McDonald's warned: Drop the toys or get sued

[Today]

Source!

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A nutrition watchdog group is threatening to sue McDonald's if the fast-food giant won't stop using toys to to lure children to its Happy Meals .

The Center for Science in the Public Interest said Tuesday that it has served McDonald's notice of its intent to sue over what it says is unfair and deceptive marketing.


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"McDonald's is the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children," CSPI's litigation director, Stephen Gardner, said in a prepared statement. "It's a creepy and predatory practice that warrants an injunction."

In its notice letter, CSPI says that McDonald's toy-related promotions violate state consumer protection laws in four states and the District of Columbia. The letter gives McDonald's 30 days to agree to stop the practice before a suit is filed.

The nutrition group claims that using toys to entice children instills bad eating habits and puts kids at higher risk of risk of developing obesity, diabetes, or other diet-related diseases over the course of their lifetime.

McDonald's disagreed with the CSPI's criticism, saying that its U.S. advertising campaign is focused on low-calorie Happy Meals.

"We couldn't disagree more with the misrepresentation of our food and marketing practices," McDonald's spokesman William Whitman said in a prepared statement.

"McDonald's is committed to a responsible approach to our menu, and our Happy Meal offerings," he said. "We have added more choice and variety than ever before, a fact that has been widely reported and recognized."

CSPI director Michael Jacobson acknowledged that parents bear much of the responsibility for children's eating habit -- a criticism industry defenders often levy.

"But multi-billion-dollar corporations make parents' job nearly impossible by giving away toys and bombarding kids with slick advertising," he said.

In 2006, fast food companies spent more than $520 million on advertising and toys to market children's meals, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

 

[CRASHiC]

I have never seen a kids advertisement from them that focused on health.

 

[The Drifter]

So, these guys want to sue because McDonald's marketing is deceptive? Well, they'd better sue just about every other business on the planet, because EVERY business is guilty of misleading marketing.

 

[Today]

But no toys kind of saddens me.

 

[Luigitoilet]

This is ********. Mcdonald's isn't responsible for feeding or not feeding children their nasty unhealthy food. It's up to the parents, who can very well refuse to buy such food for their children.

 

[Fuelbi]

This is ********. Mcdonald's isn't responsible for feeding or not feeding children their nasty unhealthy food. It's up to the parents, who can very well refuse to buy such food for their children.

This

Parents can't find any other excuse to why their kid is getting fat besides the food company actually distributing the food, even though it's actually their fault.

Also, their commercials show little kids eating apple slices, and last time I checked apples were healthy

 

[Glöwworm]

all of the happy meal commercials i've seen always show kids eating apple slices and or chicken nuggets and then playing with the toys. I haven't seen a kid eat a burger once lol.

 

[Fuelbi]

all of the happy meal commercials i've seen always show kids eating apple slices and or chicken nuggets and then playing with the toys. I haven't seen a kid eat a burger once lol.

Exactly, and the chicken nuggets are way healthier than burgers, and I should know because the burgers give me the toots while the nuggets... well I get them anyways, but at a much MUCH smaller scale

God, I have to stop eating like a pig at fast food places

 

[Evil Eye]

The only difference between this and Jack Thompson's crusade on video games is that this at least concerns a legitimate thing (child obesity blah blah).

It, however, has the same key problem; placing the onus for parenting on corporations that provide goods and services instead of the parents.

 

[¯\_S.(ツ).L.I.D._/¯]

This is ********. Mcdonald's isn't responsible for feeding or not feeding children their nasty unhealthy food. It's up to the parents, who can very well refuse to buy such food for their children.

Exactly. If an annoying kid says "MOMMY I WANT A TOY FROM MCDONALDS CAN I HAVE A HAPPY MEAN" then the parents should simply say no. It's not very difficult.

 

[Mota]

These watchdogs always target McDonalds.

KFC, Hungry Jacks etc do the exact same thing.

 

[RATED]

this is what about to happen : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf2gyQY6Yb8

 

[Apollo$]

Not buying McDonalds for your kids is hard

 

[Kole]

Well, McDonalds certainly is my favorite giant corporation

 

[Deleted member]

McDonald was sued years ago due to the exact same issue. Supersized America might help explain that.

But I don't care much about McDonald anyway, as I prefer other fast-food resteraunts.

 

[Gamer4Fire]

I agree with the people in this thread. Suing McDonalds for what parents do to their children is stupid/crazy/the reason we must kill all lawyers!

 

[UberMario]

They can't blame the company, it's the parents that buy the food [and toys]. I really wouldn't see the use of McDonald's declining from the removal of Happy Meals, in fact it would probably promote parents to get their kids stuff on the menu that doesn't come with a toy (as of how it is now, not post-ban if it does come true) which would make them fatter because the Happy Meal section is easily the healthiest portion of the menu, only the coffee, wraps, and possibly the mcmuffin come even close.

