U.S.

Do You Want Fries With That Suit?

June 12, 2001 / 11:38 AM EDT / AP

A second lawsuit has been filed by vegetarian Hindus accusing McDonald's Corp. of using beef flavoring in french fries despite promises that it would use vegetable oil.

The three plaintiffs asked that the lawsuit be certified as a class action on behalf of any vegetarian who ate McDonald's fries after 1990 in the belief that they contained no meat.

Another lawsuit was filed last month in Seattle on behalf of two Hindus who don't eat meat and one non-Hindu vegetarian. It seeks unspecified damages.

The Texas lawsuit contends the plaintiffs were fraudulently induced to eat the fries under the belief that they were cooked only in vegetable oil. Under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, plaintiffs may be entitled to damages up to three times the amount of economic harm and mental anguish.

McDonald's has declined to comment on the lawsuit.

But following the first suit, the company apologized for any confusion surrounding beef flavoring in its U.S. french fries. McDonald's has said it adds a small amount of beef extract while the potatoes are cooked.

News reports on the case outraged some Hindus in India, who smashed windows at McDonald's franchises. McDonald's said fries sold in India have never been flavored with beef extract.