Lawsuit Seeks to Stop McDonald’s From Providing Toys in Happy Meals
McDonald’s Corp. says a lawsuit seeking to stop the fast food chain from providing toys in its Happy Meals should be dismissed because parents can choose not to buy the meal for children. According to the lawsuit, McDonald’s uses the toys to lure kids into the chain restaurant.
The plaintiff, Monet Parham of Sacramento, California, says that McDonald’s is violating California consumer protection laws by offering the meals. Parham isn’t the first to criticize the highly successful Happy Meals: other parents, health experts and lawmakers say that the marketing strategy might encourage childhood obesity.
McDonald’s contends that Parham was not misled by advertising of the Happy Meals, nor did she rely on any information from McDonald’s. The hamburger giant had the case moved to federal court, although the plaintiff wants the case back in front of a California judge.
If Parham wins the lawsuit, it could be a groundbreaking development in the U.S. food industry. Obesity-related lawsuits have been defeated for years, aided by some state laws that ban such lawsuits.