Happy Meal Lawsuit

[FlightlessDuck]

Before you declare that this sort of legislation has no chance in court, consider the fate of Joe Camel. I am a huge proponent of personal responsibility, but advertising directed at children can lead to some very unfortunate circumstances.

Who are these children who liked Joe Camel and identified with him? it's not like he's Captain Crunch or Tony the Tiger or something. As a child, I always thought a cartoon camel that smoked was rather dumb.

 

[luvmy3]

I just read this article about a mother of two from California who is suing McDonald's for directly targeting her children with toys in order to get them to eat an unhealthy meal. While I ABSOLUTELY agree that McDonald's uses toys to get kids to want a happy meal, you always have the option to say 'No' and not get them for your child. I am not against giving a child a toy with their meal.. it's a great idea. When I get my kids a Happy Meal (NOT often) the toys keep them busy after they've eaten.. I just think fast food restaurants should only include toys with kids meals that are good for them. I would gladly pay more money for a quick kids meal that was nutritious. How hard can it be to come up with something? Seriously? My kids eat healthy all the time at home. It can't be that difficult to come up with something that tastes good AND is healthy for kids.

If this lawsuit actually goes somewhere I hope it will push companies like McDonald's to change their kids menus, not pull the toys and serve the same crap.

Article

I'm a little late to the part so I'm sure this has been said repeatedly but they shouldn't have to do either, parents should just not take their kid to McD if they want a healthy option, eat at home or somewhere else.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Those beanie babies were pretty snazzy. And many folks just threw out the food to collect those blessed stuffed critters.

Actually, when I was little, I liked the Hot Wheels ones. I think the ones they give out now are low quality.

Personally, I always preferred the glasses you could buy from McDonald's. I had the whole set for Return of the Jedi and The Muppet Movie.

 

[Disneywedding2010]

i disagree with the principal behind the lawsuit. 100%.

Mcdonald's doesn't make people unhealthy. People make people unhealthy.

amen!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Who are these children who liked Joe Camel and identified with him? it's not like he's Captain Crunch or Tony the Tiger or something. As a child, I always thought a cartoon camel that smoked was rather dumb.

There was some study done that showed that Joe Camel was more recognized that more common children's characters like Mickey Mouse or Fred Flinstone (who evidently smokes in earlier episodes, didn't he?).

I cannot provide a link to such study at the moment. Wikipedia lists it about 1991. Which coincides with my youth.

But I knew who he was growing up even though my mom smoked Winston Lights, gold pack and never ever menthol.

Lots of my school friends thought he was "cool" and many subsequently tried smoking.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I don't understand what people have against Happy Meals, especially now that you can get apple slices instead of fries. Chicken nuggets, apple slices, and water or diet soda is less than 400 calories. It's not that bad, really.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Actually, when I was little, I liked the Hot Wheels ones. I think the ones they give out now are low quality.

Personally, I always preferred the glasses you could buy from McDonald's. I had the whole set for Return of the Jedi and The Muppet Movie.

Toys were much nicer when I was younger. My glass set of choice was from the smurfs and when given the option, I picked the Gargamel (sp?) glass. All the little blue people I made my parents suffer through and I picked Gargamel.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't understand what people have against Happy Meals, especially now that you can get apple slices instead of fries. Chicken nuggets, apple slices, and water or diet soda is less than 400 calories. It's not that bad, really.

But exceeds the politically correct allowable amount of fat. Therefore it is evil incarnate!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Just had a fabulous thought.

I am not a lawyer, but since she is blaming McDonald's for what they do, wouldn't her kitchen be up to legal scrutiny.

What she feeds her kids regularly???

If they find a pop tart in her pantry or ice cream in the freezer, open an shut case for her to lose.

I just don't see how we can blame companies if we opt to expose our kids to crap at home.

And I'm not angel--we still have buckets of halloween candy, a gingerbread house for each kiddo, ice cream in the freezer, kielbasa....

Now, we moderate and balance everything--but I don't see how a case can have merit unless her pantry is as pure as the driven snow.

