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In Defense Of The Happy Meal
Forbes ^ | 25 June 2010 | James Epstein-Reeves

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. "McDonald’s use of toys undercuts parental authority and exploits young children’s developmental immaturity—all this to induce children to prefer foods that may harm their health. It’s 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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food; Government
KEYWORDS: cspi; food; mcdonalds; toys
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The food Nazis are as dangerous as the smoking police, feminazis, and anti-alcohol groups (like MADD).
1 posted on 06/26/2010 4:42:45 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi
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To: Erik Latranyi

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.


2 posted on 06/26/2010 4:47:25 AM PDT by plangent
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To: Erik Latranyi

Just another leftist shakedown.


3 posted on 06/26/2010 4:49:13 AM PDT by Nateman
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To: Erik Latranyi

“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.


4 posted on 06/26/2010 4:51:11 AM PDT by DrC
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To: DrC; bamahead; dcwusmc
”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.

5 posted on 06/26/2010 4:56:50 AM PDT by rabscuttle385 (Live Free or Die)
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To: Erik Latranyi

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?


6 posted on 06/26/2010 4:57:01 AM PDT by HospiceNurse
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To: Erik Latranyi
In place of the blatantly capitalist "Happy Meal" full of meat and toys, the administration plans to replace it with the "Youth Meal".

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.

7 posted on 06/26/2010 5:04:35 AM PDT by Sender (It's never too late to be who you could have been.)
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To: Erik Latranyi

After watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, it seems public schools serve the same meal but without the toy.


8 posted on 06/26/2010 5:07:37 AM PDT by neefer (Big city turn me loose and set me free.)
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To: Erik Latranyi
Food Nazis are ridic. Restaurants that work hard to produce
fast, cheap delicious food should be encouraged, not sued.

The new Happy Meal.

9 posted on 06/26/2010 5:12:03 AM PDT by Liz (If teens can procreate in a Volkswagen, why does a spotted owl need 2000 acres? JD Hayworth)
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To: Erik Latranyi

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?


10 posted on 06/26/2010 5:19:08 AM PDT by 30Moves
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To: Erik Latranyi
My daughter is 15 I bet she hasn't had over 20 Happy meals total.

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.

11 posted on 06/26/2010 5:25:52 AM PDT by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the next one...)
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To: 30Moves

>>Seriously - is there anyone out there that doesn’t 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.


12 posted on 06/26/2010 5:27:47 AM PDT by Bryanw92 (Obama is like a rocket scientist....who's trying to do brain surgery with a hammer.)
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To: 30Moves

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)


13 posted on 06/26/2010 5:39:28 AM PDT by KosmicKitty (WARNING: Hormonally crazed woman ahead!!)
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To: Erik Latranyi

First they demonize, then they tax, then they seize control.


14 posted on 06/26/2010 5:49:26 AM PDT by Leftism is Mentally Deranged (liberalism: severe deterioration of the thinking apparattus)
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To: Erik Latranyi

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.


15 posted on 06/26/2010 6:00:56 AM PDT by beckysueb (January 20, 2013. When Obama becomes just a skidmark on the panties of American history.)
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To: Erik Latranyi
The author seems to have come out of the ether on the subject of "fast food", but his liberalism is still showing with statements like this:

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?

16 posted on 06/26/2010 6:03:44 AM PDT by metesky (My retirement fund is holding steady @ $.05 a can.)
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To: Erik Latranyi
Reason number 9032184123798461327831287312 for tort reform.

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?

17 posted on 06/26/2010 6:06:37 AM PDT by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
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To: KosmicKitty

Oh wow... I never thought of McDonalds in that way. I’ll keep it in mind for my children.


18 posted on 06/26/2010 6:08:35 AM PDT by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
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To: beckysueb
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.

Please do not bring facts into this discussion.....we're talking about liberal thinking here!

19 posted on 06/26/2010 6:09:06 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
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To: metesky
WTF does "sustainablility" even mean in relation to chowing down on good cheap food?

Because McDonald's eliminated the foam packaging materials and reduced the rest.

20 posted on 06/26/2010 6:10:29 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
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