McDonalds Faces Three Lawsuits - Celiac Disease Sufferers Claim the Company Misled Consumers About their French Fries

February 19th 2006

French Fries

McDonald’s is facing at least three lawsuits by people with celiac disease. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that the lawsuits claim that the company “misled” the public about the ingredients in their French fries.

Last week McDonalds revealed that their fries contained both wheat and dairy products. They may taste great, but the wheat products can cause gastrointestinal symptoms in people that suffer from celiac disease. In fact gluten, a protein found in wheat, can cause damage to the intestines in people with celiac disease.

The Associated press reported that Debra Moffatt of Lombard, Ill., seeks unspecified damages in a suit filed Friday in the Cook County Circuit Court. She is accusing the company of misleading the public.

Mark and Theresa Chimiak of Jupiter Florida filed a lawsuit on Friday claiming that their 5-year old daughter “became seriously ill”. According to the San Jose Mercury News their daughter, Annalise, had an intolerance for gluten. The News reported the Chimiaks filed the lawsuit after McDonald's acknowledged earlier in the week that wheat ingredients were used in the cooking oil.

The U.S. Food and Drug administration has recently required that the packaged foods industry report the presence of common allergens including milk, eggs, wheat, fish or peanuts. McDonalds now includes the warning on their website that their fries include wheat and milk products.

Earlier in the month, McDonald’s acknowledged that their french fries contained a third more trans fats than was previously stated. The company cited a new testing method for the updated numbers.