Group Threatens to Sue Over Happy Meals

Wednesday, 23 June 2010 | by Pat's Picks

Not every one is so happy about Happy Meals. The LA Times says the Center for Science in the Public Interest is threatening to sue McDonalds if they don’t remove toys from items aimed at children. Calling the chain “the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children,” they say kids are lured into making unhealthy eating choices when toys accompany their meals. The demand comes a month after one California county banned Happy Meals all together and just a few weeks after McDonalds was forced to recall Shrek merchandise because of a potential health risk.

USA Today focused on another bit of research from the CSPI. Although McDonald’s technically gives Happy Meal buyers a choice between fries and apple slices, the researchers found that front line employees usually assume a customer wants the fries.

Since I’ve been known to visit McDonald’s with my kids from time to time, I have two points to add on this story:

1)  Are we surprised that employees assume people want the fries? McDonald’s french fries are really tasty.

2)  Why do they insist on bundling the apple slices with caramel and calling it “Apple Dippers?” I always throw out the caramel and just give the kids the apples and they’re just fine with that.

Click here to download the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s demand letter

We reported earlier this week on a study that found cartoon characters influenced kids to gravitate towards unhealthy food, but not towards healthy options like carrots.