 

[Geoff_M]

The lawsuit and Happy Meal toy detractors miss one very critical point. The purpose of McDonald's rolling out Happy Meals with cheap toys wasn't to try and get kids to beg their parents to go eat at McDonald's instead of some sit-down restaurant with a healthier menu... it was to get them to get a hamburger at McDonald's instead of Burger King (or other fast food place). Kids aren't going to hit the salad bar if you take away the Happy Meal toys.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

The lawsuit is a bunch of baloney.

Even DS3 knows that McDonald's sells the toys separately. If the woman's kids just want the toys then she can buy those without purchasing a single food item from McDonald's. DS won't touch a hamburger or a chicken nugget from McD's - his menu items of choice are a small fry and plain apple dippers. He's also never had a soda in his 3 1/2 years of life other than a sip from DH's straw once in a blue moon. Should I sue McD's because my child can't get a Happy Meal without an entree or a beverage that he likes?

I think I should sue Chick Fil-A. They make those darn cows so cute and that slogan so catchy and there has to be something like crack in that lemonade! I think the "Eat Mor Chikin" message gets subliminally planted in my brain and makes me crave their food - especially on Saturdays when I know they will be closed the next day! Curse those cows!

 

[southern_redhead]

Why can't parents say no to their kids anymore? Do they think a little disappointment is going to scar them for life???

Um, yes, they DO think it will scar them for life. I can name 2 close friends who have absolutely no ability to deny their children things. Not always material things but even simple things like "No, I'm sorry, you are sick and you won't be going to little so and so's birthday party." They always say "Well, I didn't WANT to bring him/her but he/she WANTED to go." What?!

I am constantly telling my kids "no". As in "No, you are sick and can't go", "No, you aren't getting that now but may add it to your birthday/Christmas list", "No, you won't be be going because you cannot INVITE yourself to someone's house", etc... Hopefully, with enough therapy they can overcome their wretched mother's mistreatment of them.

 

[Becky2005]

Um, yes, they DO think it will scar them for life. I can name 2 close friends who have absolutely no ability to deny their children things. Not always material things but even simple things like "No, I'm sorry, you are sick and you won't be going to little so and so's birthday party." They always say "Well, I didn't WANT to bring him/her but he/she WANTED to go." What?!

Hmm...maybe this explains why my DD thinks I'm the strictest mom around (yet I think I'm pretty lax compared to what my parents were like! ) Maybe she ISN'T just pulling the complaining hormonal teenage card when she says her friends get to do whatever they want. YIKES!!

And guess what? She has grown out of wanting Happy Meals when we got to McDonald's since 90% of the time she doesn't even want the toy. My 13 year old also hardly gets the Big Kid meals either....just the 2 younger ones want Happy Meals when we do go now. Of course, it was all evil McDonald's plotting to entice us on the few times we go & you know they also sell those coupons you can buy for Halloween for I think it's what free fries, ice cream cones, small drink, etc... THOSE are certainly targeting kids and must be banned also.

 

[LilyWDW]

Heck, when I was a kid I thought "no" was my middle name...

Okay, not really... but my parents had no trouble telling me no for whatever reason. I turned out okay (or did I ). These days though it is almost like the kids rule over the adults. They are allowed to do anything they want, whenever they want, and the parents only say "yes dear".

Now, I know not all kids are like that (before parents here throw me to the wolves), but I have personally seen an increase in this. I have to wonder what will happen to these kids. How will they handle not getting a 100% on an exam? What will they do when they don't get the job they applied for? They will not realize (to a degree) that they can't have everything and anything they want.

We are already seeing them in the work force (the thread on here about mom calling to ask about a potential job opportunity for her daughter) and in colleges (the guy in my class who simply could not understand why he failed a group project he did nothing in).

It has come down to the idea that it is the fault of anyone but myself. There is little personal responsibility anymore and there is always an excuse. Instead it is the fault of McDonald's, or a video game, or music, or the mean teacher, ect.

 

[clh2]

so this whacko is blaming mcd's for her inability to say "no".

ita!

