CSPI is going to sue McDonalds

[Kara]

http://www.cspinet.org/new/201006221.html

The Center for Science in the Public Interest has announced their intention to sue McDonalds if they don't stop putting toys in kids meals to draw children's interest in their food.

According to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, using toys to lure small children into McDonald’s is unfair and deceptive marketing and is illegal under various state consumer protection laws. CSPI today served McDonald’s a notice of its intent to sue, fulfilling a legal requirement of several states in which CSPI might bring the lawsuit. “McDonald’s is the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children,” said CSPI litigation director Stephen Gardner. “McDonald’s use of toys undercuts parental authority and exploits young children’s developmental immaturity—all this to induce children to prefer foods that may harm their health. It’s a creepy and predatory practice that warrants an injunction.”

The entire article is really interesting and has made me stop and think. I don't know exactly how I feel about this: I have issues with the overall litigiousness of our society but I also agree with a lot of what they say in the article and in the letter of intent.


What do you guys think?

[RupertineRupert]

Interesting article--thanks for posting.

And I hear you on litigation. I go back and forth on suing companies that survive by providing unhealthy food. That said, I definitely didn't agree with the proposed legislation to prevent such lawsuits all together. I guess when it comes to offering unhealthy things to adults, groups should be able to sue--I just don't think they should win their suits.

However, when it comes to kids--it does seem that there should be limitations on what companies can do to market unhealthy things to children. In terms of legal grounds, I'm not sure that CSPI should win this suit--but honestly, it wouldn't bother me if they did. Preventing fast food chains from enticing kids with toys to eat calorie-dense, saturated-fat-dense, salt-and-sugar-dense crap does not seem like a bad thing.

[M_Marie]

personally i think its absolutely obsurd. Everyone wants someone to blame. No one forces a parent to go through the McDonalds drive through. As a kid NO AMOUNT of whining and begging or nagging from me got me what i wanted. Whatever happened to parenting? Tell your child NO and take them home and feed them a well balanced meal and a bedroom full of toys to play with.

i dont understand how hard that is? Blaming McDonald's happy meal TOYS for our obesity is mind boggling to me.

hell, mcdonalds and their happy meals have been around since 1979..... in PA the obesity rate in children is 34% are overweight and 28% are obese... this is at an all time high. This comes at a time when there are "smart choices" for the happy meal. Apples, low fat milk, and yogurt.... and we still are blaming the TOY?

How about the PARENT who allows their child to have happy meals 4-5 times a week and then sit in front of the playstation or computer all summer and weeknights?

sorry..... but lets take a look at the real issue. mcdonalds was around when i was a kid.... and i COLLECTED all those 101 dalmation toys... i had all of them ( 101) with exception of 4-5...... and that took ALOT of happy meals. However my little butt was outside PLAYING WITH FRIENDS, playing tag, riding my bike... being active... GASP.

stupid. thats what i think. its absolutely stupid.

[Cord the Seeker]

As a way of generating attention to the issue of child obesity and fast food, I think this is a great thing.

As an actual lawsuit it is stupid.

But I see it as more of a way of spotlighting the issue and raising awareness.

Sure, there is a place for parental responsibility and control, but that doesn't change the fact that McDonald's is deliberately trying to entice children to eat unhealthy food by offering toys. That ain't right.
And the advertising industry relaised from the outset that children are a great weak point to get sales. They are uncritical and easily swayed, for the most part.

I think that banning toys in fast food would not be a bad thing, really.

(I never got one of these meals growing up. The only kid's meal toy I ever got was a Buzz Lightyear from Burger King, and I was probably 28 at the time. I had to have that Buzz. But as a kid, my parents never bought me one, and I don't think I ever asked for one. Even then I realised that it was just a scam, and it was more cost-effective to buy stuff off the regular menu.)