filed a class lawsuit against the company, accusing it of deception in its claims of cooking fries in 100 per cent vegetable oil.
The maximum compensation of $1.4 million, or 14 per cent of the award, goes to Vegetarian Resource Group, followed by $1 million to the North American Vegetarian Society.
McDonald's used to cook their fries in beef tallow. when they stopped that, they advertised that they were now using 100 per cent vegetable oil for frying.
Which is true.
Their french fries were coated with a "natural flavoring" which was derived from beef. Somebody discovered this and sued.
McDonald's never claimed that the fries were vegetarian, and the idea of a vegetarian assuming that he could eat anything from a burger joint that wasn't covered in burger grease is dubious.
SD
"Natural flavoring" is a broad category. There is no claim that McDonald's violated fedeeral food labeling laws or made any false claims.
It seems to me that vegetarians need to petition the FDA or USDA to make sure animal products are labeled as such, or to set up their own standards for labeling food, like the kosher marks.
SD
"The money will be used for developing a website on the Gita, especially a “Gita for children”, Prasad said."
Hey, Prasad! See if McDonald's will give you an affiliate program banner for your website.
How scrupulous do you need to be? If something is labeled as "natural flavoring" you have no way of knowing whether it was animal derived.
SD
Since we don't have any central authority usage varies (and with the other rules, limiting oil and alcoholic beverages very wildly). I tend to be quite strict about ingredient lists, but ignore the allergen warning 'may contain. . .' when it isn't in the ingredient list. Other ignore ingredients below the 'less than two-percent' indication on the label. Others avoid packaged foods or eating out entirely during fasts.
There is a story about a bishop of the Russian Synod, who when faint during a service during Great Lent, asked one of the monastics serving with him for a cookie. Upon being presented with an Oreo, he rebuked the monk, "That's an Oreo. It's got whey in it. I asked for a cookie not a glass of milk!"
If a restaraunt tells you that the food you ordered doesn't have a certain thing in it but it does, wouldn't you be annoyed, too? Especially if that thing is something that your religion forbids you from eating?
If they would stop thinking cows are their relatives, life for them would be simpler
And if American Christians gave up on their religion, their lives would be simpler, too.
In fact, they can stay in the East since they don't like they way we live.
What a lovely bigotted statement.
Do you really think someone whose cult says that cows are sacred going into a resaurant, whose primary meal is beef, is a smart choice?
This is why America is the greatest nation on Earth. Unlike other cultures, we're not so dumb with unrealistic expectations.
Hinduism is not a cult.
that cows are sacred going into a resaurant, whose primary meal is beef, is a smart choice?
Depends. Did the restaurant tell you that there was no beef in the food?
This is why America is the greatest nation on Earth. Unlike other cultures, we're not so dumb with unrealistic expectations.
Clearly, the jury disagreed with you here.
I wonder how much moolah McD's forks out for bogus lawsuits every year.
"Clearly, the jury disagreed with you here.
"
Juries are not known for being the smartest collection of people. Lawyers throw off those with brains who can see through their crap.
It refers to the Bhavagad Gita, a series of moral discourses between Krishna as a Chariot Driver and Arjuna, a local king who was in the sad position of having to put down a rebellion led by members of his family.
One of the great moral discussions of all time.
The lie is not sufficient for liability. Actual damage must be shown. I wonder how to show that the beef bullion damaged someone?
This ISN'T the first time this has happened, and for the exact same reason.
A group of Hindus up here in Seattle sued McD's back about 5 years ago for the same thing. They ended getting a nice settlement.
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