 

[o-Serin-o]

Luigitoilet won already. <_< If the kid is being greasy and unhealthy, then it's the parents' job to step in and say "Go eat your veggies."

Exactly. If an annoying kid says "MOMMY I WANT A TOY FROM MCDONALDS CAN I HAVE A HAPPY MEAN" then the parents should simply say no. It's not very difficult.

A Happy Mean?

What a contradiction.

 

[REL38]

A Happy Meal wouldn't be happy without the toy

That defeats the entire purpose if it's gone
D:

 

[D1]

Wow wtf no toys?! Man the new generation are going to be deprived of so many cool memories cuz all people wanna do is sue over stupid crap. Nowadays there are so signs thanks to stupid ppl, so many things taken away, never to return again. Thanks to the idiots that are realizing they aren't making any bread, so lets take money from the big-time moneymakers in the world out there.

Smart moves guys.

 

[Mr.Freeman]

The toys still suck.

I hate 502 errors.

 

[Deleted member]

Why couldn't they [whoever is sueing McD's] just be smart and start distributing healthy stuff with toys.

And since when can you sue a company that knows how to advertise their products?

 

[Lurker guy]

Bad parents just need something to blame other than themselves

 

[freeman123]

This war on obesity is ridiculous. The reason we have so many obese people in the United States is because the standards for what's considered obese are really low. George Clooney is considered to be obese and Michael Jordan is considered overweight.

Also, kids can't drive to McDonald's a buy Happy Meals themselves. Most kids have to rely on adults for money/transportation. Why is it that parents can't decide what their children should or shouldn't have? Why is it anyone else's business?

Why couldn't they [whoever is sueing McD's] just be smart and start distributing healthy stuff with toys.

And since when can you sue a company that knows how to advertise their products?

This is a really good point. If it's true that kids just want McDonald's for the toys, what's stopping some place that sells healthy food from offering toys and taking business away from McDonald's? If that were to happen, McDonald's would have to start offering healthier food to compete with that place. That's how the free market works.

Of course, the reason they don't do that is because they know it wouldn't work. People like fast food because it's quick, it's cheap, and it tastes good. Not everyone is a health nut who worries about how many calories are in everything. I think the people who worry about fast food are similar to germaphobes, only they're afraid of calories. They're caloriphobes I guess. They're also fascists. They can't just avoid McDonald's themselves, they have to try to take it away from everyone else.

 

[Browny]

I have never seen a kids advertisement from them that focused on health.

Just last week I walked past a mcdonalds and I was pretty much disgusted at how they have caved in to pressure and how kids cant enjoy what we used to.

Happy meals (in Australia) are now all about health. The only avertisement you ever see for them is a chicken wrap, apple pieces and a fruit drink with no toy. In small text, the ad (and posters inside the store) states that you can swap the chicken wrap for a burger, applie pieces for fries, fruit drink for coke and that toys are available.

 

[pickle962]

This is ********. Mcdonald's isn't responsible for feeding or not feeding children their nasty unhealthy food. It's up to the parents, who can very well refuse to buy such food for their children.

I agree. It's the parent's fault for feeding their fat*** kids greasy food, not Mcdonald's.

 

[UberMario]

Why couldn't they [whoever is sueing McD's] just be smart and start distributing healthy stuff with toys.

And since when can you sue a company that knows how to advertise their products?

The stupidest thing is, McDonald's offers salads, apple slices, and milk for their happy meals, but none of the parents actually buy them that, they order the burgers, etc. So it's not McDonald's fault the parents make poor choices.

 

[BBQTV]

isn't the reason their getting sued because of this

violate state consumer protection laws in four states and the District of Columbia

their are breaking the law (though i dont know what this law is)

why are people saying stuff like it's the parents job blah blah blah

i dont get it, McDonalds is breaking the law

 

[freeman123]

I don't agree with the people who are saying it's the parents' fault. That implies that the parents are doing something wrong. There isn't anything wrong with buying your kids fast food. The caloriphobes need to get over themselves.

 

[Luigitoilet]

I don't agree with the people who are saying it's the parents' fault. That implies that the parents are doing something wrong. There isn't anything wrong with buying your kids fast food. The caloriphobes need to get over themselves.

But this doesn't give them the right to sue Mcdonald's over it.

isn't the reason their getting sued because of this

violate state consumer protection laws in four states and the District of Columbia

their are breaking the law (though i dont know what this law is)

why are people saying stuff like it's the parents job blah blah blah

i dont get it, McDonalds is breaking the law

Lol. "They're breaking a law I think. I don't know what law or anything about it but they're breaking the law!"

 

[BBQTV]

Lol. "They're breaking a law I think. I don't know what law or anything about it but they're breaking the law!"

