[hispanichoosier]

The family's attorney, Brian W. Smith, said the family had checked with McDonald's before she ate the fries and were assured the product was gluten-free.

If they did check with McD's, and the company misinformed them, then they have an excellent negligence case.

[pageonetoo]

My eldest daughter had "celiac disease" as an infant. She hardly gained wieght, and had loose bm's. After the doctor diagnosed her, we saw an immediate turnaround, after starting her on rice cakes, and other gluten-free stuff. It is not a disease in the real sense, but a body function not working properly. She eats anything now, and grew out of it by age 3... (but i still can't get her to eat her peas).

This suit is total Bravo Sierra, like the coffee incident. A smart lawyer (read that "Smarmy" slime) can make a federal case about anything.

[garyhope]

"said the family had checked with McDonald's before she ate the fries and were assured the product was gluten-free."

What, they asked a pimply faced 17 year old "associate" behind the counter "Do your fries have any gluten in them?", "No, they're just potatoes"

I smell a finger in the chili.

When did everyone become so sensitive to their food? Here's where I believe in Darwin. If you can't eat regular, normal food,...goodbye. Move on. RIP

[pageonetoo]

A smart lawyer (read that "Smarmy" slime) can make a federal case about anything.

I forget to post the pic...

[cbkaty]

Whatever happened to using plain old potatoes in plain old cooking oil?

[HEY4QDEMS]

the company is conducting research to determine that the fries have no gluten.

This is the fulcrum of the plaintiff's case, if McDs research concludes that their fries are gluten free, case closed.

[bmwcyle]

Did the mother know she or the father or both passed the problem to her daughter at birth? Maybe they should look in the mirror.

[Uncle Meat]

The family's attorney, Brian W. Smith, said the family had checked with McDonald's before she ate the fries and were assured the product was gluten-free.

Parents to pizza faced teenager behind counter,"Excuse me young man,are those gluten- free fries that you serve here?" To which pizza faced teenager replies"Fer sure,dude."Which the parents reply,"Great,we'll take one super size each,make that a double for our little girl here!"

[melt]

"gluten-free"

Empty the country of greedy lawyers. Make it glutton-free.

[politeia]

I am saddened to see Americans’ penchant for litigation descending on this issue with its predictable deadening effects. It is hard enough for celiac sufferers to find a place to eat out without adding the fear of lawsuits on the part of restaurants to the mix. This lawsuit can only make matters worse for people with this condition.

The new labeling law was passed to correct the problem that not all ingredients had to be listed on food labels under the old system. McDonald’s fries, because they were said by the company to be gluten free and because they were cooked in dedicated fryers ( not shared with breaded items) were thought to be a safe restaurant food in the celiac community. So now we find that the flavorings contained gluten and perhaps they were not strictly gluten free. Perhaps the research on whether the gluten protein used in the flavoring actually survives the processing and ends up in the final food product will help us understand these issues. The same question existed with the issue of whether the gluten protein is eliminated by distillation in alcohol and vinegars.

This type of revelation about "hidden" gluten in prepared foods was inevitable as food companies really determine for the first time what is actually in the food they sell or serve. Many food items thought questionable will also now be declared safe for this same reason. In fact, I have read articles about major food companies deciding to reformulate their products to eliminate major food allergens in the process of complying with the new labeling law. In the end, I think this is a good thing. Food suppliers should know and reveal what is in the food they sell to the public. However, I would much rather have celiac sufferers realize that anytime you are eating out you take a risk, even if you are told the item is gluten free, and make an intelligent choice to accept that risk or not. Ultimately, with lawsuits like this restaurants will protect themselves by never claiming gluten free status for their food, even when it is, and the results are fewer choices and an even more restricted lifestyle for people with celiac disease. Nobody wins in this case but the lawyers.

[L98Fiero]

I got food poisioning from a Burger King when I was a kid. I thought I was going to DIE. Did my Mom sue? No.

[cyborg]

After the whole thing with my mom and her leg, I lost a lot of interest in McDonald's. Plus it's garbage food and you are what you eat. Did she really expect the purest, most pristine food at McDonald's? If they have something in writing that says, the potatoes are gluten free, oh well I hope she wins. It sounds so dumb, gluten free potatoes, but these are the times we're living in.

[SamAdams76]

I think the health nazi busybodies ought to remove the child from the care of the parents and put her in a foster home. After all, the mother was negligient in giving her daughter fast food from the evil McDonalds (which contains MEAT products!).

Isn't this what the world is coming down to?

[hershey]

If the parents had any sense, they'd have avoided fast food joints, period. You know for sure what your child eats when you prepare it, yourself. Or go to MacDonald's and order the salad.

[ViLaLuz]

Is it possible that residue from frying the apple pies can stick to the french fries in the cooking grease and cause a gluten reaction?

[Pro-Bush]

I guess they never heard of the McDonald's flu. I get it every time I eat a sausage mcmuffin with egg.

[Elawyer]

I'm wondering if anyone has had a chance to dig up the complaint on this case, I think it would focus the discussion and make comments more relevant. I wonder if it is available online?