Posted on 06/26/2010 4:42:39 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi
This week, a consumer interest group announced its intention to bring the very important social issue of childhood obesity to court. The Center for Science in the Public Interest announced it will sue McDonald's for the chain's promotion of Happy Meals. CSPI says the toys that come with the meals encourage children and parents to make unhealthy choices.
"McDonald's is the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children," CSPI litigation director Stephen Gardner said on the organization's web site. "McDonalds use of toys undercuts parental authority and exploits young childrens developmental immaturityall this to induce children to prefer foods that may harm their health. Its a creepy and predatory practice that warrants an injunction.
Yikes.
Ignoring the hyperbole and emotional manipulation, Mr. Gardner and his organization miss several points:
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.forbes.com ...
A lot of bombastic assertions in the CSPI rant, which is presumed to reflect the content of their “suit”.
Courts like to see evidence, too. Facinating to learn how CSPI got their data on undercutting parental authority, and that it was the TOYS in the Happy Meals that got children to want more.
Yes, children, it does not matter what you WANT. You will get what I think you NEED. Sounds pretty Obama-ish to me.
Just another leftist shakedown.
“The food Nazis are as dangerous as the smoking police, feminazis, and anti-alcohol groups (like MADD).”
Taken at face value, the food Nazi argument against Happy Meals reduces to sheeple are helpless dolts captive to big corporation advertising and incapable of making informed choices. If this truly is the condition of adults in America, then it also argues strongly against their being trusted with the power to vote. But that effectively is the hidden message of these progressive nags: :”We experts know best, so shut your yap and obey.” Fascism at its finest.
Sounds like one of the arguments "conservatives" give in promotion of the Federal "War" on Drugs.
Democraps. Of the lawyers, by the lawyers, for the lawyers.
Why aren’t they suing Obama for promoting hamburgers by his publically taking a petty tyrant to Hell Burger?
Every child will get exactly the same sustainable protein sandwich and tofu fries, and instead of toys will get a dollar taken from their own grandchildren.
With fairness and equality in lunches for all, no child will ever have to cry again because someone else got cheese or a better toy.
After watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, it seems public schools serve the same meal but without the toy.
The new Happy Meal.
Are parents incapable of saying no?
Do parents not talk to their children about food and health?
I guess they just think we are all stupid and can’t control ourselves when subjected to corporate advertising.
Seriously - is there anyone out there that doesn’t understand why kids are fat?
We found a simple way of not dealing with "Happy Meal" syndrome. We just didn't bother going to McDonalds or any other place that served crappy food.
>>Seriously - is there anyone out there that doesnt understand why kids are fat?
The media has convinced parents that there is a predator lurking behind every bush, so the kids stay locked inside. The kids are on summer vacation now and the neighborhood streets and playgrounds are empty. When I was a kid in the 70’s, summer vacation meant that suburban streets would be crawling with kids. Now they’re all inside all day playing video games, watching TV, and texting their friends. The Happy Meal isn’t even a small part of the problem because we had burgers and fries (and sugared Kool-Aid, Cokes, pixie straws, sugar cigarettes, etc) in the 70’s too.
McDonalds & it’s Happy Meals serve a very important service and it’s not providing food & toys to kids.
McDonalds is the training ground for appropriate behavior in a restaurant. Kids need training in all types of skills, and McDonalds provides a forgiving place for learning how to behave in public.
Had four boys, used McDonalds as training ground for all of them. It can also be used as an affordable occasionally reward for other appropriate behaviors that parents want to instill. It should never be used to actually provide food to kids.
Lastly, it serves as a good place for first jobs & encourages learning skills so one doesn’t have to spend one’s life working there. My oldest did a 6 month stint there. Made him decide that maybe college would be a good choice.
(One of my best friends is a hospital administrator. He worked at McDs through High School & College even winning a Sliver Spatula award. He has the award on the wall of his office. He says it reminds him of where he’s been & how he never wants to go back there)
First they demonize, then they tax, then they seize control.
Have they even considered McDonalds introduction of healthy Happy Meals? They get apple slices and caramel dipping sauce, carrot sticks etc in them now served with milk or juice instead of soft drinks.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED. Over the past decade or so, McDonald's has changed, dramatically, its business operations to address the burgeoning consumer interest in sustainability and wellness.
WTF does "sustainablility" even mean in relation to chowing down on good cheap food?
Isn't it funny how the left's logic on abortion, gay marriage, etc., that is, "If you do not like _________, just don't do it," never seems to apply to anything other than their own issues?
Oh wow... I never thought of McDonalds in that way. I’ll keep it in mind for my children.
Please do not bring facts into this discussion.....we're talking about liberal thinking here!
Because McDonald's eliminated the foam packaging materials and reduced the rest.
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