(Vegetarian) McDonald's sorry for mislabelling

June 5, 2002

McDonald's sorry for mislabelling

05jun02

CHICAGO: The fast food chain McDonald's will donate $US10 million ($17.56

million) to Hindu and other groups to settle lawsuits over the mislabelling

of french fries and hash browns as vegetarian.

The chain also posted an apology on its web site, acknowledging that

mistakes were made in communicating to customers and the public about the

ingredients in the fries and hash browns.

The vegetable oil used to prepare the fries and hash browns was not pure,

but contained essence of beef for flavouring purposes.

" We regret we did not provide these customers with complete information, and

we sincerely apologise for any hardship that these miscommunications have

caused among Hindus, vegetarians and others, " the company said in an apology

posted on June 1 on the web site.

" We should have done a better job in these areas, and we're committed to

doing a better job in the future. "

McDonald's says it has created a Dietary Practice/Vegetarian Advisory Panel

consisting of experts in consumer dietary practices that will advise

McDonald's on relevant dietary restrictions and guidelines.

Telephone calls today to McDonald's for comment were not immediately

returned.

McDonald's was first sued over the fries in Seattle last year by three

vegetarians, including two Hindus, who don't eat meat for religious reasons.

Lawsuits were subsequently filed in Illinois, California, New Jersey and

Texas.

The lawsuits were filed on behalf of any vegetarian who ate McDonald's fries

after 1990.

That was the year the company announced its restaurants would no longer use

beef fat to cook fries and that only pure vegetable oil would be used.

The fast food giant responded to the lawsuits by saying it never claimed the

fries it sells in the United States were vegetarian.

But the company apologised for any confusion surrounding the use of beef

flavouring in the production of fries.

The Associated Press

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