Posts Tagged ‘ McDonald’s Happy Meal ’

Happy Meal Lawsuit: Where Do I Sign Up?

December 29th, 2010. By janem

Hey Kids, contrary to what those clever folks at McDonald’s (the experts in deceptive marketing) have led you to believe, Happy Meals are not Happy Toys.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of a Sacramento Mom against McDonald’s, claiming the fast food giant engages in “the unfair, unlawful, deceptive and fraudulent practice of promoting and advertising McDonald’s Happy Meal products to very young California children, using the inducement of various toys.”

Of course Monet Parham (Mom and Plaintiff) knows that she can simply say “No” when her two kids demand a Happy Meal, and likely anticipated a backlash from media and parents suggesting she do just that. But like a gazillion working parents, she is sick and tired of having to say no over and over again. If not for McDonald’s “Neuromarketing” (yep, that’s what they call it, getting into your kid’s head) she probably wouldn’t mind them having a Happy Meal now and then.

But McDonald’s aggressive marketing tactics have got to be reigned in. Any corporation that has so much impact on a child’s health must also have a moral responsibility to ensure they are serving healthy food and not paving the way for toddlers to become obese before they turn into teenagers.

A lot of thought—which spells mega-profit—is behind the marketing of Happy Meal toys. According to the CSPI lawsuit, QSR (quick service restaurant) magazine quoted Roy Bergold, Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: consumer_fraud, Happy Meal, McDonald's, McDonald's Happy Meal, McDonald's Lawsuit
Posted in Consumer Fraud | 7 Comments »

Happy Meal Lawsuit: Forget Obesity, Parenting’s the Real Issue

December 16th, 2010. By AbiK

So here we go again. Someone who seemingly forgot that, by the way, she’s a parent, has decided to file a lawsuit in California—well, to be fair, she filed it with folks from over at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)—against McDonald’s. Why? Because they apparently target children when they market their Happy Meals to the public at large (ie, deceptive marketing). And, let’s face it, no one’s suggesting to throw a Happy Meal on the official Food Pyramid—it’s not the healthiest fare.

I paused as I read the news on this to reflect upon a phrase someone here (yes, my boss) tends to quote: “Where there’s loss, there’s liability.” I’ll tell you where the loss is—it’s in our collective minds. And don’t think I’m being harsh here or pro promoting a pathway to childhood obesity and potentially a whole host of related grown-up health issues. Here—this is a quote from Monet Parham—the woman who filed the lawsuit–from cnn.com today:

“We have to say no to our kids so many times and McDonald’s makes that so much harder to do. I object to the fact that McDonald’s is getting into my kids’ heads without my permission and actually changing what my kids want to eat.”

Am I the only one who reads that and goes, “huh?”

Think about it. Ms. Parham is saying that McDonald’s is making it hard to say “no” to her kids. I have visions of Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar and Fry Guys coming down upon the roof of the Parham’s abode, SWAT team style, and basically holding her and her family hostage until she says, “YES!! We’ll have the fries!” Surely there ought be local news footage of that scene somewhere on youtube—but you haven’t seen it yet, have you? That’s because it doesn’t exist.

See, in my household—I have 3 kids—I could drive down the street, passing a McDonald’s every 500 feet, and have zero problem saying “no” to my kids, no matter how much they might beg for a Happy Meal. Is it just me? (Btw, don’t miss my last post on this issue with Happy Meal Lawsuits, where I bring Larry Winget into the picture.)

And in terms of McDonald’s getting into my kids’ heads without my permission…Note to Ms. Parham—you gave permission when you allowed your kids to either turn on the tv or pick up a magazine or listen to the radio. Don’t want it to happen? Turn off the t.v.—or at the very least, engage your kids in a healthy discussion about healthy foods and “good” food choices.

This McDonald’s Happy Meal lawsuit gets better though. CNN quotes CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson as saying “They are going straight at little kids. The company is using unfair techniques to persuade the kids to persuade the parents to go to McDonald’s. Tobacco companies don’t go after 3 year-olds. Neither does Coca Cola or Pepsi.”

Coca-Cola or Pepsi? Ever heard of Hi-C?

As for claims that using a toy as a ploy to lure kids into the McDonald’s franchise, no kidding. But the kids have parents. Parents who should be taking responsibility—and parenting.

I wonder if Ms. Parham is eco-conscious? If so, do her kids want the new Hess Toy Truck and Jet? Would she buy Hess gas just because her kids want her to go see and get the truck? Talk about enticing marketing—have you seen that commercial? The Hess truck even has a Facebook page! My kids, who don’t even watch much t.v. know the Hess truck jingle by heart. Are they getting it? No.

How about those little plastic M&M guys—there’s a whole line of them, just for little kids to delight over. You know what happens when my kids see one in a store and want it? I say no. And we don’t buy the M&M’s either.

It’s a simple equation—marketers minus consumers equals…nothing. Those huge marketing budgets that McDonald’s can blow on Happy Meal toys only work because parents are laying out cash for them.

Believe me, I am no fan of fast food and the crap that comes in any of the kids’ meal bags or boxes. I also agree that this country has a serious problem with childhood obesity. But let’s not absolve ourselves as parents of the responsibility of parenting.

And let’s not clog our legal system with lawsuits that can be solved with a two-letter word: No.

There’s the bait. Who thinks they can argue otherwise?

Tags: Happy Meal Lawsuit, McDonald's, McDonald's Happy Meal, McDonald's Lawsuit
Posted in Emerging Issues | 10 Comments »

Sue McDonald’s? Sounds Frivolous to me

June 23rd, 2010. By AbiK

So The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is targeting McDonald’s and its ubiquitous Happy Meal toys. Seems if McDonald’s doesn’t stop dangling those toys in front of wide-eyed kids, the CSPI is set to sue the fast-food giant.

Now, I’m no fan of Happy Meals. Though, I will say, kid-sized menus across the board have slowly been responding to consumer demand for healthier options to be included in the movie-du-jour carry-out meal box. Options like low-fat milk, apple slices, carrot sticks… Still, let’s face it, a Happy Meal cannot compare to a wholesome meal.

But, as far as I’m concerned, this is another example of the “who’s responsible here?” question.

Here’s a typical example of how Happy Meal marketing plays out in my home—which includes three kid-meal aged kids:

Mom (aka me): Darn, I wanted to get that roast in the oven but now it’s too late!

Kids: Let’s go to McDonald’s!!!!!

Mom: No.

If you’ve noticed, there’s a two-letter word there that flew—effortlessly I might add—right out of my mouth. In case you missed it, it was “No.”

As in No, we’re not going to McDonald’s. No, we’re not getting any Happy Meals. No, I’m not letting any Happy Meal toys enter the house only to find themselves heading to a landfill within mere minutes of the meal’s consumption. If you haven’t yet noticed, Mommy doesn’t do Happy Meals. I do Happy. I do Meals. But the two don’t co-exist at the dinner table.

So the CSPI sent McDonald’s a letter stating that Mickey D’s is violating state consumer protection laws in four states and Washington, DC. According to cnn.com, the letter gives McDonald’s 30 days to agree to stop using toys in its Happy Meals.

The CSPI also seems to like extremes when it comes to the use of analogy—granted, it’s for effect, but still—here’s what their litigation director is quoted as having said in a prepared statement: “McDonald’s is the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children…It’s a creepy and predatory practice that warrants an injunction.”

If I take that literally, Ronald McDonald ought to be on a searchable sex offender Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: CSPI, McDonald's, McDonald's Happy Meal
Posted in Consumer Fraud, Emerging Issues | No Comments »