REMEMBER THE ‘MCDONALD’S HOT COFFEE’ LAWSUIT?
Back in 1992, an elderly woman named Stella Liebeck sued McDonald’s in what became known as the infamous “hot coffee lawsuit.” The public relations team at McDonald’s has made sure the case is remembered as frivolous, but, like the third-degree burns Stella Liebeck suffered from a cup of McDonald’s coffee, her lawsuit was dead serious. The facts were simple: Mrs. Liebeck used the drive-thru with her grandson, who was at the wheel. Once the car stopped moving, she placed the cup of coffee she’d just ordered between her legs and tried to add some creamer. The cup tipped over, dumping the contents into her lap, causing third-degree burns over 16% of her body. She required hospitalization for eight days. Whirlpool debridement of the burns and skin grafts followed. She was at least partially disabled for more than two years, and that’s to say nothing of her pain and suffering.
For all of this damage, Mrs. Liebeck asked McDonald’s for $20,000 — arguably not even enough to pay her hospital bills.
had no intention of changing their behavior. Unsurprisingly, at the end of the trial, McDonald’s was hit with a $2.9 million penalty.
When McDonald’s refused to pay more than $800, the case went to court, and it came out that they’d known for at least 10 years about the dangers their hot coffee represented, with over 700 recorded burns and several lawsuits. But in 1992, their policy was to store coffee at 180–190 degrees F, which is almost the boiling point! Furthermore, McDonald’s higher-ups testified on the stand that no matter what happened, they
Although the penalty was later reduced, McDonald’s still dragged Mrs. Liebeck’s name through the mud in the press, with their version of the story being the one that stuck in the public consciousness. But it wouldn’t change the fact that they had to pay her around $700,000 at the end of the day — or that their coffee is now being served at a reasonable temperature YOUR FAMILY WILL THANK YOU! 5 Tricks to Make Packed Lunch Tastier and Easier soggy or wilted?” The easy answer is to prepare crunchy salads! From broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and celery to radishes and even daikon, there are plenty of ways to prepare a salad that will never wilt and you can make days in advance. NO. 4: THE RICE BOWL You might be used to packing rice and proteins in your lunches, but have you ever considered changing your rice to a nutty red quinoa, or adding kimchi and other easy Korean side dishes to make a to-go bibimbap? There are many ways to make a rice bowl exciting and different every week! NO. 5: PANCAKE/WAFFLE SANDWICHES Have extra pancake or waffle batter? You won’t have to worry about running out of bread for sandwiches — just use your pancakes or waffles! They make great ham, egg, and cheese sandwiches that are filling and delicious any time of the day.
Whether you’re looking forward to back-to-school season, third quarter, or trying to eat a little healthier before the holiday season, you probably want to figure out how to make your packed lunches more exciting. Here are five great ideas to do just that! NO. 1: EDIBLE STRAWS Edible straws are sweeping the nation in smoothie chains and theme parks like SeaWorld, but you don’t have to travel or spend $6 on a smoothie when you can make delicious smoothies at home — edible straw included. Your kids will love these mildly sweet, crunchy edible straws, too, which go wonderfully with any iced tea, lemonade, or smoothie! NO. 2: PASTA SALAD There’s nothing easier to make in bulk than a pasta salad, and your children will love it. You can make it as simple or as complex as you’d like! Try using fun shapes, like bow-tie pasta, and couple them with plenty of your favorite mix-ins, from chopped crunchy broccoli to fried onions. NO. 3: CRUNCHY SALADS Speaking of broccoli, you might be wondering, “How can I possibly include more packed salads in my lunches without them getting
We hope these ideas will help make your family’s mornings a lot easier and faster!
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