Foods and Diets Litigations

Why is that food processing and commerce areAtkins diet).The producers of the popular Oreo
not strictly regulated by law so as to preventcookies, Kraft Foods Inc were sued in 2003 by
health problems generated by an inadequate diet?the attorney Stephen Joseph, who based his
Unhealthy products encourage an unhealthy diet,accusations on a provision of the civil code of
appealing the consumer by their availability withinCalifornia saying that manufacturers are liable for
reach and the invading advertising. If the foodproducts if the consumer is not advised of the
producers are controlled by health officials, then itproducts' unsafety. He rightfully claimed that the
must be that the regulations are too lax in as farpublic was not aware of the high content of
as marketed foods are concerned.Everyonetrans-fats in Oreos. He declared that he sued out
knows that, for instance, hydrogenated oils andof concern for the public health and that no
partially hydrogenated oils are highly unhealthy.money was requested in the lawsuit, which he
Tons of studies and informative material havefinally withdrew, explaining that the publicity on this
been published, yet there is a population segmentcase had made people aware of the health risks
that still falls into traps saying that margarine is aenhanced by the product. Anyway, if the lawsuit
"healthier alternative for butter, full of vitamins",was intented as bad publicity for the Oreos, the
when in fact the trans-fatty acids it containsaim was not reached, as Kraft Foods Inc will
surpass the "healthy benefits" it offers. For thiscontinue to produce Oreos in a trans-fat free
particular case, all foods containing hydrogentatedversion.Another famous case of litigation is the
oils (if the law allows their production, though itsuit from 2002 against McDonald's. The lawsuit
shouldn't) should have a health hazard warning (likewas filed by the lawyer Samuel Hirsch on behalf
those on the cigarette packs), saying somethingof some obese children. The lawer sustained that
like "This product contains trans-fatty acids thatthe fast food producer mislead the consumers
increase the risk of heart disease". Thus, peopleinto believing that the products were healthy and
would be constantly reminded of the bad effectssafe and claimed that the children developed
of such products on health.Generally, when ithealth problems such as diabetes, high blood
comes to foods and dieting, people should bepressure and obesity because of eating
advised of the potential inconvenience that mightMcDonald's products. The suit was dismissed on
occur due to some ingredients or the way thethe grounds that no one is forced to eat at
food is prepared.Take for instance the case ofMcDonald's and that the law has not the role to
the release of so many diets that are notmoderate individuals' excesses.A recent date "diet
documented, not officially controlled and approved,trial" is going on in Florida. The suit was filed by
promissing great things but not being explicit about53-year-old Jody Gorran against Atkins Nutritionals
the great problems they generate. Such as theon May 26, 2004. The plaintiff claims that after
very popular Atkins, for instance, which is a realgoing on Atkins diet his cholesterol level increased
danger to health.I wondered why such anti-healthso much that he needed angioplasty in order to
practices are not forbidden? Oh, pardon me! Whyunblock an artery. In addition to financial damages,
should I wonder? It's obvious: in an ever growingthere is also the request that the company warns
pragmatic course of events, the industrialthe public of the potential dangers of a diet
interests have overpassed the interest for thefavoring meats, cheeses and other high-fat
health of people.At this point, the role of theproteins by labeling their products. The sequel is
well-informed consumer is decisive for his ownyet to come.Even if some of these lawsuits
health. And if people are not fully convinced by sostarted out of reasons beyond humanitarian, (as
many scientific studies, informative articles andfor instance the chase for money from damages
materials, then they surely become when findingthat such important companies would pay) they
out of the multitude of lawsuits against foodhave a positive result, namely, the publicity around
producers (such as Kraft Foods Inc, thesuch cases arises questionning, gives people the
producers of Oreo cookies), fast food chainsidea of doubt, the "assumption of guilt".
(McDonald's) or promoters of diets (such as the