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NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, October 31, 2002: A US court has approved a US$10 million settlement in a lawsuit by an Indian American against McDonald’s Corporation for misleading customers who don’t eat meat by using beef extracts in its fries. Punjab-born Harish Bharti, the lead counsel in the case Sharma vs McDonald’s, said he was elated with the victory for consumers. Bharti has filed several cases across the U.S. claiming McDonald’s used meat additives in its fries and hash browns long after making a 1990 pledge to cook them in vegetable oil. McDonald’s has admitted to using beef extract in fries. The court approved the amount, but not the list of organizations to whom the money was to be distributed, which Bharti disputed. “I won on both counts — I won on the settlement, and at the same time I did not want McDonald’s to give the money to its favorites,” Bharti said. The article cited documents stating the specific distribution as approved by the court was laid out by Bharti as follows. “The settlement amount shall consist of $10 million, to be placed in a fund for distribution to charitable and/or other tax-exempt organizations to be mutually agreed upon by the parties on or before the effective date.” It said the funds would be divided “to the extent practicable” as “60 percent to vegetarian organizations; 20 percent to Hindu and/or Sikh organizations; 10 percent to children’s nutrition and/or children’s hunger relief organizations; and 10 percent to organizations promoting the understanding of Jewish law, standards and practices with respect to Kosher foods and dietary practices, and the observance of such standards by persons of the Jewish religion.”

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