McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast food chain is being sued because of its happy meals. Monet Parham is suing, McDonald’s as she believes the fast food chain is brainwashing her kids into wanting to eat their food, because of the toys that are offered in the companies happy meals. She has joined up with CSPI, which is the Center for Science in the Public interest, who in turn want to turn this into a class action lawsuit.
Sleazy Marketing
The mother of 2 is claiming that she is tired of having to tell her children no, that they cannot eat at the fast food chain. She believes that McDonalds are actually getting into her children’s minds. Parham said, “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”.
CSPI went on to say that what McDonalds is doing, is illegal. A representative for the group said that McDonalds marketing of dangling a toy, in front of a child’s nose is sleazy, because it makes a child, pester their parents all the time.
Long Live the Happy Meal
McDonalds released a statement saying that they are proud of their happy meal program and they will fight this all the way. A spokesperson for the chain said “We are proud of our 30 year tradition of providing a fun experience for families and children”
My Two Cents
I personally cannot believe that someone is actually going to sue McDonalds over the happy meal. At the end of the day, it is the parents responsibility to make sure their children understand the word no, and it is the parents, responsibility to enforce that on their children. It seems to me that the parents want to pass the buck and make money from a company, because they do not want to tell their children no.
The amount of crazy lawsuits like this, in this country boggles my mind. What’s next? Are we going to sue every grocery store because they have a toy section? According to CSPI dangling toys in front of children is sleazy and illegal, so that puts every food selling store, that also has toys, on the wrong side of the law in their eyes.
The madness has to stop, and parents need to take responsibility, it is not like the parents have to let their children eat bad food, everyone has a choice. McDonalds is nowhere near as bad as some other chains out there, at least there are some healthy options like apple dippers and low fat milk to go along with that toy. There is nothing wrong with letting children eat fast food in moderation. I say long live the happy meal, and shame on money hungry parents, not wanting to take responsibility.
Sources: cnn.com
