Source: The Associated Press
On May 20, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "a Cook County judge has named 24 groups to divide a $10 million settlement from McDonald's over beef-laced french fries, resolving a dispute over which organizations would share in the awards... The settlement was intended to make amends to customers who unwittingly ate the fries cooked in beef-flavored oil during the 1990s, when the burger chain had said it used only pure vegetable oil. Lawsuits filed in Illinois, California, New Jersey, Texas and Washington charged the restaurant chain with deceiving people who don't eat meat for personal or religious reasons... Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's offered 60% of the settlement to vegetarian groups, 20% to Hindu and Sikh groups, 10% to children's nutrition and hunger-relief efforts and 10% to promoting understanding of Kosher practices."