Frivolity

According to this AP article:

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - McDonald's Corp. was hit with a lawsuit Thursday accusing the fast-food giant of failing to reduce fat in the cooking oil used in its french fries and other foods.

Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's pledged in September 2002 to switch to a lower-fat oil by February, 2003.

The suit, filed in federal court on behalf of a California woman, says McDonald's has not disclosed "to the public in an effective manner that it had not switched to a new, healthier cooking oil."

The restaurant chain had announced it planned to cut the trans fat levels in its fried foods. But McDonald's has delayed the plan, citing concerns of product quality and customer satisfaction.

I have one question: Did McDonald's sign any legally binding contract to the effect that it would cut trans fat levels, or did McDonald's agree to do so as part of the settlement of a lawsuit against them? As this article mentions neither condition as existing, I'm going to assume the answer is no. Therefore, McDonald's was under no legal obligation to do anything regarding the levels of fat in its cooking oil and this lawsuit has no legal basis. What amazes me is that it hasn't been laughed out of court by the judge already. On second thought, given the state of the judiciary, especially in the People's Republic of Kalifornia, I guess I'm not so amazed.

Not only did McDonald's have no legal obligation to do this, they have made public the delay in doing so and they have good reasons for it. Sounds responsible to me.

If you think McDonald's has too much fat in their fries, then DON'T EAT THERE! If you feel strongly enough about it, tell all your friends not to eat there. Take out an ad in the paper outlining your argument (just be sure you don't commit libel). Shout it from the rooftops (just be sure you don't commit slander). But, of course, the woman who brought this suit thinks we're all stupid and can't think for ourselves, so she has to protect us from the evil corporation that is doing nothing illegal but has somehow brainwashed all us sheep into eating their fatty food (and writing run-on sentences).

I wonder who she'll be voting for in November. No I don't.

Thanks to Misha for the link.