 

[FireDancer]

There was some study done that showed that Joe Camel was more recognized that more common children's characters like Mickey Mouse or Fred Flinstone (who evidently smokes in earlier episodes, didn't he?).

I don't remember if Fred Flintstone smoked in the episodes but I know for a fact that there were Winston commercials featuring him and Barney Rubble. Google "flintstones winston commercial" and they are right at the top of the page.

The only issue I had with the Joe Camel research was that while the character was recognizable that doesn't mean it will correlate to kids wanting to smoke. I grew up when Joe Camel was still used in advertising and knew exactly who he was and what he represented but have never smoked despite almost all of my friends in high school smoking. Just like with this McDonald's case I had the ability to say no.

 

[Becky2005]

I was just wondering is she also bringing a class action lawsuit against: Burger King
Wendy's
Colonial (I don't know if that is local but they have Kids Eat Free, have a clown that makes balloon animals, etc.. basically enticing the kids to come in for food & they are an ice cream place, I'm pretty sure the Kitchen Sink is NOT healthy in any regards whatsoever!)

For that matter Chuck E. Cheese is the WORST offender of "marketing to get the kids in"....I'm pretty sure the pizza is not the most nutritious food on the planet either.

I'm sure there are tons of others.

What is the difference between all these places using strageties to lure the kids in and McDonald's using a toy in their happy meal?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't remember if Fred Flintstone smoked in the episodes but I know for a fact that there were Winston commercials featuring him and Barney Rubble. Google "flintstones winston commercial" and they are right at the top of the page.

The only issue I had with the Joe Camel research was that while the character was recognizable that doesn't mean it will correlate to kids wanting to smoke. I grew up when Joe Camel was still used in advertising and knew exactly who he was and what he represented but have never smoked despite almost all of my friends in high school smoking. Just like with this McDonald's case I had the ability to say no.

Well, advertising impacts us all in some way. Something enticed children/minors to want to smoke.

In any case---there was a correlation. I dont know if is much mire than a coincidence.

That aside--these toys are not correlated with the obesity epidemic other than parents need to blame someone for little johny's French fry addiction.


A not so funny story....
I recall a Maury episode where a very hefty 11 month old would only eat fast food. And he just couldnt get through to them that it is impossible for an 11 month old to demand mcdonald's without the action of the parents. And that baby didn't care about a toy.

Chuck E cheese is an interesting restaurant that someone brought up. It is a junk food Mecca,'though they do have a lovely salad bar.

 

[cm8]

I just read this article about a mother of two from California who is suing McDonald's for directly targeting her children with toys in order to get them to eat an unhealthy meal. While I ABSOLUTELY agree that McDonald's uses toys to get kids to want a happy meal, you always have the option to say 'No' and not get them for your child. I am not against giving a child a toy with their meal.. it's a great idea. When I get my kids a Happy Meal (NOT often) the toys keep them busy after they've eaten.. I just think fast food restaurants should only include toys with kids meals that are good for them. I would gladly pay more money for a quick kids meal that was nutritious. How hard can it be to come up with something? Seriously? My kids eat healthy all the time at home. It can't be that difficult to come up with something that tastes good AND is healthy for kids.

If this lawsuit actually goes somewhere I hope it will push companies like McDonald's to change their kids menus, not pull the toys and serve the same crap.

Article

Now that is crazy. She needs to step up and parent her children. I guess she will be suing Disney for letting her children grow up to be unruly watchin HM and other little shows

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm sure there are tons of others.

What is the difference between all these places using strageties to lure the kids in and McDonald's using a toy in their happy meal?

Friendly's entices with ice cream and balloons
Many restaurants have kids eat free nights that often are accompanied with free and festive fun.

The other night a mom from gymnastics was taking her kids to Chik Fil A to decorate a free cookie and get a free kid's meal.


It just doesn't make any sense that this case should succeed.

Theoretically, trick or treating should be banned. Strangers shouldnt be allowed to distribute fattening and cavity causing candy.