The class-action lawsuit, filed in the Bronx Supreme Court on July 24, seeks undetermined compensatory damages against McDonald's, Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Burger King, on behalf of 56-year-old maintenance worker Caesar Barber and others.
New York attorney Samuel Hirsch, representing Barber, says consumers are not getting adequate warning about foods that could cause obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels. "Fast food chains failed to disclose the contents in terms of calories, fat grams and sodium. Even when posted, the information is not easily understandable to the public," Mr. Hirsch says.
"This lawsuit, which solely makes restaurants responsible for obesity in America, swallows a simplistic notion," says Steven Anderson, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. "It is a blatant attempt to capitalize on the recent news stories on the growing rates of obesity."
Moderator Comment: Should food manufacturers and retailers be legally responsible for the eating (or overeating) habits of consumers?
According to the MSNBC piece, Caesar Barber says that he did not realize fried food was bad for him until his doctor gave him the news three years ago. Caesar Barber is:
A) A liar; B) An idiot; C) A member of a cult that does not allow its members to read, watch television, listen to the radio or discuss health matters with anyone.
Next, we'll be seeing a lawsuit against athletic footwear companies for not seeing to it that everyone who buys sneakers exercises. [George Anderson - Moderator]