McDonald’s sued over Happy Meal toys

Monet Parham, of Sacramento, California, a mother of two and The Center for Science in the Public Interest are suing McDonald’s Corporation to get the fast food chain to stop using toys to market meals to young children.

The toys encourage children to eat nutritionally unbalanced Happy Meals, which in turn promotes obesity, according to the center’s complaint.The consumer group said it is focusing on McDonald’s because it is the largest fast food company and spends more money marketing to children than its peers and could serve as a leader if it makes reforms. They say McDonald’s is violating several consumer protection laws by marketing its Happy Meals directly to young children because it exploits children’s vulnerability.

The complaint states”McDonald’s advertising of Happy Meals with toys is deceptive and unfair to children, unfair to parents, and in violation of California law”.In this case, the center claims McDonald’s is engaged in a “highly sophisticated scheme to use the bait of toys to exploit children’s developmental immaturity and subvert parental authority.”Parham’s lawyers, who filed the lawsuit in state court in San Francisco on Wednesday, have asked that it be certified as a class action.

The lawsuit doesn’t seek damages, it asks the court to bar McDonald’s from advertising any meals that feature toys to California children. San Francisco recently prohibited them in meals with more than 600 calories or more than 35 percent of their calories from fat,Santa Clara County has a similar ban.McDonald’s said it is proud of its Happy Meals and intends to vigorously defend its brand, reputation and food.”We stand on our 30 year track record of providing a fun experience for kids and families at McDonald’s,” the company said in a statement.