Couple suing McDonald's says fries 'poison' to their child

I don't really understand why people are so upset about this particular case, the fact of the matter is that McDonalds falsey represented an item on their menu and as a result a little girl was harmed.

I am not celiac, but I do have a severe gluten allergy and I know how much pain I am in when I inadvertantly eat something with gluten in it, so I can only imagine the trauma for someone with celiacs.

I think you have to let go of the fact that it is McDonalds that happens to be getting sued.

Beleive me it is friggin hard to find foods that are completely gluten free, so when you happen to come a cross a treat, even if it is McDonalds fries, that you can safely munch away on, then its bloody exciting!

 

a small amount of gluten in an intolerant child's diet can make a huge difference. i know from first hand experience how much of a difference micro amts of gluten can make in the behaviour of a child on the autism spectrum.

mcD's lied to people. they need to make restitution.

ps, there are lots of other reasons not to eat at mcD's (trans fats, preservatives in the fry oil, etc). just add dishonesty to the list.

 

before today, i didnt even know what the hell "gluten" was, still not quite sure.

 

gluten is a protien in wheat, rye, barley and other grains. it is a naturally occurring substance, and what causes wheat flour bread to rise and hold itself together. some people have an allergy to some of all gluten-containing grains, which can range from mild to severe and life-threatening. people who suffer from celiac disease have a slightly different condition in which the body cannot tolerate even a *trace* of gluten; painful damage to the intestines results from even the most minimal exposure.

the celiac/gluten free diet can be very monotonous, especially for those who don't bake, or who are new to the diet and haven't learned about the alternatives. it's especially rough on kids (my son just got back from a pizza party to which he had to bring his own pizza) and most parents of celiac kids will eagerly embrace any "safe" treat they can find. hence the daily fry snack for the little girl in the article. celiacs often have to rely on the accuracy of lists provided by organizations and support groups to know what they can eat when dining out. these lists in turn are dependent upon the accuracy of the data provided by restaraunts and corporations. if a company makes a claim that an item on their menu is gluten free, and the preparation methods (for example, shared cooking oil) are not, the results of this omission can be very painful for a celiac. for advanced celiac, even a trace (such as would occur in shared cooking oil) can result in the bleeding ulcers and seizures the family describes.

i do think that the parents are being unnecessarily dramatic in their choice of the word "poison" in reference to gluten, gluten is not a "poison" or an additive, and for those who do not suffer from gluten allergy or celiac, it is harmless. however, if mcdonald's had been making the claim that their fries were GF and they shared cooking oil with gluten-containing products (anything breaded for example) or came into contact with other gluten products (such as hamburger buns) at any time during preparation then the company misrepresented the safety of the fries for celiacs and those with allergies. yes the nutritionist who tested the products for gluten is supposed to be aware of possible contamination during preparation and take that into consideration when determining the products safety.

to those unfamiliar with celiac disease or gluten allergy, this case may seem excessive because celiac, although on the rise, is still not that common a disease, and the particulars of food safety for celiacs are not widely known. for a corporation compiling a gluten-free menu for the safety of their customers, however, safety issues are expected to be known and thoroughly understood, as its their job. so the average mcdonald's customer might not see what the big deal is. however, those of us who are familiar with gluten allergy and celiac can see this family (although melodramatic and perhaps a bit annoying in their choice of words) may very well have a solid case.

i've never been to a wards. my favorite fries are actually potato logs purchased from the gas station across the street, taken home and smothered in blue cheese and wing sauce. they are breaded and therefore are not gluten free so i only buy them when the kids are asleep. i don't want to think about what else may be in them, although they do sort of resemble something that may have been a potato in a past life a bit more than fast food fries usually do. both my kids love fries, but because of contamination concerns, we usually make them at home, in the oven.

 

Gas station tater logs are great as well, but in their own category to me. I prefer the potato chunks that are deep fried with pickles, onions and chicken. Since we are comparing what viciously unhealty foods that we like lol.

Thanks for the gluten info, i assumed it was such, but thanks for the knowledge.

 

that is too funny...

 

Yeah, Leslie, I agree....

I'm going to try and stay away from shit like this, and ...well other big brands in supermarkets, as well. Some of those plants, that big brands use to make their food, are so dirty and unkept, that you never know what could be being thrown in with your food, and such. Especially canned things...or anything else that is pre-made, or packaged... I think the best way to go is raw veggies and fruits and such. And even that, I think I'll stick to organic, because you never know what weird chemicals are being put on regular produce.

I think it's pretty sad that we have to be afraid of what's being put into our food...it shouldn't BE an issue....but it is, very much so.

Nothing is pure anymore..... everything is tampered with, fucked with to cost "less" or to grow faster, or this or that.... and because of everyone's huge concern for fuckin' CONVENIENCE, we're poisoning ourselves with shit, we aren't even sure is edible. [and this isn't just like, referring to fast food, like McDonalds...but everything.]

Right now, I'm relying on organic[raw] food, that I PICK OUT and examine, and cook myself...

And on the topic of McDonald's....in marketing, probably my junior year of high school, we were talking about how every year, McDonald's makes less and less money, and other places are more popular now....and McDonald's is always whining about it, and spending tons of money on commercials hoping to get more customers...but clearly they aren't going to better in business if they keep fucking with food, and lying about shit...etc. They've already had their asses sued off, for frying their french fries in ANIMAL FAT in the past.... they should just give up, now.

 

You know kangaroo meat isn't so bad - in fact there is nothing wrong with it! It's even quite tasty!

Although for a long time, back in the day, wild kangaroos were shot and the meat used for dog meat, so I guess that may be where your friend is coming from. Nowadays, its a perfectly acceptable meat to eat!

 

ooh i am sure kangaroo meat is acceptable now in certain areas of the world...thats actually quite interesting when you think about it. i am a vegetarian so i myself do not care for meat..but other cultures and other people with different walks of life may like it. my friend just jokes because he says they TELL you its hamburger but it's really not lol i hope i did not offend you in any way Kali...

p.s. it makes me sad to think about wild kangaroos being shot for meat

 

Kangaroos are such a pest here!! Its pretty normal for graziers to shoot them!

I wasn't at all offended, I totally got what you meant, but just thought I would point out that it is actually quite a tasty meat!