Today, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, (CSPI) a nutrition watchdog group based out of Washington D.C.,  threatened to slap McDonald’s with a lawsuit, saying their toys lure small children to the restaurant and that by doing so, they are using unfair and deceptive marketing practices which are illegal under various state consumer protection laws.   

 

According to the letter CSPI sent  to McDonalds, “when McDonald’s bombards children with advertisements or other marketing for Happy Meals with toys, many children will pester their parents to take them to McDonald’s. Once there, they are more than likely to receive a meal that is too high in calories, saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium, and devoid of whole grains.” 

 

Yup, both statements are true. I’ve had those pestering moments and know (as many parents do) that McDonald’s is by and large not a destination for highly nutritious meals. But…

 

Will a toy-less outing to McDonald’s get kids to eat better? Will it improve the current landscape of children’s health?  I doubt it.

 

I appreciate CSPI. They’re a pot-stirring group which is a good thing. They keep a lot of businesses and industries on their toes because they’re a force to reckon with. They have clout and are pretty clever and capable in attracting attention to various food and health issues. But, this shot across the bow has me scratching my head. Where should the line be between what a parent should navigate on their own vs. an advocacy group direct?

 

CSPI’s executive director Michael F. Jacobson addresses my question in CSPI's press release.  “I’m sure that industry’s defenders will blame parents for not saying ‘no’ to their children.  Parents do bear much of the responsibility, but multi-billion-dollar corporations make a parent’s job nearly impossible by giving away toys and bombarding kids with slick advertising.”

 

I’m not necessarily an “industry defender” as much as a common sense gal.  Parents do bear the ultimate responsibility for helping their kids eat well.  A few meals (operative words being “a few”) at McDonald’s does not make for a disastrous diet nor should it wreak havoc on a parent's sense of guilt.  If 6-inch Shreks and other fun-figures woo your kid-crew, then simply time your McDonald's outings with these “ultimate, must-have toy” roll outs. For the other 350+days of the year, there are plenty of fun and easy ways to do great things that keep your kids well nourished and excited about healthful foods. 

I’m particularly struck by Mr. Jacobson’s last sentence: “ … multi-billion-dollar corporations make a parent’s job nearly impossible…”  Seriously?  I think that's giving corporations too much credit/power and giving us, as parents, too little.  If, as parents, we’re being led around by 2-6 year olds, we might be in a heap more trouble than simply a difference of opinion on restaurants.