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American Morning

Minding Your Business: Kids Sue the Darndest Things

Aired November 21, 2002 - 09:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: McDonald's, who's suing who? We talked about this two months ago.
(CROSSTALK)

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, right. Well, this is the latest wrinkle on it. Before people had been suing McDonald's saying McDonald's made me fat, I didn't do it, McDonald's did it. But now, kids have joined in on the action. OK, here's what they're saying, they're saying the menu didn't disclose the health facts, false ads on nutrition, deliberately targeted kids, trial lawyers involved here.

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: Kids what age?

SERWER: Teenagers.

We've one kid here, Gregory Rimes (ph) of the Bronx. He's 5'6" and he weighs 400 pounds. He said that he's listen to what he says -- I normally order the Big Mac, fries, ice cream shake, but I like to Super Size mine. Now, I guess McDonald's twisting his arm here, Bill.

This is one of these things where Mcdonald's is going to fight this thing vigorously, as they say. And I don't know what a metaphor here is. It's like suing a movie company because you got scared of the scary movie.

HEMMER: Let me ask you, do you really think kids are behind it, or do you think it's the adults?

SERWER: No, I think it's the adults, and it's the lawyers getting a touch of the adults. And you know, I think it's a shame these kids are overweight, and I don't think McDonald's food is healthy. In fact, McDonald's itself said in France, you might remember a couple of weeks ago, that kids shouldn't eat there more than once a week, which caused another little controversy, but it's not addictive. Some would quibble with me there. And also, I don't think you can get them for false advertising. It';s not like they said, come and eat here every day and get really healthy. It's not the same thing with cigarettes or something like that, but in this country, you've got people who want to try to sue them for every penny.

HEMMER: There is a push right now with McDonald's and others to find some sort of fare that is healthier. SERWER: Yes, well, they always are, the veggie burgers, the salads, but people go there for the Big Macs and the fries -- and the shake, and the Super Size.

HEMMER: And the Super Size. That's why they go there. Have a good one.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 21, 2002 - 09:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: McDonald's, who's suing who? We talked about this two months ago.
(CROSSTALK)

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, right. Well, this is the latest wrinkle on it. Before people had been suing McDonald's saying McDonald's made me fat, I didn't do it, McDonald's did it. But now, kids have joined in on the action. OK, here's what they're saying, they're saying the menu didn't disclose the health facts, false ads on nutrition, deliberately targeted kids, trial lawyers involved here.

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: Kids what age?

SERWER: Teenagers.

We've one kid here, Gregory Rimes (ph) of the Bronx. He's 5'6" and he weighs 400 pounds. He said that he's listen to what he says -- I normally order the Big Mac, fries, ice cream shake, but I like to Super Size mine. Now, I guess McDonald's twisting his arm here, Bill.

This is one of these things where Mcdonald's is going to fight this thing vigorously, as they say. And I don't know what a metaphor here is. It's like suing a movie company because you got scared of the scary movie.

HEMMER: Let me ask you, do you really think kids are behind it, or do you think it's the adults?

SERWER: No, I think it's the adults, and it's the lawyers getting a touch of the adults. And you know, I think it's a shame these kids are overweight, and I don't think McDonald's food is healthy. In fact, McDonald's itself said in France, you might remember a couple of weeks ago, that kids shouldn't eat there more than once a week, which caused another little controversy, but it's not addictive. Some would quibble with me there. And also, I don't think you can get them for false advertising. It';s not like they said, come and eat here every day and get really healthy. It's not the same thing with cigarettes or something like that, but in this country, you've got people who want to try to sue them for every penny.

HEMMER: There is a push right now with McDonald's and others to find some sort of fare that is healthier. SERWER: Yes, well, they always are, the veggie burgers, the salads, but people go there for the Big Macs and the fries -- and the shake, and the Super Size.

HEMMER: And the Super Size. That's why they go there. Have a good one.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com