Thread: Don't Diss McDonald's Fries--Or Else

You may think that McDonald's fries taste like cardboard.

You may think its burgers are one step away from rubber.

But don't publish those thoughts. You could get sued.

That's what happened to Edoardo Raspelli, a leading food critic in Italy who wrote a scathing review of McDonald's for the Italian newspaper La Stampa. Now the American fast-food giant is suing him.


Raspelli says he won't back down.

"To me this looks like the usual, very American effort to destroy criticism and destroy people," Raspelli told Reuters. "I didn't defame anybody, not even their french fries."

Meanwhile, McDonald's claims the critic's comments were "clearly defamatory and offensive to McDonald's and to the more than 600,000 Italians who each day freely choose to eat in a McDonald's restaurant." The company has 300 restaurants in Italy and said in a statement it hoped the judge would find in its favor and "award fair damages." McDonald's did not say what figure that might be, but the BBC News Online suggested the company was seeking $25 million.

Meanwhile, Raspelli remains firm in his opinion. Earlier this week he told La Stampa that he found fast food "repellent." "I defamed hamburgers...but I have not insulted anyone," he said.

The judge assigned to the case has instructed both parties to try to settle their differences outside of court.

They probably won't do that over lunch.

This is the same company practice that a few years ago Sued the McDonald clan in Scotland to try and take the Name from them

Hmm, I enjoyed my Happy Meal tonight. What's that guy's problem?

I can't believe they are suing the guy for voicing his opinion! Whatever happened to freedom of speech?

Bleech! McDonald's french fries are icky! I used to like them as a kid, but now I just can't stomach them. Overkill, I guess.

Kind of reminds me of when Oprah was sued for saying something about not eating beef. It is a frivilous lawsuit IMO... People who like McDonalds aren't going to stop eating there because he said he didnt' like the burgers. Did he say anything that wasn't true about McDonalds or just that his opinion was that it didn't taste good?

Originally posted by rain_cries
Kind of reminds me of when Oprah was sued for saying something about not eating beef. It is a frivilous lawsuit IMO... People who like McDonalds aren't going to stop eating there because he said he didnt' like the burgers. Did he say anything that wasn't true about McDonalds or just that his opinion was that it didn't taste good?

My grandfather owns a huge cattle farm... and while most of the country does believe that law suit was frivilous, they'd also be shocked to know that the sale of beef went down like 25% in the 24 hours after making that comment and STAYED down for almost a year! So what might just seem frivilous to some may likely be the bread and butter for others ... no one holds a fire to stay at home moms on a mission apparently!

I do agree that what McDonalds is pulling here is just plain silly.

Well, I didn't stop eating beef just because Oprah said something about it.. I don't let others influence my decisions on what I like or don't like. I certainly feel badly that your grandfather lost money.

I also meant that the McDonalds lawsuit was frivilous. Only mentioned the beef thing because just because someone says they personally don't like something doesn't mean that people who like it are going to stop eating it. Who cares if Oprah doesn't like steak? I personally do and will only stop eating it if mad cow is found in the US. Could care less who likes or doesn't like it or what this or that critic has to say.