Watchdog CSPI plans to sue McDonald's over Happy Meal toys

24th June 2010, 9:53am

A nutrition watchdog group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), plans to sue McDonald's for unfair and deceptive marketing over its use of Happy Meals.

The CSPI issued a statement claiming "McDonald's is the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children…It's a creepy and predatory practice that warrants an injunction."

The notice letter from the organisation states McDonald's toy-related promotions violate consumer protection laws in four states. The letter gives McDonald's 30 days to agree to stop the deceptive marketing before a lawsuit is filed.

The CSPI claims that luring children to the meals with toys is putting children at higher risk of developing obesity, diabetes and other diet-related diseases.

McDonald's fought back, saying that its U.S. advertising campaign is focused on low-calorie Happy Meals.

McDonald's spokesman William Whitman said: "We couldn't disagree more with the misrepresentation of our food and marketing practices."

Michale Jacobson, director of CSPI, added: "Multi-billion-dollar corporations make parents' jobs nearly impossible by giving away toys and bombarding kids with slick advertising."

CSPI, based in Washington, focuses on nutrition and health, food safety, and alcohol policy.

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