McDonalds Hit With Class Action Over Chemicals In Wrappers

Wrappers for McDonald’s French Fries, Cookies, Chicken Nuggets, and Big Macs contained PFAS chemicals. McDonald’s is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging that the fast-food giant concealed the use of toxic chemicals within food packaging. These include per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS), which have been associated with the development of cancer, other reproductive and hormonal disruptions, and others.

Ken McDowell filed the complaint (PDF). on March 31. This is a claim that McDonald’s falsely asserts that its food packaging can be safely and sustainably in nature. However, a recent report found that the products may contain toxic chemicals that could contaminate food.

PFAS are best known for being present in aqueous foam-forming foam (AFFF), which has been used by firefighters since the 1960s in training exercises and as a response to fuel-based fires. Ex-firefighters and their families who were exposed to PFASs in the past have filed many firefighting foam lawsuits. These claims claim that chemical exposures led to cancers such as pancreatic, testicular, and kidney cancers.

However, PFAS are also used in a variety of industries. They can be found in food packaging materials such as pizza boxes, popcorn bags, and fabrics.

The risk of developing cancer from exposure to foam chemicals used in firefighting may increase for firefighters, military personnel, and airport staff.

Examine a Case
Plaintiff claims that fast-food chains have made consumers more susceptible to PFAS through the use of synthetic chemicals. These chemicals may migrate from food packaging onto food and expose consumers to PFAS through ingestion.

McDowell’s complaint cites a Consumer Reports report that found 195.3 parts per Million of total organic fluorine. This is an indicator of the presence of PFAS chemicals in McDonald’s food packaging. According to the lawsuit, the levels of PFAS found in McDonald’s food packaging could expose a consumer “to PFAS at levels several orders of magnitude greater than what one would get from drinking a liter of water containing PFAS at the safe level by the EPA.”

The lawsuit cites Consumer Reports’ findings that extremely high levels were found in McDonald’s French Fires, bags of cookies, containers for chicken nuggets, and the Big Mac container.

McDonald’s is also accused of knowing about PFAS in their product packaging for years. However, McDonald’s falsely and deceptively used the Forest Stewardship Counsel’s trademark (FSC), which allows consumers to believe that the packagings are safe and sustainable and can be trusted.

According to the complaint, “No reasonable consumer would assume that a product marketed to be safe and sustainable would pose a threat to their health, safety and wellbeing or that it would contain hazardous PFAS, which are indisputably connected to harmful effects on humans and the environment.”

McDonald’s is accused of misleading consumers by omitting and misrepresenting information about harmful forever chemicals in their product packaging. This was done to reduce packaging costs and increase profits at the expense of the consumer’s health.

To seek damages for those consumers who were affected by the misleading marketing and labeling of McDonald’s products and to sue the fast-food giant for negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment, fraudulent and fraudulent misrepresentations, as well as fraudulent concealment and fraudulent concealment, a class action status is sought.

Fast Food Packaging – Toxic Chemicals

Because of their resistance to heat, grease, stains and water, PFAS chemicals were introduced to the manufacturing industry in 1940. PFAS chemicals have been associated with a variety of health problems, including liver damage, thyroid disease and decreased fertility.

Consumer Reports published a report last week about PFAS chemicals found in fast food packaging. It examined more than 100 products from popular chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King and Chic-fil-A. They found that 37 of the products had levels exceeding 20 parts per million and 22 had levels above 100 ppm.

Researchers discovered elevated levels of PFAS in paper bags and hamburger wrappers, paper plates, fiber salad bowls, paper plates, and other packaging. Consumer Reports found that even though they had made a commitment to eliminating PFAS and encouraged healthier lifestyles, the levels were still high.

A federal investigation revealed that PFAS chemicals were commonly found in many food products including meats, fish, cakes, and other baked goods. The FDA issued a statement saying that the levels found did not pose a health risk based on all available science.

from Law Center News https://lawcenternews.com/mcdonalds-hit-with-class-action-over-chemicals-in-wrappers/
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