Fast food giant heading for court

Feb 20 2006

International fast food giant McDonald's is currently facing at least three lawsuits in the United States.

The lawsuits follow an admission last week by the company that milk and wheat ingredients are used to flavour its french fries.

Some people are allergic to such compounds and become ill when they eat them.

Earlier, McDonald's had also announced that the content of trans fat in a some servings of french fries was higher than previously estimated.

It is being claimed McDonald's has misled the public.

One claimant in Chicago is apparently seeking unspecified damages as she has coeliac disease.

The disease causes an intolerance to gluten which triggers gastrointestinal symptoms; gluten is a protein found in wheat.

A Florida couple, whose daughter also has a gluten intolerance, are also claiming their 5 year old daughter became ill after eating McDonald's fries.

While a vegan in California is making a claim saying the company concealed the dairy ingredient in french fries.

Food makers in the United States are required by law to declare on the label the major food allergens such as gluten, found in their products.

Allergies to food are a common problem and in the U.S. two percent of adults and five percent of children are allergic to a food of some kind.

About 30,000 consumers need emergency room treatments and 150 Americans die each year because of allergic reactions to food.

McDonald's is apparently currently testing its fries for gluten content.