Should fast-food corporations be responsible for obesity and...?

Question

Should fast-food corporations be responsible for some one getting fat. There has been lawsuits against MCDonald's who parents of kids are sueing because MCD's got their kids fat. Your thoughts.

Answer 1

A total lack of any sense of personal responsibility is one of the major developing flaws with our country. If you eat too much blame the people that make the food. If you smoke too much blame the people who make the cigarettes. Granted sugary and fatty foods can have "addictive" qualities, and cigarettes are downright addictive, if you didn't eat them or smoke them (respectively) in the first place, you wouldn't have the problem.

Personal choices and a lack of self discipline are far more to blame the the people who make the products.

It is like blaming the ocean if you drown in it. Chances are the ocean is not out to get you.

If you fall off your bike and break your leg, will you sue the bike company (who built the bike) and the city (who built the road)?

I am all for corporate responsibility, but it needs to be tempered with personal responsibility.

Answer 2

I am doing a debate in a college class this week and the claim of our debate is "Parents who feed their kids fast food as the primary meal of the day for 2 or more days a week are committing child abuse and should be reported to Child Protective Services."
It is the parents responsibility for their child being obese. These mentally challenged people that are suing McDonalds for their child being fat are a disgrace to our society. It is obvious that certain things are not the healthiest alternative. Suing a tobacco company for killing someone is a stretch. If you try to get a company to stop advertising falsely is different from suing them for making your kid fat.

These parents need to be turned into the government for child abuse instead of trying to make money because they are lacking the mental capacity to realize McDonalds isn't meant to be eaten for every meal of every day.

The California, United States, Penal code specifically lists that this is a form of Child Abuse, Neglect.
"General neglect means the negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision where no physical injury to the child has occurred." - California Penal Code § 11165.2

Don't sue the Fast Food company! Just stop neglecting your kid!

Answer 3

If they are using false advertising yes. If they show the actual amount of carbs, sugars, fats, sodium, protein in their food, it would help parents to be aware of the danger of fast foods.
Fast food restaurants do no have to reveal the above, although grocery products do. Need to change the law.
Since MacDOnalds is so popular, I doubt they will reveal how much fat or carbohydrate content is in one of their hamburgers or french fries, much less their breakfast menu. Parents should be responsible for their children's eating habits and get more informed.

Answer 4

McDonalds never boasted that they were healthy....if a person thinks a triple quarterpounder with cheese a supersized fries and a gallon of coke is healthy then they deserve to get fat...if they take there kids there and expect them to get a balanced meal then they should be held responsible for child abuse...if we made stronger points on how parents take care of there kids and stop passing the blame onto companies such as mcdonalds we wouldn't have as many obese people. My daughter LOVES "donalds" she is 3...we do go there...and you know what she asks for..not a happy meal...not chicken nuggets...SHE LOVES the side salad....thats because we always have given her fruits and veggies and now thats what she likes..so c'mon parents....teach your kids and stop passing the blame!!!

Answer 5

I think they're partially responsible. But it's really up to scientists to figure out the effects of fast food, and then it's up to the courts to figure out if McDonald's showed negligence.

Dont' be surprised if it happens. McDonalds corporate has already been forced to pay a lump sum every year for their packaging and wrappers being littered all over streets in big cities. McDonalds isn't the one that's physically littering, it's the customers, but a court said McDonald's is responsibe for it.

Answer 6

No one should be responsible for obesity except for each individual person. I am so sick of people blaming someone else because they chose to overeat and not work out. We all know that most fast food is bad and fatty so it's not McDonald's fault. Also it is common sense that a Big Mac is not as good for you as a plain grilled chicken sandwich. I knew these things when i was a kid without someone telling me.

Answer 7

No way, nobody put a gun to their head to eat "junk" in the first place. Everyone has a mind of their own, they have no excuses. America is sue happy and for the stupidest reasons!!!

Also, parents should know better than to feed their kids this rubbish, most don't have a brain in their freakin head. It's time to step up and take responsibility for ones actions.

Answer 8

To sue McDonald's for your lack of control is absurd. That's a big problem in the world today... people not taking responsibility for their own actions.

Now if it turns out that McDonalds is putting toxins in their food or addictive substances then yes, sue their clownshoes off.

As far as I know, their food is not specifically harmful like say, cigarettes. McDonalds is only harmful if you eat too much of it. Then again, so is peanut butter.

Answer 9

I think they should be responsible for selling bad food, but not for people who get fat from eating it. After all, it's not as if they force anyone to go eat there. The power of advertising/marketing doesn't count.

Answer 10

I think that people are sue happy & will do anything for $1. I think parents don't ever take responsibility for what their kids do. Its a shame! They think it's easier to blame someone else. Did McDonalds buy the food for your kid? No. YOu did.