I bet the people who are trying to sue mcdonalds are thinking the same thing

 

[Morningstar]

**** McDevil's

Parents are getting stuck in dead-end jobs so the TV raises them, and brainwashes them to think McDonald's is the greatest thing in the world because they don't know anything. The only thing that changes about the Happy Meal commercials is what toys to advertise. According to Supersize Me, McD's fries don't decompose for over 10 weeks because of all the preservatives. If that ****'s in your system, your metabolism is gonna slow down and you're gonna gain weight. If you eat them often, it's gonna happen. And all the growth hormones in the meat that make chicks grow breasts by 3rd grade. Their minds are being fed to the wolves disguised as sheep. "Blah blah blah don't blame McDonald's, this is just the way of the world". Yeah, well it's kind of hard to have a choice when it's so ****ing cheap and it's on every corner of the block. -exaggeration-

People should take kids to parks and have picnics instead of this shi. It's disgusting. "You are what you eat". You don't have to be a bunch of cattle in line for the slaughterhouse. I'm just saying everything is best in moderation.

My 2 pounds. Thanks for reading.

 

[UberMario]

I don't agree with the people who are saying it's the parents' fault. That implies that the parents are doing something wrong. There isn't anything wrong with buying your kids fast food. The caloriphobes need to get over themselves.

There isn't anything wrong with buying fastfood I agree, UNLESS the parents are giving fast food to their children so often that they're becoming obese when they could give their children something else, then it is the parents' fault.

I really don't understand why people think that they should be sued for giving out toys. >_>

 

[¯\_S.(ツ).L.I.D._/¯]

I don't agree with the people who are saying it's the parents' fault. That implies that the parents are doing something wrong. There isn't anything wrong with buying your kids fast food. The caloriphobes need to get over themselves.

So you think parents should allow there children to eat whatever they want, whenever they want? That's ridiculous, especially with obesity in youth age groups at such a high level.

 

[Ryu Shimazu]

I work at a fast food place, but I'm actually highly against it. (Money is money, eh?) It's terrible, and I eat some of it, but in rations. I see some people come here EVERY DAY though, and it's ridiculous. I know for a fact our meat is BLEACHED to be preserved.

 

[Fuelbi]

I work at a fast food place, but I'm actually highly against it. (Money is money, eh?) It's terrible, and I eat some of it, but in rations. I see some people come here EVERY DAY though, and it's ridiculous. I know for a fact our meat is BLEACHED to be preserved.

Ewwwww. This is why I'm seriously stopping at eating fast food

If I do it, it'll be once in a blue moon or something

But I'm not going to start eating calories like those filthy hippies

 

[freeman123]

Luigitoilet
But this doesn't give them the right to sue Mcdonald's over it.

Of course not. The people suing are idiots. It's important to remember that most of the parents who take their kids to McDonald's aren't suing over it. It's just a very vocal minority that's doing this.

When you say that it's the parents' fault, you've acknowledged that something wrong has taken place. If you agree that buying your kids fast food is wrong, you've given more power to the people who want to put strict government regulations on fast food. There are even people who want to ban fast food entirely.

UberMario
There isn't anything wrong with buying fastfood I agree, UNLESS the parents are giving fast food to their children so often that they're becoming obese when they could give their children something else, then it is the parents' fault.

My parents bought me McDonald's all the time growing up and I weigh 185 lbs. McDonald's isn't making anyone obese, it's just a scapegoat for people to blame their obesity on.

Vrael
So you think parents should allow there children to eat whatever they want, whenever they want?

Yes.

Vrael
That's ridiculous, especially with obesity in youth age groups at such a high level.

The reason there are so many obese children is because the standard for what's considered obese is ********. George Clooney is obese and Michael Jordan is overweight.

They're still going by the same scale they used back when most people were poor, and poor people barely ate enough to get by. The reason people were skinnier back then was because they were starving.

 

[Gamer4Fire]

isn't the reason their[sic] getting sued because of this[sic] violate state consumer protection laws in four states and the District of Columbia their[sic] are breaking the law (though i dont[sic] know what this law is) why are people saying stuff like it's the parents job blah blah blah i dont[sic] get it, McDonalds is breaking the law

Just because a law exists does not mean that it is a good, right or a just law. In Georgia, USA on Mondays, it is illegal for one to whistle very loud after 11:00 PM. (Ord. of 9-16-91, § 1 Sec. 3-5-24)

Just because something exists does not mean it should be venerated.

 

[Luigitoilet]

Just because you at like **** as a kid and happen to not be obese doesn't mean it's not a problem.

 

[freeman123]

Just because you at like **** as a kid and happen to not be obese doesn't mean it's not a problem.

I'm actually considered overweight even though I'm not fat. I weight 185 lbs., but I'm supposed to weigh 170 for my height, according to the outdated BMI scale used to determine obesity. If I weighed 209 lbs. I'd be considered obese. Most people probably don't think of a 200 lbs. person when they hear the word "obese." Politicians and activists throw that word around knowing most people don't know what it really means. It's to mislead people into thinking people are fatter than they actually are.

Most people are considered obese or overweight and don't even know it. You don't have to be fat to be obese or overweight. That's why there are so many obese people. It's not a problem. It's all BS.