Triple Whammy for McD's

Filed in archive News on February 19, 2006

If I was a vegan or had food allergies, I wouldn't touch McDonald's with a ten foot pole. But that's just me that's why I'll never be involved in a lawsuit with the fast food giant.

Trouble for Happy Meals. It's only February but McDonald's has already been hit with at least three lawsuits after disclosing their fries have wheat and dairy products.

Last Wednesday, Nadia Sugich of Los Angeles filed suit and claimed that she "would have never purchased or consumed the french fries if she had known they contain dairy and were not vegan." She sued on behalf of California consumers who would rather not have dairy or wheat products because of moral, philosophical or health concerns and "have bought McDonald's fries within the past four years". Among the reparations sought are reimbursements for french fry purchases.

On Friday, Debra Moffatt of Lombard, Ill. also filed a proposed class-action suit against McDonald's for misleading the public when they initially said their products didn't contain any gluten or milk. Ms. Moffatt suffers from celiac disease, an auto-immune condition.

Meanwhile in Jupiter, Florida, a couple has also sued McDonald's for their five-year old child's condition. Mark and Theresa Chimiak claim their daughter Annelise became seriously ill with advanced celiac after eating french fries.

These cases are interesting to follow. McDonald's has been known to settle two similar lawsuits to the tune of $10M and $8.5 in 2002 and 2005 respectively. At the rate things are going, I wonder if we'll see nationwide class suits by mid- or year end.

Stories from the Associated Press through Yahoo News and ContraCostaTimes.com.