Text from an open letter to McDonald's Corp."When I was a girl, I loved going to McDonald's.
Back then, I associated McDonald's with good food and fun.
Now that I am a parent, I dread a trip to McDonald's, and
I am writing to tell you why.My family and I do not appreciate being bombarded by
advertisements in order to get a meal at McDonald's.
My son's most recent Happy Meal bag was covered with ads for:
1) McDonald's; 2) Tangle toys, a product line of 3) Mattel Co.,
as seen on 4) Nickelodeon. I feel this is taking unfair
advantage of us and violates the trust you ask us as customers
and parents to put in your company.Furthermore, your practice of linking toy promotions with
new Hollywood releases is repugnant. The recent example of
Buzz and Woody dolls from the movie "Toy Story" offered for
sale at the counter, at the drive-thru, and on all your bags
was a true betrayal of your youngest customers.Third, we do not want "free" plastic toys from China in Happy
Meals. We make sure to say "No Toy" when ordering Happy Meals,
but frequently this request is forgotten or ignored.It is clear to me that McDonald's is most aggressive in
marketing to its most vulnerable customers, our children.
I am urging parents to become more aware of these practices
and speak out against them. I challenge McDonald's to step up
to its real responsibility as a member of our community: to
provide a fun place to eat a good meal. Do this, without making
our kids targets in a commercial shooting gallery, and you will
earn the trust we have placed in McDonald's."__________________
McSpotlight replies:
You might like to check out the following articles
relating to the issue of exploitation of children through advertising: