Thursday, July 8, 2010

McDonald's to Food Police: Take a Hike!

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

The Happy Meals toys are staying, according to a letter McDonald's brass delivered Wednesday to a health watchdog group that criticized the popular kids' meals and how they are marketed.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest last month threatened a lawsuit against the fast-food giant to get it to dump the toys that accompany Happy Meals.

Forget it, McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner said, defending Happy Meals in the written response sent to the Washington, D.C.-based group.

"Internet sites, blogs and network surveys suggest that public opinion is running overwhelmingly against your premise," Skinner wrote. "Our customer websites and phone lines at McDonald's are also busy, with more than nine out of 10 customers disagreeing with your agenda...."

EDITORIAL NOTE: This is known as "calling their bluff," as McDonald's Corp. can spend CSPI under the table if they started litigation proceedings.

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