The Mac Attack

A case to blame McDonald's for teen obesity is dismissed.

By Colin Allen published January 1, 2003 - last reviewed on June 9, 2016

You can't blame McDonald's. This Tuesday, a federal judge in
Manhattan dismissed a lawsuit that would have made the fast food giant
liable for obesity and poor health in teenage customers. The suit accused
McDonald's of deceiving its customers by misrepresenting the amount of
fat, sugar, salt and cholesterol in its meals. The suit was dismissed on
the grounds that McDonald's did not conceal information about its
ingredients. The underlying principle: Consumers know that fast food is
bad for health.

"My attitude toward McDonald's is one of criticism," admits Joseph
Sanders, Ph.D. ABPP, director of Health Enhancement Programs in
Alexandria, Virginia. From a health standpoint, Sanders does not
appreciate the restaurant's food offerings. No doubt all fast food
establishments should serve healthy fare, because as Sanders points out:
"Kids do what other kids do: 'If my crowd goes to McDonald's and has
hamburgers then that is what I have to do.'"