McDonald’s Happy Meal Class Action Lawsuit Dismissed

A California judge has dismissed a class action lawsuit against McDonald’s over the marketing of its Happy Meals, which the lawsuit claimed unfairly used toys as “bait” to lure children into its restaurants, effectively contributing to childhood obesity rates.

The proposed Happy Meal class action lawsuit, filed by a Sacramento mother, sought to stop McDonald’s from using free toys to promote its Happy Meals in California.

“McDonald’s exploits very young California children and harms their health by advertising unhealthy Happy Meals with toys directly to them,” the Happy Meal class action lawsuit said.

Plaintiff Monet Parham said in the lawsuit, “What kids see as a fun toy, I now realize is a sophisticated, high-tech marketing scheme that’s designed to put McDonald’s between me and my daughters. For the sake of other parents and their children, I want McDonald’s to stop interfering with my family.”

Parham was represented by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nutrition advocacy group, which said in the lawsuit that “advertising poor-nutrition Happy Meals with toys to children is a contributing factor in [the childhood obesity] crisis.”

CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson said the agency would discuss the possibility of an appeal with Parham.

“In time, the practice of using toys to market junk food will seem as inappropriate and anachronistic as lead paint, child labor and asbestos,” Jacobson said.

Court documents show the class action lawsuit was dismissed Wednesday, but do not give any insight into the judge’s legal reasoning, and without giving Parham a chance to file an amended complaint.

A McDonald’s spokesman said the company was pleased with the decision, saying “We are proud of our Happy Meals and will vigorously defend our brand, our reputation and our food.”

The case is Monet Parham v. McDonald’s Corp., et al., Case No. 10-cv-506178, Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco.