(No you can't sue)
In 2004, the US House of Representatives passed a bill banning lawsuits directed at fast food restaurants for making food that was "too fattening" or "the reason for obesity." The bill came about when two teenage girls, both of which were GROSSLY overweight had joined together to sue McDonalds. Needless to say, their case was dropped and fast food was free to make thousand calorie burgers and oversized milkshakes.
Now, I side with the House of Reps on this one. There is no way in hell that you should be able to sue over getting fat, ESPECIALLY when everyone tells you that eating fast food WILL get you fat. Even the fast food industry recognizes and states that their food "Isn't for daily consumption."
But...
Their argument is a legitimate one. For instance, in a Sausage McMuffin, which is only 114 grams (the weight of a newton, or an apple), and has 390 calories, 200 of which from FAT! Now... why would you need close to 400 calories for a small sandwich is beyond me. Unless your a lumberjack with a stapled stomach.
Now, on to you guys. What do you guys think of the law? Is it right to ban lawsuits on fast food, or should they be responsible for their food? Write your comments!
(No you can't sue)
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Comments (25)
The fast food industry is there to make fast food. Simply suing because "their food made you fat" is not a legitimate excuse. You still have the choice to whether or not you want to buy their food, and then another choice to decide whether or not you want to eat it. In other words, everything is within your own control. Don't want those calories that might make you fat? Get a salad. It's that simple. Don't blame someone else when it's really YOUR fault. The correct use of suing is far lost in this country, and I side with the House on this one.
I think that everything that's manufactured to be consumed should be "safe" to consume, and the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure it's safe.
People are responsible for the food that they eat. McDonald's and other fast food restaurants have the nutrition information available so no one has the excuse that they didn't know and if they do say they didn't know, it's because they didn't take the time to look because the information is out there. It's not like it's a new idea that fast food is bad; it should be common knowledge by now. Look at the movie Supersize Me. (Although the man that they showed that ate multiple big macs a day was pretty trim...but he must have been responsible and worked out to balance, which some people don't do).
i think people would have better luck suing tobacco companies. yes, restaurants should by liable for their product, but no one's forcing anyone to eat that product. in the end, we're responsible for what we consume.
Suing a fast food company for making you fat makes you not only fat; but a fat idiot. It's like suing the fashion industry for making you anorexic.
People need to take responsibility for their own actions.
I agree with the others. People need to start being responsible for what they consume, and begin to accept the consequences. If you only eat 400 calorie sandwiches for breakfast lunch and dinner (and then finding some for snacks) YES YOU WILL GET FAT.
Anyone looking to sue a fast food company is looking for a quick buck. You can get fat without eating fast food. No one's ever sued Hostess or whoever makes pork rinds for making them fat (yet :/). That would be like suing Slim Fast for contributing to anorexia.
People in this country need to start taking responsibility for their actions. We don't need the government/lawyers to be holding our hands constantly. We have known well enough that fruits and veggies are better for us than McDonalds since we were about seven, time to grow up.
you can't pass laws like that but you could help the poor people who have to resort to buying fast food.
I'm poor, and I don't buy fast food. It's WAY too expensive. Instead, there is this great place I know that sells FRUIT and VEGETABLES. Does anyone know what 5 servings of fruit and vegetables looks like? Most people are lucky to get one, much less five. I like mine fresh and raw.
I'm also overweight, but ironically, it was from eating bread, (which is incredibly cheap in this country). when I have money, I buy more meat and fresher vegetables. They are more satisfying, but cost more.
To sue a company because they made you fat is just beyond stupid. If you dont know by now, eating food that is deep fried along with being covered in sauces is unhealthy and will make you fat, then i'm sorry you deserve it. (and this is coming from someone who is actually fat, not a little, but a lot). I know that mean and rude, but it's crazy! Why should they be responsible for your health when you are not even trying to take care of yourself!
It's the same thing as suing a coffee company because you burnt your tongue on the HOT coffee.
Anyway, I think it's a good thing that they have past that Bill
fast food shouldn't be banned from certain practices. if some people want greasy food and as long as they have information in front of them about what they're consuming, that's totally their choice. but how fast food industries treat their workers and animals is a completely different issue that needs to be looked into. for that reason, their power should be limited. and i wouldn't mind seeing a few less fast food places in small towns. sorry about going on another tangent!
If they had half a brain, they wouldn't eat the food, let alone sue the restaurants.
@snapeful@xanga - You obviously aren't poor, or you don't buy your own food/groceries. I'm poor, believe me. My job makes me exactly enough to pay rent, MOST months. I live off of food stamps, and food stamps don't cover anything but grocery food, no restaurants. AND, even if I didn't have food stamps, buying a weeks worth of sandwiches at Burger King or something would cost about twice as much as groceries! Poor people eat rice and beans, bought in dry form as that is the cheapest. They season with pepper, and drink water, lol...
1) It shelters people from taking responsibility for their choices (unless the company hides the information)
2) It takes away the option and therefore makes our choice for us, which violates our freedom to eat what we want (and suffer the consequences).
@xXjustanother_deadgirlXx@xanga - okay, good for you. i'm glad you dont buy mcdonald's and feed yourself that shit because it "tastes good" and "is cheap." oh, i'm sorry if i assumed you would buy it but studies have shown that poorer people buy fast food b/c it's so easily accessible.
@ColdBeverage87@xanga - agreeed.
i agree with the bill. the main reason is because not all judges will side with the restaurants and some people could possibly win these ridiculous lawsuits. yeah its saying to mcdonalds and other places they can make their food as unhealthy as they want, but its also saying that people have to be responsible for their own decisions. if you're fat from eating fast food and you know it then stop eating it!!!
Each and every person is responsible for what he/she consumes, and the consequences of that consumption.
It's not McDonald's fault some people choose to eat their food constantly, not exercise, and so on.
They're here to make money. It's a business, and hey, they offer products that sell.
It works for them, and for people who are smart enough not to go overboard.
McDonald's didn't shove their food down these girls' throats. It's really stupid for them to sue.
It's YOUR Body, it's up to YOU to decide what to put it in it.
It's not as though it was EVER a secret that fast food is fatty, high in calories, and overall, not good for you. I thought the lawsuit was one of the dumbest there was that ever got through. Yes, the argument that fast food is very fattening is legitimate. They never shoved the food down those girls throats though.
Fast food is too disgusting for words. Go see Food, Inc. if you haven't already...
mcdonald's doesn't make people fat. people need to put the cheeseburger down + take some damn responsibility for yourself. ugh people make me sick.
I think the lawsuits should be banned because we are quite warned about how fattening the food is. No one is kept in the dark what so ever. However something should be done about how high in calories the food is. 1000 calories burger is quite ridiculous!
@snapeful@xanga - How can poor people buy that when most poor people get food stamps? Food stamps only covers grocery store food.