Groups In Food Fight
Over McDonalds’ Money

SEATTLE — It was supposed to be about vegetarianism. Turns out it was about money all along. More than 100 groups — and their lawyers — are fighting over a $12.5 million settlement that McDonalds’ Corporation was strong-armed into paying for using beef flavoring in its french fries.

A lawsuit filed last year accused the company of false advertising for touting the fact that its fries are cooked in 100 percent vegetable oil when the raw potatoes are seasoned with a beef extract. The vegetarian complainants contended that the advertising led them to unwittingly consume meat products against their beliefs.

The fast-food giant agreed to a $12.5 million settlement in May. Now it appears that some of the complainants’ strongest beliefs revolve around who should pocket the money.

The Seattle Times says those lining up for a slice of the fried pie range from "a Pennsylvania cow sanctuary to a yoga meditation center." Included are high-profile animal rights radicals such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, but other names are more obscure. One "likely" recipient, the Times says, is the North American Vegetarian Society, with a total of two employees.

All in all, about 2000 "objections" to the settlement have been filed with the court, and as many as 16 million individuals could end up competing for the $10 million net settlement. By far the biggest individual winners will be the five lawyers who divvy up the remaining $2.5 million. Their cut comes off the top because they wrote it that way.