Question

Product liability laws cover the responsibility of manufacturers, sellers, and others for injuries caused by defective products. Under product liability laws, a toy manufacturer can be held liable if a child is harmed by a toy that’s been manufactured and used with a design flaw. The manufacturer can also be held liable for defects in marketing the toy, such as giving improper instructions on its use or failing to warn consumers about potential dangers. But what if the product isn’t a toy, but rather a fast-food kid’s meal? And what if the harm isn’t immediately obvious but emerges over time?

These questions are being debated in the legal and health professions (and the media). Some people believe that fast-food restaurants should be held responsible (at least in part) for childhood obesity. They argue that fast-food products—such as kids’ meals made up of high-calorie burgers, fried chicken fingers, French fries, and sugary soft drinks—are helping to make U.S. children overweight. They point out that while restaurant chains spend billions each year to advertise fast food to children, they don’t do nearly enough to warn parents of the dangers posed by such foods. On the other side of the debate are restaurant owners, who argue that they’re not the culprits. They say that their food can be a part of a child’s diet—if it’s eaten in moderation.

There’s no disputing that 15 percent of American children are obese and that fast-food consumption by children has increased by 500 percent since 1970. Most observers also accept the data furnished by the U.S. Surgeon General: that obesity in the United States claims some 300,000 lives a year and costs $117 billion in health care. The controversy centers on the following questions:

1. Who really is to blame for the increase in obesity among U.S. children?

2. Under current consumer-protection laws, is fast-food marketing aimed at children misleading?

3. Should fast-food restaurants be held legally liable for the health problems associated with their products?

What’s your opinion? If you owned a fast-food restaurant, what action (if any) would you take in response to the charges leveled by critics of your industry?

Answer 1

1.Blaming a single person will not serve the purpose. However parents have to blamed for bad eating habits of children.Children tend to eat what their parents eat, finds a new study that suggests a parental contribution to the growing obesity problem among young children and teenagers. If parents warn thrir children regarding harmful consequences of fast food then children can reduce or even stop the intake of fast food. Going deeper restaurant owners, manufacturers, advertisers and even government can be blamed.

2.Yes fast food advertising seems to be misleading. Just as the ad of smoking comes on media an instruction is written that smoking cigarrete can be injurious to health similarly some caution for fast food should be given. As per consumer protection laws manufacturers can warn children regarding potential dangers of fast food and can also advertise that fast food to be taken in limited quantity.

3.According to me no fast food restaurant cannot be legally held liable. Every individual rational enough to choose what is right or wrong for him. So, parents can choose right type of food for children. Restaurants also offer diet foods and other type of nutritious salads. People can choose those type of food to eat.

4. As a restaurant owner I would defend myself by saying that restaurant owners don't force prople or pick them from home to come and eat fast food. People come by themselves to eat fast food. Excess of everything is bad. So we can say that if excess of fast food is bad then excess of normal food or home cooked food is also bad. Also many restaurant owners sell diet foods, salads other type of nutritious foods. Such foods can also be made part of diet to remain healthy. To conclude I will say fast food if consumed in limited quantity along with other green vegetables and fruits will not harm the health.