14 DAY TRIAL // Many lawsuits against McDonald’s have been filed throughout the years but they don’t always come to a satisfying conclusion for the plaintiff. A former McDonald’s manager has just won a case on claims he got fat on the job.
The man worked for a McDonald’s establishment in Porto Allegre, Brazil for no less than 12 years, gaining over 65 pounds on the job.
In court documents cited by the Daily Mail, the man, who chose not to have his identity made public, alleged he only gained weight because he wanted to sample most of the items on the menu every day to ensure they met quality standards.
Besides that, the menu offered to McDonald’s employees for lunch every day was also very calorie-laden and healthy, thus contributing to his weight gain.
“The 32-year-old said he felt forced to sample the food each day to ensure quality standards remained high, because McDonald’s hired ‘mystery clients’ to randomly visit restaurants and report on the food, service and cleanliness,” the Mail writes of the lawsuit.
“The man also said the company offered free lunches to employees, adding to his caloric intake while on the job,” the same publication informs of the claims made in court.
Judge Joao Ghisleni Filho assigned to the case found that McDonald’s had contributed to the man’s weight gain throughout the years, rewarding him $17,500 for it.
However, McDonald’s is free to appeal the decision, which it probably will, word in the media has it. As of Thursday, the fast food chain was still weighing its legal options.
After all, McDonald’s said in a statement issued shortly after the Judge’s decision was announced, it also served healthy food, its menu wasn’t made entirely of calorie- and fat-laden offerings.
“The chain offers a large variety of options and balanced menus to cater to the daily dietary needs of its employees,” reads part of the statement from McDonald’s.