Mom sues McDonald's over Happy Meals

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Sacramento mother of two Monet Parham and the Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court 12/15 against McDonald’s saying its practice of giving toys with Happy Meals is deceptive to children. The organization had been threatening to sue McDonald’s since last summer, claiming that the Happy Meals toys constitute a method of circumventing parental control and teach children unhealthy eating, reported The Chicago Tribune.


The complaint also accuses the Mickey D’s of false advertising: “McDonald’s exploits very young California children and harms their health by advertising unhealthy Happy Meals with toys directly to them” and that “children eight years old and younger do not have the cognitive skills and the developmental maturity to understand the persuasive intent of marketing and advertising.”

Parham said she was bringing the case because of the constant requests for McDonald’s Happy Meals: “I don’t think it’s OK to entice children with Happy Meals with the promise of a toy,” she said to reporters. She also said she tries to hold her two daughters, six and two, to monthly visits to the restaurant. But she said their requests increased this summer, thanks to the popularity of “Shrek Forever After.”

“Needless to say, my answer was no,” she said. “And as usual, pouting ensued and a little bit of a disagreement between us. This doesn’t stop with one request. It’s truly a litany of requests.”

RBR-TVBR observation: She tries to limit their visits to McDonald’s to once a month, but is suing the fast-food chain because the requests from her children have become too much. Just by visiting McDonald’s she is going against her initial premise. It is a parent who decides what is healthy for a child’s diet, not a restaurant chain. This all seems a bit silly. Maybe she’s looking for a fast buck?