A vegan group is trying to force U.S. restaurant chains to warn California consumers about a cancer-causing chemical that forms in grilled meat, using a state law designed to protect consumers from toxins in drinking water.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which filed the lawsuit, promotes a vegan diet as part of a healthy lifestyle.

"(The law) is being abused in a way that could mislead consumers ... to change their cooking habits and cause greater health risks. Undercooked chicken is not healthy," said Jot Condie, the California Restaurant Association's president and chief executive.

If it seems consumers have nowhere to turn in choosing a healthy chicken entree, that's exactly the point, said Dan Kinburn, attorney for the Physicians Committee.

"Every day when a parent ... cooks chicken at home for their children they are trying to be health conscious," Kinburn said. "We think if people knew there were carcinogens in grilled chicken they would not choose it as a healthy alternative."

The law at the heart of the attack on grilled chicken was approved by voters as a 1986 ballot proposition that aimed to protect drinking water against cancer-causing chemicals that leach into ground water as a result of industrial activity.

The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 also requires businesses to notify consumers when a product contains a carcinogen on a list maintained by the state.

The chemical PhIP, which forms when meat -- and especially chicken -- is cooked at high temperatures, is on that list.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, would require the restaurants named as defendants to place "clear and reasonable warnings" about the carcinogen PhIP and would fine them $2,500 a day for each infraction.

The defendants are McDonald's Corp; Burger King; Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc, parent of TGI Fridays; IHOP Corp's Applebee's International; Chick-Fil-A; Brinker International, which owns Chili's Grill and Bar Restaurant and OSI Restaurant Partners LLC, owner of Outback Steakhouse restaurants.

A similar lawsuit, filed in 2006 by the same group, was dismissed on a technicality.

"The first lawsuit that was filed was dismissed and we are hopeful that this lawsuit will be dismissed as well," McDonald's spokeswoman Tara Handy said.

Representatives for the remaining companies either could not be reached for comment or referred calls to the California Restaurant Association.

"There is a major liability to the industry ... if they are faced with lawsuits from wacky groups like this they are going to opt to take (chicken) off the menu," Condie said.

That prospect has the Physicians Committee planning to expand its legal action across the country, Kinburn said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080118/hl_nm/grilledchicke...CZQmuo_0RqChdAis0NUE

http://www.physicianscam.com/articles/7things.htm
7 Things You Didn't Know About PCRM
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

PCRM is an animal rights group. Less than 4 percent of its members are actual physicians.

Nowhere does the PCRM mention how much PhlP might be in cooked chicken.

Since the FDA allows 14,200 parts per billion of Arsenic to be in 1 oz of chicken, it would be interesting to see just how much PhlP they are talking about!!

'The dose makes the poison'.

Elizabeth Whelan's ACSH filed a similar suit (or something of notice) on organic foods sold in California to show the absurdity of all this carcinogenic warnings crap.

Sadly....I posted this article on a local blog/board (toledotalks.com), and many there loved this and were 100% behind it.

Dave, you should have expected no less. We're living in the new nazi USSA now.


Don't like something?? Don't agree?? Don't agree to disagree, don't put up with it, get it legislated,regulated, taxed and banned, today!!

Do your part, comrade, to crush private property rights, to destroy the free market, to remove any desire of your fellow proletariats to educate themselves!!!!

Down with the bourgeoius!!! Join us in our glorious revolution, NOW!!!

And,all the sheeple can do is bleat.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 383rr,

Perhaps the Founding Fathers had the right idea: only property owners should be allowed to vote.

A majority of Americans do not own property. The majority gets to decide the "rights" of those of us who do. This will become worse in the next four years, as a huge number of property owners face foreclosure due to the coming depression.

That, I submit, is exactly according to plan.

Ever wonder what those masked protesters at economic summits are protesting about? Ever wonder why the press never tells you, or asks why the identities of most attending those summits are secret, too?

Never mind. Go back to sleep.

quote:

Originally posted by Robert A Cook:
Ever wonder what those masked protesters at economic summits are protesting about? Ever wonder why the press never tells you, or asks why the identities of most attending those summits are secret, too?

Never mind. Go back to sleep.

Before we put our PJs on, and since you brought it up, perhaps you'd like to give us some idea idea of what you're talking about.

Bilderbergers? WTO? What?

Bilderberg Group, Trilateral Commission, Bohemian Club, etc., yes. I'd love to elaborate, but I've already put on my PJs and it's time to make sure my Teddy has on his tinfoil hat.

No, btw, that's not me.

quote:

Originally posted by WinstonSmith:
No, btw, that's not me.

Which one isn't you, the guy or the cat?

The guy isn't me.

The cat? Yeah. That's me. Big pussy.

Get a gander at the look on my face. Don't I look thrilled?