Chicken: The Next Mass Tort?
Two plaintiffs in Connecticut have sued Burger King, McDonalds and Friendly Ice Cream Corp. for failure to warn them that “well done grilled, or barbecued chicken contains chemicals known to cause cancer.” Plaintiffs, represented by the Cancer Project’s general counsel, allege that grilled chicken contains PhIP (2-Amino-1-methyl-6phenylimidazo [4,5-b]pyridine) a chemical that can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer even if consumed in very small amounts, according to a statement by the Cancer Project.
It is interesting to note that the plaintiffs seem not to have cancer. It is further interesting to note that the plaintiffs do not allege how much the risk of cancer is increased if consuming grilled chicken.
The crux of Plaintiffs’ alleged grief, as alleged in their complaint, is that if restaurants had truthfully informed consumers of the presence of a known carcinogen in their grilled chicken products, many consumers would have chosen to avoid the cancer risk by choosing healthier food options.
It seems that Plaintiffs should have to prove that they have actually been done some harm. If there is only an increased risk, that risk should be weighed against the risk of eating fried chicken, raw chicken, no chicken, a burger, or going hungry. Interestingly, the increased risk of cancer from grilled chicken may have to be juxtaposed against the risk of obesity from eating something fattier, though without PhIP. Click here.
