Judge dismisses fast-food lawsuit

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- A lawsuit on behalf of eight overweight children against fast-food giant McDonald's Corp. was dismissed Thursday by a New York federal judge.

The Washington Times reports U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet rejected the case, saying, "Plaintiffs have not made any attempt to isolate the particular effect of McDonald's foods on their obesity and other injuries."

The New York teenagers alleged that McDonald's hid the fat and cholesterol content of its Big Macs, Chicken McNuggets and other items in 1987 U.S. advertisements and brochures distributed in Britain.

But McDonald's said there was no evidence the plaintiffs, one of whom was born in 1988, saw the ads, which the company defended as being accurate.

"We trusted that common sense would prevail in this case, and it did. Today's dismissal is further recognition that the courtroom is not the appropriate forum to address this important issue," the company said in statement.