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Toys at McDonalds
So some of the counties near me have started to make it illegal for fast food joints like McDonalds and Burger King to put toys in their kids meals if the meals have more than a certain amount of calories or is otherwise unhealthy.
Now San Francisco is on course to do the same. Check out this article which lays out both sides of the argument. What do you all think?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/11/MNJG1ES...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Crystal on -
When I was a young 'un, my mom collected Barbies. And she had a ton of them, and they were never to be taken out of the box (which is borderline torture for a six-year-old to see all these Barbie dolls in these amazingly beautiful dresses and not able to force them to go on dates with Ken, unless I wanted to recreate a "Boy in the Plastic Bubble" role-reversal scenario). But McDonald's, once or twice a year, would put Barbie doll toys in their Happy Meals (or Matchbox cars or something lame if you preferred boy toys).
My every meal for that month they had with those dolls was a Happy Meal.
Granted I was a chubby kid to begin with, but still. And I loved getting those dolls. Especially when we had a repeat doll and I was able to take it out of the plastic wrap and actually play with it.
I'm not around kids too much now, but when I am around them, they never seem to throw a big deal about toys in their Happy Meals. When we were kids, we didn't have cell phones, mp3 players, and video games (aside from Donkey Kong on Super Nintendo, which still totally kicks ass) to keep us occupied. I don't even think kids care about little toys like that anymore. They have more appealing things to keep their mind on.
Plus, the toys aren't as good. I mean, getting a plastic talking Shrek is all well and good... but those Barbie dolls? They were totally the best.
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Permalink Reply by Harley Jane on -
OH, for a minute there I thought you were saying they were taking ALL toys out of Happy Meals, and I was about to say I will NEVER set foot in McD's again if that's the case. Sometimes I go in JUST to buy the toy...
Since that's not the case, all I can say is that I wholeheartedly support this decision. No toys for the kids with lazy parenting skills!
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Permalink Reply by Luis Campos on -
I think there should be an option where you can just buy the toy and donate the meal to someone in Africa or something like that.
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Permalink Reply by Luis Campos on
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I only say this because my mom would always be like, "you better finish your meal... there are kids in Africa without food."
If McDonalds can get them my mcnuggets... I call that win-win.
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Permalink Reply by Gina on -
You can just buy the toy for a dollar or something. No charity attached, but nerds can collect their Star Wars gadgets :)
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Permalink Reply by Plum on -
I'm not really into the government doing a parent's job for them. It isn't that hard to just not buy your kid a Happy Meal, or to order them one with apple dippers and milk.
I am, however, all for obesity in children being investigated as child abuse. (Note that I said "investigated," not "automatically categorized as." Small difference, I guess.)
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Permalink Reply by Coyote Tits on -
I don't really think the toys matter. If a parent is going through McDonalds they are going to order a happy meal for their child regardless of whether there is a toy or not.
Plus, remember how happy you were when you got your tiny little soul?
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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey on -
lol yes, I have a picture of my little soul...somewhere.
Alas, I left my soul in North Carolina.
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Permalink Reply by Tiffani D. on -
Wait--I don't understand the logic.
The toys aren't edible, so what does the caloric and nutritional range of a meal have to do with toys being placed inside of them ? I mean...I could get it if it was dessert. But a toy doesn't get eaten. In fact, unless the company has started plopping in discs of Wii games with the meals, I'd say it promotes even an infintesimal amount of physical activity....the cheapo toys in McD's don't usually run themselves...someone's got to play with them.
And, why would we be punishing children for the unhealthy meal which they probably have no control over eating in the first place? I mean, shouldn't they target the fast food chains if they want to fix the nutritional value of the meals?
I just don't get it...maybe I'm missing something...
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Permalink Reply by Gina on
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The laws claim that the toys makes the meals infinitely more appealing, thus making it impossible for parents to keep the food (and toys) out of their kids clutches.
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Permalink Reply by Tiffani D. on
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Oh yes, THAT'S IT. TOYS are making the food irresistible. It has nothing to do with marketing or the fatty flavoring they inject into the 'meat' or the salt they throw on the fries...has nothing to do with it.
I know you're just explaining the laws, (and I do thank you for making me understand what they meant)...
But seriously? Are they fucking kidding me? That's their argument? Its the DAMN TOYS???!! No comprendo.
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