Spurlock dined at McDonald

1: During the filming, Spurlock dined at McDonald's restaurants threetimes per day, sampling every item on the chain's menu at least once.Also, if asked to Super Size his meal, he must.

Question 1: Does ''sampling'' mean tasting?

2: Spurlock points out that although the lawsuit against McDonald's failed (and subsequently many state legislatures have legislated against products liability actions against producers and distributors of "fast food"), much of the same criticism leveled against the tobacco companies applies to fast food franchises, although it could be argued that fast food is not physiologically addictive in the same sense as nicotine.

Question 2: Is there something missing in the above sentence? The bold part doesn't fit there, at least in my opinion.

3: A company spinner reported a significant rise in the software's usage inPakistan since the ban was imposed.

Question 3: What does ''spinner'' mean?

4: Traveling further on by stagecoach, he was beaten by a driver forrefusing to travel on the foot board to make room for a Europeanpassenger. He suffered other hardships on the journey as well,including being barred from many hotels.

Question 4: The bold part doesn't make sense to me. What does ''travel on the foot board'' mean?

5: When he was fifteen, his parents put him on board a ship for America to work there.

Question 5: Is something wrong with the above sentence? I believe there is some problem with the expression ''put him on board a ship''.

1.  sampling = trying; eating

2. 

Jackson6612

something missing

No, but this is one of those if-we-had-ham sentences.

If we had ham, we could have some ham and eggs if we had some eggs.   

... although the lawsuit ... failed, ... the same criticism ... applies to fast food franchises, although it could be argued that ...

3.  spinner - a representative of a company or of a politician (a 'principal') who reinterprets, explains, and comments on what the principal says in a way that makes the principal look good.  Also, spin doctor.  By coincidence, I just wrote something about spin in another post.  See Re: Simplicity is seldom a blessing. -- near the end.

4. travel on the footboard - travel standing outside the coach on a horizontal board usually used a way of stepping up into the coach when the coach is not moving. 

5.  

Jackson6612

I believe there is some problem with the expression ''put him on board a ship''.

I don't know what it could be.  It seems fine to me.

CJ