McDonald's sued for marketing Happy Meals to children

[James885]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 4:29pm

How stupid! This should get thrown right out of court. How about putting on your parent suit and telling your child "NO". If you think Happy Meals are so bad for your children then don't buy them!



More from the LA Times.....

Updated On: 12/15/10 at 04:29 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 4:47pm

"I don't think it's OK to entice children with Happy Meals with the promise of a toy," Parham said, adding that she tries to hold her daughters, 6 and 2, to monthly visits to the fast-food chain. But she said their requests increased this summer, thanks to the popularity of "Shrek Forever After." Collecting all of the toys offered in conjunction with the movie would require weekly visits, she said.

"Needless to say, my answer was no," Parham said. "And as usual, pouting ensued and a little bit of a disagreement between us. This doesn't stop with one request. It's truly a litany of requests."

WTF? So it's McDonald's fault kids are behaving like...kids? What's next? Banning Toys R Us commercials? By the way stupid lady, McDonald's offers healthier alternatives in the Happy Meals. Sounds like you just don't want to have to deal with parenting your own child.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 5:00pm

The real tragedy in this is she didn't raise her kids to want cooler Happy Meal toys than the ones for Shrek Forever After.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 5:03pm

You're missing the point, Namo. McDonald's MADE the kids want those toys. The children are unable to desire anything else.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 5:17pm

I know a number of adults who get happy meals for the toys. At my old job, people had them all over their cubicles.

[James885]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 5:21pm

Yeah, I've been known to order a happy meal for myself once or twice. They're great for when you're not really all that hungry but just want a little bite to eat.

But yeah, kids wanting toys! What is the world coming to?!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 5:38pm

She said no. The kids whined. So she sues McDonald's? She should friggin emancipate the kids.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 5:46pm

There are a lot things that can be discussed here, like whether or not marketing to children is ever apporpriate and the astronomical rates of childhood obesity in this country, but it's hard to feel sympathy for someone who feels like the next logical step from being unable to shut her kids up is to sue McDonald's.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 5:49pm

The kids would not want to go unless their parents had not taken them as small children.

McDonalds is not the only business that advertises toys. By that standard, maybe Toys R Us should be sued for the same reason.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:02pm

Childhood obesity.

In an average month, a child eats 90 meals.
In an average month, an average child visits McDonald's once.

That means they are eating the other 89 elsewhere: at home, in school and in other restaurants.

Making healthy choices, and leading a balanced, active lifestyle is what is needed. Parents need to take the lead in teaching and making those healthy choices for them.

Parents need to take personal responsibility.

But, we all know that's never going to happen when you can sue instead.

(Strongly agree with ALL who have posted!)

Updated On: 12/15/10 at 06:02 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:05pm

^^^^

Amd I love that post.

AND that we are sort of all here and responding like we did before Facebook!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:05pm

All advertising is an attempt to create desire. Children are hardwired to whine until they get what they want.

Why isn't the woman suing the manufacturer of her television? Why does she HAVE a television? Why doesn't she sue Shrek? Mike Meyers?

I'm having a hard time following the logic.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:08pm

Logic?

That's your problem, Namo... there is no logic.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:12pm

My father once said to me: "Matt, you are a logical person living in an illogical world." I have no idea what we were talking about (I was only about 17 at the time), but I have never forgotten it.

I now pass it on to Namo.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:15pm

Truthfully, this Mom is a puppet for the CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest).

CSPI’s self-anointed “experts” also encourage “a whole lot of lawsuits” against fast-food restaurants (the group says it is “looking at tobacco as a model”), mostly because they see legal action as leverage to enact all the restrictions on food they have long supported.

They are ALL about the lawsuit as a way to achieve the end of 'bad food'

The Center for Science in the Public Interest has an entire program dedicated to what it calls “Integrity in Science” (in reality, a platform for bashing science it doesn’t like). But CSPI itself regularly perverts science for the sake of a scary press release. The group practices a kind of cooked-to-order “science” that twists evidence to support its radical agenda.


This is the group behind the lawsuit. They've been itching to take down 'fast food' restaurants for a long time.




CSPI

Updated On: 12/15/10 at 06:15 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:20pm

I have to hang my head in shame. While I was gone, my partner rented one of my apartments to the president of the PTC.

I was a little upset when I found out.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:21pm

You know anything called "The Center for Science in the Public Interest" is a is a bucket o' crazy with a side of crack. It's right up there with "Scientology" and "Christian Science Reading Rooms".

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:22pm

The woman who brought the suit is an activist who works for the California Department of Public Health and goes around making speeches on the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Why is she taking her kids to McDonalds in the first place.

I smell a rat...and it ain't the dead one under the McFlurry machine.
More than just unskilled mother

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:32pm

Why is she taking her kids to McDonalds in the first place.

Oh, but she's not! She's suing because her kids keep asking to be taken to McDonald's. It's not enough to say "no". You have to sue the entity that creates the desire. That is WAY more believable than an activist with a hidden agenda, right?

Sometimes I truly wish I were a judge.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:33pm

You're all shocked that liberals are crazy? Welcome to the light.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:44pm

With the contortions Goth does to pull this stuff out of his ass, he really should be in Cirque du Soleil.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 6:48pm

Goth,

Since you are against DADT, you can go rot in hell.

In the Tea-Bag Ward.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 7:09pm

Gothx News: Liberals plot to remove toys from family households and shut down free enterprise starting with the breakdown of the American family and the closure of all popular fast food chains. Terrorists may be involved and freedom could be compromised. More on this dangerous new socialist agenda at 10.

Updated On: 12/15/10 at 07:09 PM

[StockardFan]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 7:23pm

I'm gonna sue the makers of Bakugan and Bey Blades. I'm sick of my kid bugging me for them. *rolls eyes*

[Usnavi]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 7:41pm

"With the contortions Goth does to pull this stuff out of his ass, he really should be in Cirque du Soleil.

^ LMAO!!!