CSPI is threatening to sue under consumer protection laws in several states. Lead attorney Stephen Gardner says he's confident he can face a jury and ask 3 questions:
"Is it unfair for McDonald's to bypass parents and market direct to little children? Is it wrong for McDonald's to trick little kids into nagging their parents to buy the Happy Meals? And does McDonald's practice hurt little kids? The jury would come back yes, yes, and yes." In a written response, McDonald's spokesman William Whitman says (1)_____________________________.
The toy is just a part of fun, family experience, he says, and Happy Meals offer more healthful choices than ever, including low-fat milk instead of soda and apple slices instead of French fries. (2)_____________________________in the past year, he says, and more than 100,000,000 Happy Meals with Apple Dippers since 2008.
The statement doesn't say what McDonald's plans to do about CSPI's threatened lawsuit, and a spokeswoman wouldn't elaborate in emails. It's not the first time CSPI has threatened a legal action against junk food makers -- and (3)_____________________________.
The makers of sugary breakfast cereals changed how they market to children, and the fast-food chicken dinner chain KFC stopped frying its food in artery-clogging trans-fat after the group threatened to sue. CSPI says McDonald's has 30 days to change its ways, or the group will go to court.
