# Parents suing McDonalds over happy meals **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286 "2010-12-15T21:44:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/1 "2010-12-15T21:44:16Z")
Yeah, I know it’s old news by now but [this article](http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/36c6170a-0875-11e0-80d9-00144feabdc0.html#axzz18DZPaCHr) is recent. Nevermind it being utterly ridiculous on the parents part (what, you can’t say “no” to your 5 year-old?) I have a question regarding the lawsuit. The article states they are suing McDonalds for “deceptive advertising practices to lure children to the company’s restaurants” by “using the promotional toys included in its Happy Meals to get children to pester their parents into bringing them to its restaurants.” I know happy meals exsist. I know they include toys. But I don’t think I have ever seen an advertisement promoting these toys. Not on TV, not on the radio, not on billboards or print media. The only place I see them advertised is inside the restaurant itself inside a display stand. Are they saying they can’t even advertise inside their own building? Or are there places where happy meal toys are advertised on TV? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/2 "2010-12-15T21:53:52Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Or are there places where happy meal toys are advertised on TV? [Yes.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq35nBe1K2Y) ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/3 "2010-12-15T22:01:34Z")
Interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of those on TV. Maybe they’re already outlawed in Minnesota. And it seems we always have Nickelodeon, Disney, or Cartoon Network on at our house. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/4 "2010-12-15T22:12:27Z")
Yup, my kids wanted to go out to eat last night because they wanted a Zhu Zhu Pet that they saw on TV with a “Happy Meal” (although they couldn’t remember whether it was for Burger King or McDonald’s. Since Burger King was closer we went there, discovered that it was indeed for that restaurant, and the kids were happy. However, at the cashier they kept referring to what they wanted as a “Happy Meal”, I wonder how the King’s Subjects felt about that. (Having kids in the target age range (6 and 8) I notice ads for Happy Meal toys all the time.) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/5 "2010-12-16T01:03:34Z")
The problem is when those five-year olds see the commercial, steal the car keys and credit card from their mom’s wallet, then go joyriding down to McDonald’s. They can’t see over the steering wheel, for Pete’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/6 "2010-12-16T01:11:03Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > Yup, my kids wanted to go out to eat last night because they wanted a Zhu Zhu Pet that they saw on TV with a “Happy Meal” (although they couldn’t remember whether it was for Burger King or McDonald’s. Since Burger King was closer we went there, discovered that it was indeed for that restaurant, and the kids were happy. However, at the cashier they kept referring to what they wanted as a “Happy Meal”, I wonder how the King’s Subjects felt about that. > > (Having kids in the target age range (6 and 8) I notice ads for Happy Meal toys all the time.) see, that’s fine when it’s once in a while. when I was a kid (you know, back when Happy Meals had _good_ toys and came in the cardboard box with the “M” handle) we got to go there once every 3 or 4 weeks. from this article: _"“We have to say no to our kids so many times and McDonald’s makes that so much harder to do. 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.”_ So why single out McDonald’s, you dumb bitch? Why aren’t you suing every toy company that advertises? ---
**Author:** ![RachelChristine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RachelChristine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RachelChristine)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/7 "2010-12-16T01:39:23Z")
I wish I saw ads for Happy Meals. I like when they have Madame Alexander dolls, but often miss them or get in when they are halfway through. I have a five year old. She would rather eat at McDonald’s than anywhere in the world. We say no all the time (unless they have the Madame Alexander dolls!). Heck, my foster daughter worked at McDonald’s for awhile and we rarely ate there. All ads make things a bit harder, but it’s not like it’s that big a deal if you are a halfway decent parent! ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/8 "2010-12-16T02:12:26Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Yeah, I know it’s old news by now but [this article](http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/36c6170a-0875-11e0-80d9-00144feabdc0.html#axzz18DZPaCHr) is recent. Please note that this requires registration to view. I won’t so can you quote relevant parts (without going over the line of copying the whole thing)? ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/9 "2010-12-16T02:30:09Z")
I don’t get why parents have such a hard time saying no to their kids. I have a kid and when he was little and wanted stuff like Happy Meals, I just said no. Sure he was upset and whined a bit, but whatever, he got over it. Sometimes I would surprise him by going to McD’s or BK when I knew they had some toy he wanted. I usually said something to him like, “Since you haven’t been bugging me about it and they have Spiderman toys, I figured we go get a kids’ meal.” He learned rather quickly that the more he begged the less likely I was to stop. Some people just don’t want to be the “bad guy” with their kids. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/10 "2010-12-16T03:07:45Z")
I just read that Happy Meals were first introduced a month after I was born. I am shocked and hurt by the fact that my parents didn’t love me enough to protest against all of the commercials that made me make them go to McDonalds and buy me food. And toys. Food with toys. I’m really fat, BTW. Thanks a lot, McDonalds! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/11 "2010-12-16T03:18:24Z")
