McDonald's Threatened With Lawsuit for Pairing Toys With Happy Meals

ABC News Website ^ | 6/22/10 | Lauren Cox/ABC News

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

A food industry watchdog group is threatening to take McDonald's to court over its practice of including toys with Happy Meals.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest announced Tuesday that it will file a lawsuit against McDonald's, calling the practice of marketing toys with junk food "illegal" under consumer protection laws in Massachusetts, Texas, the District of Columbia, New Jersey and California.

"Dangling a toy in front of a kid to try to get them into your restaurant is unfair and deceptive, because it's targeted at kids who are what? Four years old? Six years old? Who don't even understand the concept of advertising," Michael Jacobson, executive director of CSPI, said in an interview with ABC News' Yunji de Nies.

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

The idiocy (and the tyranny) never ends. This is where the war on childhood obesity is leading us.

[Hodar]

Why not then sue Cracker Jack, and practically every kids sweetened cereal that either includes a toy - or has an offer of collecting box-tops to get a toy.

Heaven forbid, we actually hold the child/parent responsible for what they eat.

[basil]

How many of those toddlers stroll off to McDonald’s to buy a happy meal with an adult in tow.

Just wondering—none of mine ever did.

[VRWCmember]

because it's targeted at kids who are what? Four years old? Six years old? Who don't even understand the concept of advertising," Michael Jacobson, executive director of CSPI, said in an interview with ABC News' Yunji de Nies.

if those 4 y/o and 6 y/o kids DID understand the concept of advertising they would probably spend their money so much more wisely. Maybe they would manage their parents' investments better too. We need to send these kids to the same school the E-Trade baby went to. Then it wouldn't matter what toys McDonalds puts in its happy meals.

[paul51]

frikin do gooders saving the world /s

[Flavius]

every human activity

[Ribeye]

I was going to sue Cracker Jacks, most kids breakfast cereals and the dentist’s that have $0.10 toys for kids after a visit. I should have gone for the deep pockets of McDonalds...

[IronJack]

The basis for this lawsuit would be ...?

[Vision]

People like this should be jailed for disrupting business and the legal system.

[guitarplayer1953]

re they going to stop all the cereal and toy commercials on Saturday morning during the cartoons too?

[Huck]

If the kids were paying for the meals they might have an argument, lol.

[basil]

Note to self—in order to make sense you have to put all of the words in your post...in this case, I should have said withOUT an adult in tow

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Joe Camel was arguably the greatest ad pitchman of all time. In fact, I would have loved for his character to develop into an adult animated TV series.

[steveab]

Four and six year old are forcing parents at gun point yelling “Happy Meal or else”.

[the invisib1e hand]

obesity is the next global warming. i've met enough public health and nutrition grads to know they're all being taught the same thing: evil corporations make children obese for profit.

[svcw]

These people need to back the hell off. It is none of their business if I take my grandkids to McDs every now and then.
I have an idea - get a life and leave us alone.

[freemike]

Libs need to be outlawed.

[Dr. Sivana]

Well, now I know why most banks don’t offer kids lollipops anymore.

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

There is a far worse epidemic than “childhood obesity.”

It’s called “grownup idiocy.”

[23 Everest]

Who the hell is the Center for Science of Public Interest and why should we even care ABC?

Bunch of loser lawyers looking for ways to get a quick buck on the backs of Americans. Next thing you know they will sue companies, (THAT EMPLOY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE) for illuminating their signs at next because the joint down the street doesn’t do it.

If it were so effective as a marketing tool, every business would do it. Lazy parents who can’t say, “NO” to their little brats. Screw em!