Recently a lawsuit was brought against McDonald's on behalf of eight obese children who claimed that dining at the fast food giant made them fat. Dr. Udo Erasmus, author of the book "Fats That Heal, Fats that Kill," says the lawsuit doesn't go far enough. "Why don't we sue all the parties responsible?" asks Dr. Erasmus.

"Suits should be brought against all hamburger chains and fast food outlets, including those that sell donuts, pasta, pizza, muffins, cookies and pastries," says Dr. Erasmus. "Sue sugar, white flour, and snack food manufacturers. These products are high in carbohydrates, which the body readily turns into fat.

"The government should be on the 'sue' list, too," he says, "for promoting the consumption of carbohydrates as the foundation of healthy eating and the base of the food pyramid."

Is one of North America's leading authorities on fats and oils being facetious? Perhaps. but - perhaps not.

"The upside of the McDonald's lawsuit is that nutrition and its relationship to heath is getting national attention," says Dr. Erasmus. "The downside is if this suit doesn't ultimately lead to a better understanding by food makers and consumers about what constitutes proper human nutrition, then the suit serves no purpose other than to enrich a few individuals. Our obesity epidemic stems from dietary habits evolved from recommendations made by government agencies and then implemented by the food processing industry."

But Dr. Erasmus says obese food consumers are not blameless.

"Consumers have a responsibility to educate themselves about food choices and their health consequences," he says.

"It's time for institutions and individuals alike to do some homework on the latest advances in the science of nutrition,"says Erasmus. "The McDonalds suit serves as a nutritional wake up call for all of us."

Questions for Dr. Erasmus

1. Will the lawsuit against McDonald's ultimately help people make better food choices?
2. Who else in the food industry should be sued for making people obese?
3. Why are low-fat diets making us fatter?
4. What's wrong with the government's food pyramid?
5. What is the difference between "good fats" and "bad fats"?
6. What foods can I eat to add "good fats" to my diet?
7. Is there an easy way to get all the good fats I need at one time?

About Dr. Udo Erasmus

Dr. Udo Erasmus, Ph.D. Nutrition, MA Psychology, is an internationally known authority on fats, oils, nutrients, and health. He is a consultant to the dietary supplement industry and the author of "Fats That Heal, Fats that Kill," a compilation of nearly 20 years of research on essential fatty acids. His book is regarded by many as the bible on the healing power of fats.

SOURCE Udo Erasmus
CONTACT: Sara Eisenman, +1-727-447-4992 ext. 205,
or sara@theprgroup.com, for Udo Erasmus