Carcinogen in Food Prompts Class-Action Lawsuit Against McD,BK and Friendly's

October 23, 2009

WASHINGTON (RPRN) 10/23/09 — Carcinogen in Grilled Chicken Prompts Class-Action Lawsuit Against McDonald’s, Burger King, and Friendly’s; Fast-Food Chains are Violating Connecticut’s Consumer ProtectionLaw, Residents Say

Two Connecticut residents are filing a class-action lawsuit against McDonald’s, Burger King, and Friendly’s for failing to warn consumers that their grilled chicken products contain a dangerous carcinogen.

Independent laboratory tests show that grilled chicken from McDonald’s and other fast-food chains contains PhIP, a chemical that can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer even if consumed in very small amounts. The class-action lawsuit, sponsored by the nonprofit Cancer Project, will be initiated Oct. 21 in Superior Court of the State of Connecticut, Judicial District of Hartford. Cancer Project general counsel Daniel Kinburn is representing the plaintiffs, one of whom is a breast cancer survivor.

“Consumers deserve to know that grilled chicken from McDonald’s and other fast-food chains can increase your risk of cancer,” says Neal D. Barnard, M.D., president of the Cancer Project. “Even a grilled-chicken salad increases the risk of developing some cancers, including breast and prostate cancer.”

PhIP is one of a group of carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that are found in grilled meat. In 2005, the federal government officially added HCAs to its list of carcinogens, and PhIP has been on the California governor’s list of chemicals known to cause cancer for more than a decade. PhIP and other HCAs do not exist naturally in chicken; they form when animal muscle is cooked to high temperatures.

McDonald’s, Burger King, and Friendly’s are clearly in violation of Connecticut’s consumer protection law, the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). “At all times relevant hereto, Defendants knew or should have known that their grilled chicken products contain PhIP, a known carcinogen,” says the Cancer Project in its legal complaint. “Despite that knowledge, Defendants have elected to conceal that material fact from consumers.” Defendant Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, known as Friendly’s, is headquartered in Massachusetts. It operates restaurants in Connecticut that sell grilled chicken products.

The Cancer Project is a collaborative effort of physicians, researchers, and nutritionists who have joined together to educate the public about the benefits of a healthy diet for cancer prevention and survival. Based in Washington, D.C., The Cancer Project is an affiliate of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Media Contact Name: Jeanne McVey
Media E-mail:
Media Phone: 202-527-7316
Media Web Address: http://www.cancerproject.org/media/news/091021.php
Company Contact Name: The Cancer Project

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Comments

Francine (2009-10-23)

File this under garbage. See http://www.physicianscam.com to learn about these PETA nuts. What a bunch of lunatics.

The Cancer Project (2009-10-29)

Neal Barnard, M.D. Who We Are The Cancer Project has two main goals: First, we aim to make cancer prevention a top priority. Just as important, we want to improve survival after cancer has been diagnosed by providing comprehensive information about the role of dietary factors in keeping people healthy. With over one million people being diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year—and many more cases in other countries across the globe—there is an urgent need for a new direction in battling this disease. The Cancer Project provides classes, books, video programs, fact sheets, brochures, and other educational materials on cancer prevention and survival. We also conduct clinical research studies to investigate dietary issues and publicize the need for cancer prevention and the value of healthy diet changes. The Cancer Project’s hands-on nutrition classes have become incredibly popular, helping cancer survivors and their families learn new tastes and easy food preparation skills. Staff members are regularly interviewed by the media and often give public lectures. For more information about The Cancer Project, please e-mail info@cancerproject.org. An independent, separately incorporated affiliate of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), The Cancer Project advances cancer prevention and survival through nutrition education and research. The Cancer Project began in 1991 as a program of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2004. All gifts are tax deductible. Cancer Project Board of Directors Neal Barnard, M.D. Deborah Bernal, M.D. Barbara Wasserman, M.D. Cancer Project Advisory Board Ron Allison, M.D. East Carolina University Paulette Chandler, M.D., M.P.H. Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Donald Doll, M.D. Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Sarah Friebert, M.D. Akron Children's Hospital Divya-Devi Joshi, M.D. Marshfield Clinic Lawrence H. Kushi, Sc.D. Kaiser Permanente Amy Lanou, Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Asheville Ana Negron, M.D. Community Volunteers in Medicine and family physician Groesbeck Parham, M.D. University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center Affiliations are listed for identification only. Support Our Work The Cancer Project depends on donations to fund our work. If you wish to support our work to advance cancer prevention and survival through nutrition education and research, you may donate online. If you prefer, you can mail or phone in your contribution to: The Cancer Project 5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W, Ste. 400 Washington, DC 20016-4131 Phone: 202-244-5038

The Cancer Project (2009-10-29)

Neal Barnard, M.D. Who We Are The Cancer Project has two main goals: First, we aim to make cancer prevention a top priority. Just as important, we want to improve survival after cancer has been diagnosed by providing comprehensive information about the role of dietary factors in keeping people healthy. With over one million people being diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year—and many more cases in other countries across the globe—there is an urgent need for a new direction in battling this disease. The Cancer Project provides classes, books, video programs, fact sheets, brochures, and other educational materials on cancer prevention and survival. We also conduct clinical research studies to investigate dietary issues and publicize the need for cancer prevention and the value of healthy diet changes. The Cancer Project’s hands-on nutrition classes have become incredibly popular, helping cancer survivors and their families learn new tastes and easy food preparation skills. Staff members are regularly interviewed by the media and often give public lectures. For more information about The Cancer Project, please e-mail info@cancerproject.org. An independent, separately incorporated affiliate of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), The Cancer Project advances cancer prevention and survival through nutrition education and research. The Cancer Project began in 1991 as a program of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2004. All gifts are tax deductible. Cancer Project Board of Directors Neal Barnard, M.D. Deborah Bernal, M.D. Barbara Wasserman, M.D. Cancer Project Advisory Board Ron Allison, M.D. East Carolina University Paulette Chandler, M.D., M.P.H. Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Donald Doll, M.D. Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Sarah Friebert, M.D. Akron Children's Hospital Divya-Devi Joshi, M.D. Marshfield Clinic Lawrence H. Kushi, Sc.D. Kaiser Permanente Amy Lanou, Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Asheville Ana Negron, M.D. Community Volunteers in Medicine and family physician Groesbeck Parham, M.D. University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center Affiliations are listed for identification only. Support Our Work The Cancer Project depends on donations to fund our work. If you wish to support our work to advance cancer prevention and survival through nutrition education and research, you may donate online. If you prefer, you can mail or phone in your contribution to: The Cancer Project 5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W, Ste. 400 Washington, DC 20016-4131 Phone: 202-244-5038

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