State Sues 16 Restaurant Chains
The state has sued companies that own 16 of the country’s best-known restaurant chains for allegedly failing to warn customers that some seafood they sell contains potentially harmful mercury.
In Superior Court suits filed Thursday in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer said that Morton’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Benihana and the other restaurants had not been abiding by Proposition 65, which requires businesses to post warnings when they expose people to carcinogens.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. April 12, 2003 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday April 12, 2003 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 52 words Type of Material: Correction
Restaurant warnings -- An article in Friday’s California section listed Hof’s Hut among the defendants in a state lawsuit accusing 16 restaurant chains of failing to warn customers that fish could contain carcinogens. The California attorney general’s office now says Hof’s Hut was erroneously included and will be dropped from the complaint.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday April 18, 2003 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 48 words Type of Material: Correction
Morton’s -- An article in the California section April 11 about the state suing restaurants for allegedly failing to alert customers that some seafood they sell contains potentially harmful mercury did not make clear that the Morton’s named in the suit is Morton’s of Chicago, a nationwide chain.
The suits said the restaurants serve fresh or frozen swordfish, tuna or shark, which contain enough mercury compounds to trigger the law’s provisions.
Other affected chains are Red Lobster and Olive Garden (Darden Restaurants); Chili’s, Macaroni Grill and Little Italy (Sue Brinker International); Outback and Roy’s (Outback); Chart House (Sue Landry’s Restaurants); Bennigan’s (Metromedia Restaurant Group); Cheesecake Factory; Hof’s Hut; Claim Jumper; and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro.
“We’re not trying to discourage people from eating fish,” said Lockyer spokesman Tom Dresslar. “But the fish listed in this lawsuit contain high levels of substances known to cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm.” The state is seeking an injunction requiring the restaurants to post warnings, as well as civil penalties of $2,500 per day for each violation.