I find it remarkably easy to stop my 5-year-old from eating Happy Meals. What I do is I don’t go to McDonald’s, and don’t buy her one. It’s a crazy strategy. So crazy it works. And it’s not like she doesn’t know what a Happy Meal is; every once in awhile I do buy her one. But most of the time I say “no.” How hard is that? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/12 "2010-12-16T03:25:09Z")
Well, y’know, some folks already treat _adults_ like stupid animals who’ll chow down on anything in uncontrolled quantities without abandon simply because it’s on the menu (e.g. all the hysteria about carbs, _Eat This, Not That_ crowing at their success at getting fast food places to remove certain super-high calorie items off their menu, etc.). This is just part of the same deal. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/13 "2010-12-16T03:29:01Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I find it remarkably easy to stop my 5-year-old from eating Happy Meals. What I do is I don’t go to McDonald’s, and don’t buy her one. > > It’s a crazy strategy. So crazy it works. > > And it’s not like she doesn’t know what a Happy Meal is; every once in awhile I do buy her one. But most of the time I say “no.” How hard is that? You deprive your child of a constant diet of Chicken McNuggets and Chinese-made crappy toys for the movie du-jour? What the fuck is wrong with you? They give you the healthy option of white milk and everything! And healthy apple slices with caramel! You’re a bad dad, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/14 "2010-12-16T03:52:24Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I find it remarkably easy to stop my 5-year-old from eating Happy Meals. What I do is I don’t go to McDonald’s, and don’t buy her one. > > It’s a crazy strategy. So crazy it works. > > And it’s not like she doesn’t know what a Happy Meal is; every once in awhile I do buy her one. But most of the time I say “no.” How hard is that? That’s crazy talk! How can it work? How can you do something like that?? (I tell Velociraptor no a lot too, I’m more likely to stop at Subway if he requests it than I am McD’s..) ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/15 "2010-12-16T05:17:29Z")
> [@RachelChristine](#): > > I have a five year old. She would rather eat at McDonald’s than anywhere in the world. We say no all the time (unless they have the Madame Alexander dolls!). Heck, my foster daughter worked at McDonald’s for awhile and we rarely ate there. > > All ads make things a bit harder, but it’s not like it’s that big a deal if you are a halfway decent parent! My six year old says “I want that!” for every. damn. ad. he. sees. on. television. _Every_. one! (I swear, one day I’m gonna have him sit with me and force him to watch my “grownup” shows with me (like the news) and see if he says that to ads for things like maxipads and Windex and home alarms. My bet will be yes.) > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > They give you the healthy option of white milk and everything! And healthy apple slices with caramel! You’re a bad dad, dude. You know, my kids always want the apple slices (they prefer them), but the McJobbers always put in fries anyways. WTF?? ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/16 "2010-12-16T12:41:19Z")
As a child of the ‘70s, maybe I should sue McD’s because their kids’ meals are so lame compared to a Burger Chef Funmeal. I mean, a house-shaped box instead a tray with special punch-out section for your burger, fries, and drink and a stand-up backstop with stuff to read while you’re eating? BOring! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/17 "2010-12-16T17:32:39Z")
When my daughter was a kid (preschool to teen) she loved McDonald’s food above anything else, except possibly peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. However, she didn’t get either one nearly as often as she would have liked. Instead, she mostly got home made meals, and McDonald’s meals were a treat. While I have nothing against PB&Js, I felt that a diet consisting of only PB&J sandwiches was unbalanced. I never made her eat anything that she didn’t like, but I also didn’t plan meals around her preferences. That is, if she didn’t hate green beans, and that was what I served that night, that’s what she ate. A LOT of the problem is that parents say “no” at first, but then they’ll cave when the kids start whining. This reinforces whining, so next time, the kids are going to whine longer and louder to get what they want. Yeah, it’s hard to listen to whining, but parenting is not all fun and games. A lot of the time, it’s just grinding work…gotta keep after the kids to brush their teeth, pick up after themselves, etc. And a lot of the time, it’s easier to pick up after the kids than to keep at them, and then make them do it over again when they didn’t do it right the first time. Kids won’t do things perfectly, and a parent has to teach them how to set a table, or fold and put away laundry many times. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/18 "2010-12-16T17:43:40Z")
On the same topic (sort of), did that fat guy who sued McDonald’s years ago for being too tasty ever get his money? Or did McDonald’s appeal and win? ---
**Author:** ![mckall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mckall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mckall)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/19 "2010-12-16T17:51:37Z")
I’m not sure if this is the case you are referring to, but it filed by Samuel Hirsch in 2002 and thrown out in 2003. [http://money.cnn.com/2003/01/22/news/companies/mcdonalds/index.htm](http://money.cnn.com/2003/01/22/news/companies/mcdonalds/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286/20 "2010-12-16T17:55:48Z")
I’m gonna sue Ford! Because the first thing my son wanted when he graduated high school was a goddamn Mustang. After years of feeding him a carefully selected diet of Chevy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-suing-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/564286.md?page=2)