Burger King, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and the Taco Bell subsidiary of Yum! Brands are currently defending lawsuits alleging deceptive advertising.  The common theme among the various cases is that depictions of sandwiches on media and menu boards purport to show greater quantities of protein and condiments compared to the products served.  In Coleman et al v Burger King Corp in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, plaintiffs allege that portrayals of sandwiches show “ingredients overflowing the bun” creating the deception that the meat content is larger than in the delivered product.

U.S. District Judge Roy Altman rejected a motion by Burger King to dismiss the lawsuit, noting that it was up to jurors to decide what reasonable people might think with respect to advertising depictions.

Burger King will vigorously defend the claims that the company regards as spurious.

On a personal note, the difference between the menu board illustration of a chicken sandwich at a Atlanta Airport, Terminal B. McDonald’s was decidedly different from the bun and cold chicken patty that was delivered.  McDonald’s owes me some lettuce and a slice of tomato.  They can keep the pickle.