Mum to sue McDonald’s over Happy Meals
A mum of two in America says the toys given out with Happy Meals lure children into eating unhealthy food
A mum of two in America has launched a lawsuit against fast food chain McDonald’s, claiming the toys that are given away with Happy Meals encourage children to eat unhealthy food, reports the Telegraph.
Mum Monet Parham is leading the lawsuit along with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which is trying to stop McDonald’s using toys in marketing aimed directly at small children.
Monet says her 6-year-old daughter, Maya, asks to go to McDonald’s to get toys that are included with the Happy Meals.
“I’m concerned about the health of my children and feel that McDonald’s should be a very limited part of their diet and their childhood experience,” said Monet.
“But as other busy, working mums and dads know, we have to say 'no' to our young children 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."
While McDonald’s says it will defend itself against the lawsuit, CSPI litigation director Steve Gardner is confident his side will win.
“Every time McDonald's markets a Happy Meal directly to a young child, it exploits a child's developmental vulnerability and violates several states' consumer protection laws,” he said.
Would you welcome a ban on Happy Meal toys in your household?
Authors
Create the perfect wishlist for your baby with MyCrib
Are you expecting and don't know where to start? Discover how MyCrib can help you build your dream wishlist. You can add products from any site with just one click and even use MyCrib's buying assistant to help get you started.