Consumer Group To McDonald's: Drop The Happy Meal Toys, Or We'll Sue
source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/06/22/128004428/consumer-group-to-mcdonald-s-drop-the-t...
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Is a McDonald's Happy Meal still a Happy Meal if there's no toy inside?
If a consumer group with a history of going after food makers who advertise to kids has its way, we might find out.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest declared today it would sue McDonald's if it doesn't stop marketing its wares with toys to young children.
"Not only does the practice mobilize 'pester power,' but it also imprints on developing minds brand loyalty for McDonald's," the group's letter to McDonald's says.
And those aren't happy results for kids, CSPI says. "Because most of the company's options (for young children and others) are of poor nutritional quality, eating Happy Meals promotes eating habits that are virtually assured to undermine children's health," the letter says.
In other words, they're making our kids bug us to go there through toy tie-ins to the latest movies, and then they're hooking them on food that's high in fat, salt, sugar and calories.
The latest movie marketing gambit — tied to the movie Shrek Forever After — was tarnished by a recall of about 12 million glasses over potential health risks from cadmium. But McDonald's says the Shrek-themed Happy Meals aim to foster healthier eating, with choices that include fruit, vegetables and low-fat dairy products.
And there's growing evidence that characters used in marketing strongly affects childrens' food preferences.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/06/22/128004428/consumer-group-to-mcdonald-...
If a consumer group with a history of going after food makers who advertise to kids has its way, we might find out.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest declared today it would sue McDonald's if it doesn't stop marketing its wares with toys to young children.
"Not only does the practice mobilize 'pester power,' but it also imprints on developing minds brand loyalty for McDonald's," the group's letter to McDonald's says.
And those aren't happy results for kids, CSPI says. "Because most of the company's options (for young children and others) are of poor nutritional quality, eating Happy Meals promotes eating habits that are virtually assured to undermine children's health," the letter says.
In other words, they're making our kids bug us to go there through toy tie-ins to the latest movies, and then they're hooking them on food that's high in fat, salt, sugar and calories.
The latest movie marketing gambit — tied to the movie Shrek Forever After — was tarnished by a recall of about 12 million glasses over potential health risks from cadmium. But McDonald's says the Shrek-themed Happy Meals aim to foster healthier eating, with choices that include fruit, vegetables and low-fat dairy products.
And there's growing evidence that characters used in marketing strongly affects childrens' food preferences.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/06/22/128004428/consumer-group-to-mcdonald-...
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